Music & Islamic Law
Sayed Jawad Al-Qazwini
وَمِنَ النّاسِ مَن يَشتَري لَهوَ الحَديثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيرِ عِلمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَها هُزُوًا ۚ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم عَذابٌ مُهينٌ
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.
[Surah Luqman 31; Verse 6]
Is listening to music a sign of a lack of piety and righteousness? Can one be a devout Muslim and listen to music at the same time?
We live in a time where music has invaded many facets of our lives, e.g., homes, workplaces, malls and even schools. So is it possible for us to separate our daily activities from music?
Many Muslims continually inquire about the Islamic ruling on music, despite being given the same answer over and over again. This may be due to the fact that we often receive very vague and incomprehensive responses to our questions. It is important that we seek to better understand the religious rulings around this matter in order to successfully apply them within our lives.
After all, Islam is not a religion that is against artistic beauty, but rather cherishes it. Sheikh Murtadha Mutahhari once said that Islam is a religion that appreciates beauty, however scholars have made people think otherwise.
It is important that scholars examine the concept of music in depth in order to provide more informative answers to the community. They should examine:
What is Ghina’(singing)?
What is music?
The era in which fatwas(rulings) regarding music were given by scholars
The most fundamental source which guides our understanding of the Islamic attitude towards music is the Holy Quran, and therefore, the Quran should be used in the examination of all these questions. There are four main verses in the Quran which scholars use to derive the Islamic verdict on music:
And startle whomever of them you can with your voice, and collect your cavalry and infantry against them; and share with them in wealth and children and make promises to them; and the Satan makes no promises to them except delusion. (17:64)
(some scholars claim that ‘with your voice’ refers to music. However, realistically, the voice of satan could manifest in different ways, even through lying, backbiting and anything else which is ungodly)
Such (is the pilgrimage); and whoever magnifies the sacred things of Allah, it is better for him with his Lord; and the cattle are made lawful for you save that which has been recited to you, therefore avoid the filth of the idols and avoid false speech. (22:30)
(again, scholars may claim ‘false speech’ refers to music, and the Imams have also given the example of music. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that music is the only form of false speech)
And those who witness no falsehood, and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly. (25:72)
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. (31:6)
The Noble Quran says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O’ you who have Faith! Verily wine, gambling, idols, and (dividing by) arrows are an abomination of the Satan’s work, so avoid it, that you may be prosperous. (5:90)
This verse essentially encapsulates the many wrongful acts which resemble satan, and ill-speech is one of them. In the time of Ahlulbayt (as) there were many homes of sin which were publicly known to exhibit music, dancing, drinking, gambling altogether. Therefore, the Imams condemned such places and attendance to these places was forbidden. On a larger scale, music isn’t just an isolated piece of work, but a component of a common culture that consists of many other unlawful and disgusting acts, such as drinking, gambling, unlawful interactions, etc. As such, listening to music that condones such a culture is definitely haram.
As for other forms of music which aren’t particularly wicked, such as lullabies or patriotic compositions, is another matter that scholars have addressed differently.