Why is music forbidden in Islam?

Why is music forbidden in Islam?

Some moderate Muslims, including atheists, can be heard saying that why music is forbidden in Islam! Where is the problem of listening to music? This article highlights the harmful aspects of singing, references to prohibition of singing in Islam and why singing is forbidden. 

Singing is forbidden in Al-Qur'an 

● Almighty Allah says,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذهَا هُزُوًا ۚ اُولئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ

There is a class of people who blindly collect and mock people with falsehoods in order to mislead them from the path of Allah. For them there is a humiliating punishment. ¹

Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) said, "In this verse, 'indecent talk ( لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ) refers to singing and playing and other evils. ² Similarly, Jabir, Ikrimah, Sa'id ibn Zubair, Mujahid, Maqhool, Amr ibn Shu'ayb and Ali ibn Nadima. This same explanation is also narrated from Tabei Hasan Basri (RA): This verse was revealed about music and musical instruments . Includes idle talk, backbiting, backbiting, lying, blasphemy, mischief, illegal sports, music and all kinds of musical instruments ⁴

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Music is the tune of Satan

● Almighty Allah says, 

قَالَ ذْهَبْ فَمَنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَزَاوُكُمْ جَزَاءً مَوْفُورًاوَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ اسْتَعْتَ مِنْهُمْ بِصَوتِكَ وَأَجْلِ 

Allah says (to Satan): Well, you go, Hell will be the full recompense of those who follow you, including you. You confuse everyone you can with your voice. Attack them with cavalry and infantry. Become a partner in wealth and children. And trap them in the web of promises. And Satan's promises are nothing but deception. ⁶

Ibn al-Qayyim (RA) said, 'Those who disobey Allah and use musical instruments, such as flutes, tambourines of forbidden species, drums and tablas, these are the voices of Satan. ⁷

● Almighty Allah also says,

قَالَ ذْهَبْ فَمَنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَزَاوُكُمْ جَزَاءً مَوْفُورًاوَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ اسْتَعْتَ مِنْهُمْ بِصَوتِكَ وَأَجْلِ 

Are you wondering about this? And do not laugh-cry? You are indulging in pranks! ⁸

Ibn Qasir (RA) said in the Tafseer of this verse, "The father of Sufyan Sawri (RA) narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA) that the word 'joke' ( سَامِدُونَ ) used in the verse (number 61 of Surah Najm) By means of singing. It is a Yamani word. It means 'Sing for us. ' Ikrima (RA) narrated the same. ⁹ According to the Qur'an, singing is clearly forbidden. Allah Ta'ala has prohibited singing and playing. Those who listen to music will suffer severe punishment for it. 

Singing and playing hadith is forbidden 

On the authority of Abdur Rahman Ibn Ghanam Ash'ari (RA): He said, Abu Amir or Abu Malik Ash'ari narrated to me. By God! He never lied to me. He heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: There will surely arise among my Ummah some groups who will consider adultery, silk cloth, wine and musical instruments lawful. ¹⁰

This hadith highlights the prohibition of music from two perspectives: 

The Prophet (PBUH) said, they will consider it halal. That is, it is haram, they will consider it halal. Therefore, it is proved that every thing mentioned through this hadith (fornication, adultery, silk cloth, alcohol and musical instruments) is haram.

The Prophet (PBUH) mentioned musical instruments together with those things which are definitely and clearly forbidden. For example, fornication and alcohol. If singing and playing musical instruments were not haram, he would not have mentioned it along with other haram things. ¹¹

This one hadith is enough to make singing and playing haram. So it is proven by Quran-Hadith that singing is forbidden. 

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