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.
- “Indeed,
there will be among my Ummah some people who will consider permissible
silk, alcohol, and musical instruments.” (Bukhari Hadith No. 5590)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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§ion=637)