Evidence that Music is Haram

Allaah [swt] said,
"And of mankind he who purchases idle talks to mislead (people) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah) by way of mockery, For such there will be a humiliating torment."
[EMQ - Luqmaan: 31:6].

Al-Wahidi [ra] along with other scholars of Tafsir (explaining the Qur'an), said that "Idle Talk" in this Ayah is singing. The following companions gave this Tafsir: Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud, Mujahid and Ikrimah [ra] Ibn Masud [ra] said,
"By Allah, whom there is no God except Him, idle talk is singing."

The Messenger Muhammad [saw] said:
"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."
[Al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494v].



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 [rhm] said,
"When the Messenger Muhammad [saw] said, 'render as lawful,' he meant that it was unlawful, then the people made it lawful."



Abu Hurairah [ra] narrated that the Messenger Muhammad [saw] said:
‘A group of this nation will be transformed into monkeys and swine." They said, "Do not they testify that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad 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."
[Ighathat Al-Lahfan].

"Their prayer at the House (Kaa'bah) was nothing but Muka'an and Tasdiyah."
[EMQ - Surah Al-Anfaal: 8:35].

Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Atiyyah, Mujahid, Ad-Dhahh'ak, Al Hasan and Qataadah [ra] said that Muka'an means whistling, and that Tasdiyyah means clapping of hands.



What the Scholars say Regarding Music

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah [rhm] said, "Listening to music and sinful fun are among what strengthens the satanic ways the most. This is exactly what the disbeliever's used to do. Allaah [swt] said,


“And their prayer at the House (of Allah) was nothing but Muka’an and Tasdiyah.”[EMQ – Surah Al-Anfaal: 8:35]



Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar and others [ra] said that Tasdiyyah is clapping of hands, and that Muka'an is whistling.
This was the way of the Mushrikeen and their way of worship. The Prophet [saw] and his companions [ra] worshipped Allaah [swt], according to His order, in their prayer, reading the Qur’an and Dhikr (remembrance of Allaah/ supplication).

It never occurred that the Messenger Muhammad [saw] and his companions [ra] gathered to listen to singing that is accompanied by clapping or using drums.

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah [rhm] also said regarding the person, whose habit is to listen to music,
"His state of emotions becomes less passionate when he hears the Qur’an. 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 Qur’an and does not find beauty in it while reciting it. He has no taste for the Qur’an and feels no love for it or pleasure when it is read. Rather, he finds pleasure if he listens to Muka’an' or Tasdiyyah. These are satanic pleasures and he is among those whom Allaah 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.”
[EMQ – Az Zukruf: 43:36]
[Awliyaa' Ar-Rahman]



Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [rhm] 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 Tasdiyyah. These people of ignorance listen to and use musical instruments that are prohibited and which lead the hearts to abandoning the Qur’an. These hearts are indulging in sin and disobedience of Allah. Music, then, is Satan's Qur’an 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 Qur’an. 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 loose women. 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 Qur’an. If one of them listens to the Qur’an from beginning to end, it will have little effect or excitement on him. If Satan's Qur’an 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 Qur’an? Why not feel pleasure and comfort when the Glorious Qur’an 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].