What does Islam say on Music

“Music is an issue that has been hotly debated by scholars of the past and the present. While many of them have been generally disposed to criticize all forms of music, with the singular exception of ad-duff (tambourine) in weddings, quite a few of them have taken a more positive approach of considering only music containing sensual, pagan, or unethical themes or hidden messages as being categorically forbidden.

The later view seems to be more consistent with the general nature of Islam, which is undoubtedly a complete way of life that cater to all of the true human instincts and needs within acceptable limits. Thus, to say that all music is forbidden in Islam does not seem to agree with the balanced approach of Islam to issues of human life and experience.

Traditions often cited by the first group scholars to justify conviction of all musical instruments and music, according to some scholars, are considered as either false, or phrased in such way only because of their associations with drinking, dancing, and sexuality.

While everyone agrees that all forms of music that contain pagan, sensual themes, or hidden messages are clearly forbidden, the latter group of scholars considers all forms of music free of such themes and messages as acceptable.

As a matter of fact, we know from the authentic traditions that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, not only allowed music in the weddings but also listened to girls singing: While listening to girls singing on such an occasion, he interrupted them only once when they sang the following verse, “In our midst is a prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow”; whence, the Prophet, peace be upon him, told them, “Cut this sentence out, and continue singing what you have been singing earlier.” There is nothing in the sources to indicate that the above permission is limited to the occasion of wedding, as some people tend to think.

In light of these, according to the last mentioned group of scholars, music that is deemed to be free of un-Islamic and unethical themes and messages, the same is true of musical instruments so long as they are not used for the above, have been considered as acceptable.

But we have to stress that Islam clearly prohibits “mixed dancing of males and females.”