Music, singing, and musical instruments are always a subject of debate within the Muslim community. The Sunni community, for example, considers music as Haram, while others believe that music is permissible.
It’s important to note that in the Islamic jurisprudence jargon, music and singing are different. On one hand, singing is a combination of sounds created by the tone of the voice, creating a feeling of joy and emotion conducive to debauchery and escapism. On the other hand, music is the sound produced by musical instruments.
In this guide, let’s discover together if music is really haram and why music is considered haram?
Why do Sunni Islam consider music haram?
Sunnis have always had issues with music. Indeed, music is considered a religious fact in the Muslim religion, and there are certain authors who emphasize the difficulty of conceptualizing “sacred music.” Furthermore, contradictions have always existed since its origins and in the life of the prophet Muhammad.
As some musical instruments are prohibited or subject to debate, we ask: is the piano haram? Is the guitar allowed? Among others. Arguments have formed over time.
Islamic music
Although music is generally prohibited in Islam, society does not necessarily adhere to these prohibitions. Additionally, we can observe the formation of several music schools. Some members of the Muslim community believe that music is forbidden by Allah. They rely on Quranic verses and hadiths to confirm their ideas.
However, the term “music” is not written in the Quran. Interpretations are based on allusions.
For example, Quranic verses such as verse 72 of Surah Furgan, verse 30 of Surah Hajj, verse 3 of Surah Mou’minoune, and verse 6 of Surah Loqmâne can be cited.
- There, the Imam confirms that the terms “dictate,” “debauchery,” and “futile” in these verses refer to songs of debauchery.
- There is also a hadith that forms the basis of the prohibition of singing. There are also hadiths that defend the use of musical instruments.
- Since singing means producing a certain form of sound or melody with the voice, all jurists specify what kind of music is prohibited by adding “debauchery.”
In the Quran, this prohibition of music is derived from verse 6 of Surah 31, where it is written:
“Such a man buys words of frivolous discourse to mislead (others) from the path of God, making it an object of mockery. Such men shall have a humiliating punishment.”
According to the companion Abdallah Ibn Mass’oud (may Allah be pleased with him), Abou Sahba:
“I swear by Allah, this refers to music.”
Thus:
- According to Abdullah Ibn Abbas, the term lahw refers to “singing.”
- According to Abu Bakr Ibn Mujahid, it refers to the “drum.”
- As for Al-Hassan al-Basri, he affirms that “this verse was revealed concerning music and flutes.”
However, other commentators see in this passage a critique not of music, but of polytheistic religions. Furthermore, some hadiths seem to point towards a prohibition, as in a hadith reported by Imam Al Bukhari, where the Prophet Muhammad said:
“There will be people in my community who will consider silk, wine, and musical instruments as lawful.”
Shiism and music
Shiites, on the other hand, encourage music but prohibit it in practice. This contradictory attitude is due to the influence of Sufi fraternities, which often follow rituals associated with music (dhikr and samā‘). Some Muslim scholars believe that only singing is allowed (halal) and that the use of musical instruments is prohibited (haram). Thus, there is a strong tradition of acapella singing imbued with mérisme.
Why do some consider music as haram?
Although some scholars warn against specific musical instruments only in Islam, others believe it is better to prohibit all of them within the community for many reasons:
- Indeed, musical instruments and songs have the power to captivate people to the extent of making Muslims forget their religious obligations, such as prayer. Ibn Qudama (May Allah have mercy on him), a follower of the Hanbali schools, stated:
“There are three categories of musical instruments: a category that is forbidden consisting of string instruments, all kinds of flutes, lute, six-string instruments, piano, rebecs, and others. Anyone who listens to them full-time is considered an apostate.” (Reference al-Moughnî 10/173).
- Music can lead believers to dark depravities such as fornication and adultery. In fact, music changes personalities, influences emotions, and creates excitement and passion.
- Music also has devastating effects not only on the brain but also on other aspects of individuals.
- Furthermore, music and singing are captivating distractions, to the point of forgetting the essentials, such as praying at the appointed time.
A debate on the consideration of music
These issues are debated not only in the Islamic world but also today, especially with the spread of fundamentalist ideas highlighted by certain scandals. Among these scandals, we can mention the destruction of equipment by ISIS, the Taliban, and the Bataclan attack with its “perversion party” music in ISIS’s claims, or in a melophobic sermon by Rachid Abou Houdeyfa, etc.
Sunni musical world is subject to musical prohibitions that affect both religious and secular music. These regulations specifically prohibit instrumental music, which can be considered anti-religious art by Islam.
For this reason, unlike Sufism, instruments are not used in Sunni religious music. This discussion concerns all types of music, some of which now have elements of belonging criteria to some European Muslim religions or are used for missionary purposes.
Is music really Haram?
Music is an art of Islam. It is not forbidden, and it is necessary when it comes to tajwîd. The latter is the science of reciting and chanting Quranic verses. Furthermore, music was a major part of Islamic civilization for several centuries in Damascus, Baghdad, and Cordoba. Many musical instruments were invented during that time.
However, a strict tradition that also exists in the three Abrahamic religions considered that music and dance could lead people away from faith. Indeed, the spread of Western culture along with its influence has caused the decline of Islamic culture. Muslim practitioners believe that opposing music is a way of opposing Western culture and the West.
Today, some Imams believe that music is impure and therefore prohibited. Overall, the Quran does not explicitly specify what is Haram regarding music. There are certain songs that affirm faith and struggle and are thus considered music.
Some exceptions on music
History has proven that there is a general consensus on the permissibility or admissibility of non-religious music. From the beginning of Islamic history, the Abbasids witnessed the development of a major musical patronage. Muslim writers like al-Ghazali and Avicenna also wrote treaties on music.
However, the hadith indicates that there are exceptions to the prohibition of music in the Muslim world. These exceptions may be related to specific days, specific products. Thus, based on these hadiths, as long as the words do not have religious content, even if women or men hear them, young girls can use a tambourine at a wedding or one of the two religious holidays (Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr).
However, Muslims must pay particular attention to their children so that they are occupied with things other than listening to music, as mistakes take root from a young age.
In a hadith reported by Aisha:
“The Messenger (prophet) of Allah came to my house while two girls were singing songs (about the battle of Bu’ath, which took place before the arrival of Islam). He lay on the bed with his back to us. At that moment, Abu Bakr arrived and exclaimed: “Demonic songs in the Messenger of Allah’s house.” Turning to him, the Messenger of Allah said: “Let them be!” Then, while Abu Bakr was not paying attention, I signaled to the two girls who left.” And in another version, the Messenger of Allah said: “O Abu Bakr, every people have their feast days, and today is our feast.”
Regarding this hadith, the scholar Ibn Hajar said:
“(…) We can deduce: The legitimacy of indulging children during feast days, through everything that could make them happy and joyful, as showing joy (on feast days) is a religious symbol.” Thus, to some extent like on Eid days, music is allowed in Islam.
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