Caution!!!

I am not a scholar. And I am still searching for the answer. But after exploring some things, I have come across some things which I feel like sharing. I am not saying Music is Halal or Haram. Again I am not saying about anything being halal or haram. I am just expressing what scholars have said.

First of all,

Music is the one of the most debated topics in Islam. From what I’ve learned there are four opinions about music.

These are

• All Types of music is haram. (safest opinion)
• Music with only duff is halal if played by women on the occasions like Eid, Marriage Ceremony etc.
• Only duff and duff like instruments are halal played by both men and women on the days of Eid, Marriage ceremony etc.
• All kinds of instruments are halal by both men and women (easiest opinion)

Four opinions divided by scholars. The four schools of Jurisprudence go with the first three opinions. So, first three opinions are the opinions followed by majority of scholars.

The fourth opinion is followed by minority of opinion. Few scholars like - Ibn Hazm, imam Al-Ghazzali, Yusuf al-Qaradawi etc scholars went with the fourth opinion.

Even if there are four opinions, but there are some similarities between them. And also differences. The similarities are more than differences actually.

The Similarities:

Music is haram if contains and accompanied with immoral elements like sexuality, violence, alcohol etc. Or, even if music is free from these elements music is still haram if it derives you from the path of Allah. If you get too much addicted and forget everything.

The Differences:

Uses of musical instruments. And its types.

According to four opinions most modern pop, rap or black metal songs are haram. Or party, concert music.

But the issue remains with uses of musical instruments.

If playing musical instrument haram. Even if I am free of these evil things.

These were the main argument goes. Since the four madhabs (four schools) clarified that musical instrument is haram, the scholars of that time did not associated with it.

There are also some hadiths about musical instruments. The strongest hadith I have found about prohibition of music,

"From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people 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.” - Bukhari 5590 (Authentic)

Few scholars have said different things about this hadith. The first one who rejected the hadith was Ibn Hazm. Ibn Hazm questioned the authenticity of this hadith. But scholars now said this hadith is clearly authentic. So, Ibn Hazm’s rejection was right.

However years later, Imam Al Ghazzali restarted the topic. Ghazzali wrote a lengthy chapter about the permissibility and prohibition of music. And his writing was very logical. But modern scholars still now say that Imam Ghazzali did not have knowledge of hadiths. So, his writing is not right.

However, there is also a modern scholar who rejected the prohibition of music. He is Yusuf al-Qaradawi. He too wrote a lengthy writing on music. In which cases these are permissible and prohibited.

But again, majority of scholars like Dr Zakir Naik, Mufti Menk, Nouman Ali Khan said that music and musical instrument is haram. But when people ask why music or musical instruments are haram, then they can’t give satisfactory answer. If something too hardly, then they say Prophet (s) said its haram.

Yes, its true that we muslims, should believe in Quran and Sunnah without any doubt. But if we can’t find the logic, then how we are going to preach Islam to non-muslim? How we are going to give dawah to non-muslims? They aren’t born muslim. And they will want to know the logic behind a particular prohibition. If they can’t get into Islam, then the blame is on us.

So, definitely we should find the logic. The logic that scholars give are not very strong.

So,

logical view:

There are countless genres of music. Some genres are out there which scholars even don’t know. Most scholars know only about mainstream music like pop, rap or rock.

But if you search deeply then you’d find that not all music are bad. Some music are good. However there is a famous quote by Jimi Hendrix (he wasn’t muslim but a musician).

Great guitarist said a very useful thing about music. And look what he says. Music can be hypnotizing. And a good example of is when people burned the church in 1992.

Brother see what people did in 1992. And it was all music.

So, those people who say that Islam is brainwashing should learn more. Cause what Islam says, always come true.

Anyways, Black Metal musicians got into them. And thus the fans were inspired to burn down churches.

So, that’s why music is a very dangerous thing. Its very powerful. Its not from just hadith. Its from reality.

But we can’t judge a whole thing with only some events. There are good music too. Many good musicians have contributed so much in society. So for them the music is good.

So, music can be good and bad at the same time. While, music with musical instruments tend to be much more powerful and have more effects on listeners.

So, whether Islam prohibited music/musical instrument or not prohibited it. It clearly says that music is dangerous and better to stay away.

Besides, there are many sufis who helped to reach to people through music. If music was really that bad then how could they do good?

So, I think ( again I think, my thinking doesn’t matter) that if music even with musical instruments used for good reasons with good intentions and people get helped by music, then its not clearly prohibited. Cause Prophet (S) did not stop the children from playing duff. (There is a hadith about it).

But if used for bad reasons or used too much then it becomes haram.

Lastly some people say that Alcohol has good effects and bad effects. But the bad things exceed good things. That’s why its totally forbidden. But again, consuming alcohol is bad. But you may use alcohols for better uses. For example using them in industry. Rather than consuming and getting wasted.

So, I think even if music can be compared with alcohol, then there is still to say. Alcohol is only prohibited to consume. But it isn’t prohibited for using for other uses. Pretty similar music/musical instrument is like that. You are playing songs in concerts, wasting too much time while its to offer salah. Its definitely haram.

Finally say that regardless of the intentions, say its totally prohibited. Then how big sin is listening to music?

A mufti said, the sin can be based on context of the song,

So, according to this, the sin level of listening to music can be varied.

Conclusion:

• There are various opinions regarding prohibition and permissibility on music.
• Music regardless of the opinions are haram if accompanied with bad elements (i.e illegal sex, alcohol)
• Even if music is free from the above evil elements, then its still haram if music takes you from the path of Allah or you are wasting too much time on music.
• The sin level of music can be varied based on its context.

And Allah knows the best

For more details please see the links below

Sources:

https://archive.islamonline.net/?p=5221

Authenticity of Ahadith About Music

A balanced islamic view on music & singing usama Hasan Express Yourself

Regarding the Permissibility of Music

Ruling on music, singing and dancing - Islam Question & Answer

Response to a comment on ahadith about music - Dr Khalid Zaheer

Videos,

Books,

Iḥyā′ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn (The Revival of the Religious Sciences) by Abu Hamid Al-Ghazzali.