Music In Islam

Music in Islam and why those who deny it is haram are commiting an act of kufar. (The rule in islam "denying something in islam that is haram to being halal or something halal to being haram is kufar" it renders one a non beliver.) The qur'an and hadeeth, along with the statements of the companions and salaf confirm the prohibition of music.

“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the path of Allah or the verses of the Quran) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliationg torment (in the Hell-fire)” (31:06)

‘Idle Talks’ has been interpreted to mean singing, listening and playing of musical intruments by various scholars and companions including Abdullah Ibn Masood and Abdullah Ibn Abbas. Abdulla Ibn Masood when questioned about the term ‘Idle Talks’ replied “I swear besides whom there is no other God, that it refers to singing (ghinaa)”.

Abdullah ibn Abbas is considered to be the most knowledgeable of the Companions in tafsir. He has been called 'tarjuman al-qur'an', the interpreter of the Qur'an.

Contrary to popular belief there are a number of Sahih (Authentic) Hadeeth which clearly point to the fact that music, instruments, singing to the accompaniment of instruments etc. are prohibited by the Shari'ah.

“From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments as lawful. And (from them), there will be some who will stay near the side of a mountain, and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him: `return to us tomorrow’. Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs; and they will remain so till the day of resurrection.” (Sahih Bukhari 7/5590) The words, 'will consider as lawful', shows that music is not permissible. Furthermore the prohibition of music is mentioned along with major sins like drinking and fornication.

“A people of my Ummah will drink wine, calling it by other than it's real name. Merriment will be made for them through the playing of musical instruments and the singing of female singers. Allah will cleave the Earth under them and turn others into Apes and Pigs” (Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood and Ibn Habban)

There are Hadeeths by Haakim Al Mustadrak, Musad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and Majma uz Zawaaid that say “Two cursed sounds are that of the wind instrument and that of wailing upon the occurrence of adversity”

There are those who will argue that the Prophet (PBUH) liked the sound of the Duff (a small hand drum without steel jingles) The beating of the Duff at weddings was not for the purpose of music, it was to announce the wedding.
”That which distinguishes the allowed marriage from the forbidden is the sound of the duff” (An Nasee & Tirmidhi). Though the scholars argue that the use of the duff was even only allowed for women. The duff was used by Arabs without rhythm, melody or any trace of immorality.

The great four imams, Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafi, Imam Malik bin Anas and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal all declared the playing and listening of music is Haram. And the most remarkable thing is that all the sheikhs in Maldives agree that songs and music is HARAAM.

And Allah knows best.