Why Listening to Music is Haram in Islam



Allah is our Creator. He knows which things are beneficial for us and which are harmful. Our great Lord has made all beneficial things halal, and all harmful things haram. Among the things around us in this world, the number of useful things is greater. Therefore, the number of halal things is also greater. On the other hand, the number of harmful and haram things is less. Among the things Allah has made haram are all the musical instruments and music (songs).

Regarding this, our Lord has said in the Holy Quran,

وَمِنْ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِيْنٌ-

“There are some people who purchase idle talk (vain entertainment) to mislead others from the path of Allah without knowledge and take it in mockery. For them is a humiliating punishment.” (Surah Luqman; Ayah: 6)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said regarding this,

عَنْ أَبِيْ مَالِكِ الأَشْعَرِىِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيَكُوْنَنَّ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ يَسْتَحِلُّوْنَ الْحِرَ وَالْحَرِيْرَ وَالْخَمْرَ وَالْمَعَازِفَ.

  1. “Indeed, there will be among my Ummah some people who will consider permissible silk, alcohol, and musical instruments.” (Bukhari Hadith No. 5590)
  2. Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Surely Allah has made alcohol, gambling, and all kinds of musical instruments haram.” (Bayhaqi, Sahih Hadith, Mishkat Hadith No. 4503; Bengali Volume 8 Hadith No. 4304)
  3. Abu Umama (RA) said, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Do not sell, buy, or teach singing girls and dancers musical instruments. Their earnings are haram.” (Ibn Majah, Mishkat Hadith No. 2780)
  4. Nafi‘ (RA) said, once when Ibn Umar (RA) heard the sound of musical instruments, he put his two fingers in his ears and left the street. Then he said to me, “Nafi‘, do you hear anything?” I said, “No.” He removed his fingers and said, “Once I was with the Prophet (PBUH), and when he heard the sound of musical instruments, he put his fingers in his ears and left the street, and asked me as I ask you now.” (Sahih Abu Dawood Hadith No. 4924, Authentic chain)
  5. Anas (RA) said, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “When my Ummah will consume intoxicants, become addicted to dancing and singing women, and busy themselves with musical instruments, then three terrible calamities will descend: (1) Land will collapse in different places (2) Oppression will be imposed from above or from a nation (3) Many people’s appearances will be distorted due to their sins. The main reasons for this wrath are three: (a) Drinking alcohol (b) Being obsessed with dancing and singing women (c) Interest in musical instruments.”
  6. Ibn Abbas (RA) said, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Certainly, some groups of my Ummah will spend the nights indulging in luxurious food and drinks and various entertainments. Their mornings will be transformed into pigs and monkeys.” (Silsila Sahihah Hadith No. 1604/2699)

From this Hadith, it appears that some wealthy people will spend their days in luxury with various kinds of drinks and amusements. They will spend nights in various entertainments involving singing girls, alcohol, and musical instruments. Such people will be turned into pigs and monkeys—either their appearance will resemble pigs and monkeys or they will lose the distinction between halal and haram. Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) likened them to pigs. Their behavior will imitate foreigners, and their wives and daughters will dress like foreigners. For them, zina (fornication) will be common. Their houses and cars will be filled with dogs and various idols. Hence, they are likened to monkeys because they imitate foreigners.

  1. Abu Malik al-Ash’ari (RA) said, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Some of my Ummah will drink alcohol but call it by other names. Their leaders will be honored with singing girls and musical instruments. Allah will cause the earth to swallow them through an earthquake and turn them into monkeys and pigs.” (Bukhari, Ibn Majah Hadith No. 4020)

From this Hadith, it is understood that people will drink alcohol but call it by different names. The leaders and responsible persons will constantly keep company with musical instruments and singing girls. Their character will be filthy, and their favorite deeds will be obscenity. Their nature and culture will resemble pigs and monkeys. They will adopt the character and nature of Westerners.

  1. The Prophet’s (PBUH) servant, Sha’ban (RA), said the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The ones I fear the most are leaders and a group of scholars. Soon, some of my Ummah will practice idol worship. And very soon, some will mingle with Hindus or foreigners. Near the Day of Judgment, thirty false Dajjals will appear, each claiming prophethood. A group from my Ummah will always be supported and established on the truth. Until the final command of Allah (the Day of Judgment), their opponents will not harm them.” (Ibn Majah Hadith No. 3952, Sahih Hadith)

Therefore, after knowing these Quranic verses and numerous Hadiths, it is impossible for anyone who claims to be a Muslim to ever listen to songs or keep company with musical instruments. Yet, some weak-in-faith people ask why our Lord forbade music. Actually, there are very few things more harmful on Allah’s earth than music. Those who regularly listen to music become addicted to it just as an alcoholic becomes addicted to alcohol. Music is the wine of the heart.

Besides addiction, another harm of music is that when a person listens, they wander in a world of imagination and forget the real world. The sur (melody) keeps him away from reality and immerses him in artificial pleasure, making him roam around like a mad person in mental delight.

These people waste a lot of time every day behind music, yet time is life itself. The time spent listening to music could have been used productively. Moreover, music is harmful to our brain and memory. So the more we avoid music and instruments, the better it is for us.

Sources of Quranic Verses and Hadiths:
Bangla Hadith (URL: https://www.hadithbd.com/books/detail/?book=56&section=637)

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