Listening to music and singing is a sin and cause for the sickening
and weakening of the heart. The majority of the scholars of the Salaf is unanimous
that listening to music and singing and using musical instruments is Haram (prohibited).
Al-Wahidi, along with other scholars of Tafsir (explaining the Quran), said that "Idle Talk" in this Ayah is singing. The following companions gave this Tafsir: Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud, Mujahid and Ikrimah. Ibn Masud said, "By Allah, whom there is no God except Him, idle talk is singing."
2 -- The Prophet said, what translated means, "From among my nation, there will be people who will render as lawful adultery, weaving silk (for men), Al-Khamr (liquor) and AlMaa'azif (musical instruments)." [Al-Bukhari].
This Hadith states that musical instruments are Haram, and there is no disagreement among the scholars on this. In his book, Ighathat Al-Lahfan, Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "When the Prophet said, 'render as lawful,' he meant that it was unlawful, then the people made it lawful."
3 -- Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, what translated
means, group of this nation will be transformed into monkeys and swine." They
said, "Do not they testify that there is no god except Allah and that Mohammed
is His Messenger?" He said, "Yes.
And also they fast pray and perform Hajj."
They said, "Then, what is their problem?" He said, "They use musical instruments,
drums and female singers. (One day) they will go to sleep after a night of drinking
and having fun, In the morning, they will be transformed (by Allah) into monkeys
and swine." [Iughathat Al-Lahfan].
4 -- Allah said, criticizing the Kuffar's worship around the Kaa'bah, what translated means, Their prayer at the House (Kaa'bah) was nothing but Muka'an and Tasdiyah. [8:35]. Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Atiyyah, Muj ahid, Ad-Dhahh'ak, AlHasan and Qatadah said that Muka'an means whistling, and that Tasdiyah means clapping of hands.
Imam IbnTaymiyyah also said regarding the
person, whose habit is to listen to music, "His state of emotions becomes less
passionate when he hears the Quran. On the contrary, when he listens
to instruments of the devil (music), he dances a lot. If the prayer is established,
he either prays while sitting down or performs it as fast as when the roaster
picks seeds. He dislikes listening to the Quran and does not find beauty in
it while reciting it. He has no taste for the Quran and feels no love for it
or pleasure when it is read. Rather, he finds pleasure if he listens to Mukaa'
or Tasdiyah. These are satanic pleasures and he is among those whom Allah mentioned
in the Ayah, And whosoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent
(Allah), We appoint for him Satan to be a companion for him. [43:3 6]."
[Awliyaa' Ar-Rahman].
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "Of the tricks of
the enemy of Allah, Satan, that he uses to trap those who do not enjoy much
intelligence, knowledge or sincerity in religion, are Mukaa' and Tasdiyah. These
people of ignorance listen to and use musical instruments that are prohibited
and which lead the hearts to abandoning the Quran. These hearts are indulging
in sin and disobedience of Allah. Music, then, is Satan's Quran and the barrier
between one and Allah. It is the way to sodomy and adultery. With it, the lover
finds what he seeks and dreams of sinful love. Satan has trapped the weak hearts
in the love of singing and made it beautiful to them. Satan reveals to his agents
fake proofs that they use as evidence to the beauty of singing. These people
accept Satan's revelation and, as a consequence, abandon the Quran. When you
witness them while listening, you will find them silent in humbleness, sitting
idle and their hearts are concentrating and totally enjoying music and singing.
Their hearts will feel closer to music, as if they were drunk. They dance and
move in a suggestive manner, like faggots and whores. And why not? They are
drunk with the pleasure of listening to music and singing and act accordingly.
For other than Allah, and for Satan, there are hearts that are being broken
by sin, and fortunes that are being spent for other than Allah's Pleasure. They
spend their lives in joyful fun and make a mockery of their religion. Instruments
of the devil are sweeter to their ears than the Quran. If one of them listens
to the Quran from beginning to end, it will have little effect or excitement
on him. If Satan's Quran is being performed and heard, they feel joy in their
hearts and one can see it in their eyes. Their feet dance, their hands clap,
their breathing intensifies and the rest of their bodies feel joy. O you who
are trapped in this sin, you who have sold your share of Allah to Satan, what
a losing deal! Why not feels this joy when you listen to the Quran? Why not
feel pleasure and comfort when the Glorious Quran is recited? But, everyone
seeks what he feels is suitable for him, and ends up with what is really suitable
for him." [Ighathat Al-Lahfan].
Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz was asked about listening to music and songs, "Is it Haram? I only listen to it for pleasure. What about playing the Rababah (a kind of guitar) and old songs? What about using drums in weddings?"
Sheikh Ibn Baz said, "Listening to music is
Haram and a sin. It is a matter that leads to weakening the hearts and abandoning
the Thikr of Allah and the prayer. The scholars said about the Ayah, And of'
mankind he who purchases idle talks [31:6], that idle talks means singing. Abullah
ibn Masud, the Prophet's companion, used to swear by Allah that it is singing.
If singing is accompanied by the Rababah, 'Ud (Arabic guitar), fiddles or drums,
it is even more Haram. Any singing with any instrument is Haram and the scholars
are unanimous on this. Therefore, Muslims must be aware of it. The Prophet said,
"From among my nation there will be those who render as lawful adultery, silk
(for men), AI-Khamr (alcohol) and musical instruments." [Al-Bukhari]. I advise
you and others to read the Quran and keep remembering Allah. I advise you to
listen to Quranic programs on the radio. This way, one will find pleasure and
will keep busy so he can stay away from music and songs. As for weddings, the
Daff(tambourine) can be used along with innocent singing that does not call
to sin. This can be done at night, only in weddings and only by and for women.
These songs are a way of announcing an Islamic marriage. The Sunnah of the Prophet
supports the above. As for the drums, they are Haram all the time. The Daffis
permitted in weddings and only for and by women."
Many Muslims today render music as permissible.
This is due to their ignorance or outright defiance of the religion. We ask
Allah that we are among those who listen to the speech and follow the best of
what it contains. These are the ones whom Allah has guided and granted them
the bounty of sanity and comprehending minds.
THE MUSLIM CREED A monthly Publication of DIH
Volume 6, Issue 2 February 1998