“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.”
I know he is quoting THOSE scholars , and so I’m : )
Regardless of whether anyone believes that something is haram or not his/her eman will become weak if he/she indulges in it. That person will have to pay a price
When a person commits a sin (may Allah save us all) believing that a sin is being committed and feels regret and remorse in the heart, then this is far better then committing the sin and believing it to be halal. In the former situation, only one sin is being committed, and it is very likely that the individual may repent out of the remorse felt in the heart. In the latter case, however, in addition to the sin being committed, there is the greater sin of trying to justify it. Normally, such an individual does not receive the guidance to repent from his sin. (May Allah save us all, Ameen)
Allah Most High says: And there are among men, those that purchase idle tales, to mislead (men) from the path of Allah and throw ridicule. For such there will be a humiliating punishment (Surah Luqman, V. 6). This verse was revealed in relation to singing and musical instruments (Tafsir ibn Kathir, 3/442)
Abd Allah Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: Verily Allah has forbidden alcohol, gambling, drum and guitar, and every intoxicant is haram (Musnad Ahmad & Sunan Abu Dawud).
Sayyiduna Abu Malik al-Ashari (Allah be pleased with him) reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: There will appear people in my Ummah, who will hold adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments to be lawful (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Abd Allah ibn Masud (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: Song makes hypocrisy grow in the heart as water does herbage (Sunan al-Bayhaqi).
One of the harms of music is that it distracts one from his Creator. It serves as a temporary means of pleasure which makes one forget who he really is and why he was created. He forgets the noble purpose.
One of the main causes for the decline of the Muslims is their involvement in useless entertainment. Today we see that Muslims are involved, and at the forefront perhaps, of many immoralities and evils. The spiritual power which once was the trait of a Muslim is nowhere to be seen. One of the main reasons for this is music and useless entertainment.
Those who think music is allowed in islam usually present the Hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari in which two girls were singing in the presence of the Messenger of Allah
To begin with these young girls were singing without any musical instruments and secondly, the content of the song was regarding war, thus perfectly lawful. Also, they were not professional singers as the words of the Hadith clearly indicate.
Some try to justify music with the Hadith in which the permissibility of playing the tambourine (daf) is mentioned. However, as stated in the works of the Fuqaha, to play the tambourine is permissible only at weddings, as it is not designed for sole entertainment and pleasure but for announcement
u misunderstood what brother amaduddin had to say. he said that some so called scholars say hadith are not authentic. He mentioned the scholars saying so not himself.
Just tell one benefit of listening to music, due to which you take such a heavy risk of quoting that AHADEES of Al-Bukhari are NOT authentic.
The other day I was watching an interview of Junaid Jamshed and his following words are very logical :
“Chalain agar maan bhi lain k music haram nahin, aur ahadees jo kay music k khilaaf hain authentic nahin. Aur agar yeh ahadees authentic hueen tau kia ap yeh RISK lay sektay ahin music sunaain ka. ATleast mein tau nahin laysekta kiyun kay MUSIC na sunain mein tau koi NUKSAAN nahin, magar MUSIC sunain mein zarur nuksaan hosekta hai” (AUR JO KAY AHI)
Prophet Muhammad said ” i have been sent to break musical instrumets” Music acts like cocaine. While u are listening to it it is pleasurable but the moment u stop listening to it u become ver depressed. Musical gatherings are gatherings of shaitan. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala destroyed previous ummahs who indulged in singing and musical instruments. Music does not become halal because it is pleasurable. Cocaine is also pleasurable so should i start snorting it? Brother Amad Uddin has also quoted an authentic hadith. In western society music is considered food for soul. Maybe thats why anxiety pills, sleeping pills and anti- depressants are a million dollar business.
Zikr is food for soul. It is only the zikr of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that heals, that cures, that makes a depressed person happy. Ayah in the Quran ” a’la bizikrillahi tatmainnul Qulub “.
There will be people from my Ummah who will seek to make lawful fornication, wearing of silk, wine and the use of musical instruments
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6:303 Dar al-Fikr)
I don’t how ‘Islamic Scholars’ can say Ahadees of Al-Bukhari are NOT authentic. I don’t think they are ‘Islamic Scholars’, they are just people trying to make a mockery of Islam.
And what does Shakespeare have to do with Islam?
I know from personal experience that music can turn a heavily depressed person into a healthy individual. As Shakespeare said, the man who doesn’t like music should never be trusted.
The way we stress so much in propagation of Music and work hard to find out reasons for its justification, I think if we work only 10% of that amount to fix ourselves up and promote education then Muslims would getrid of lots of problem but when Music is considered FOOD FOR SOUL, we give up to struggle for FOOD for OUR WISDOM which only comes with knowledge and getting education, both religious and non-religious.
My 2 cents.