Is listening to music allowed?

Listening to music or songs is impermissible according to Islamic Shariah and is a sin as well. The Hadith have strict warnings and prohibitions about it. Regarding the prohibition of singing songs and playing music, there is a Hadith mentioned in Imam Baihaqi’s Shu’ab-ul-Iman:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jaber bin Abdullah (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said Singing songs and listening to music cultivates hypocrisy in heart as water cultivates greenery.

 

(Shu’ab-ul-Iman Vol No. 4, Pg No: 972)

 

Devils dance on the shoulders of the person singing songs or listening to music as described in the Hadith in (Tafseerathe Ahmadiya’ Pg No: 400):

 

Translation: Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said the person who raises his pitch of voice for the songs, Allah Ta'ala sends two devils on him, one on his right shoulder and the other on his left shoulder and the two constantly dance on his shoulders until the person himself keeps quiet.

 

Translation: All sorts of things which make a person heedless (of Allah Ta'ala) are unlawful. (Durre Mukhtar’ Vol No. 5 Kitabul Hazr wal Ibaha’ Pg No: 522)

 

 

Therefore it is not at all permissible for any Mo’min (believer) to sing a song or listen to music irrespective of whether he is in a state of wuzu or not. It is necessary to avoid it all the time.  Instead of music, one should instead recite Naat, etc., as that is a source of blessings for us.

 

And Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) knows best.

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri,

 

[Associate Professor of Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder/Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]