Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan,

Thanks for your answer to music and Islam, yes you might be right music is predominantly the work of Shaitaan but we have to discuss further before deciding. In other opinion Music is kind of used in many aspects in Islam, Lets make music in 2 parts one that is made by instruments and other that is made by one's voice + instruments. "AZZAAN" mostly in all sects in muslim elongate, in other words make effort to change the vocal chords of his voice to make it sweet and lowed so everyone can hear it far and near, It is a fact one can hear the tune of "AZZAAN" far away in a desert or try for yourself in early morning hearing "FIJAR AZZAAN" of far away masjids. Also remember who gave the first "AZZAAN" and how sweet it was remembered. So "AZZAAN" is call of "Allah" for prayers, inviting muslims in a very sweet manner, music to muslim ears all over the world.

"QIRAT" (Quran reading) mostly all muslims also type of sing same thing elongate to make it sweet and lowed. Naat Khawani, Milad & Majlis: In these 3 occassions also Qirat, Naat and other things are sanged/sing for people to say blessing to Allah and his messenger. In nature there is music in the running water of a stream, music in the winds when you take a walk in the forest you'll hear the music of many birds to relax and enjoy and say "what a beautiful world Allah has made for us". In "Jihad" muslims call in chorus "ALLAH-O-AKBAR" and "YA ALI". Also I heard someone said that on dooms day we will hear drums, just joking " As Allah and His Messenger (saws) declared all the pure things 'halaal' for the believers,  and the impure things 'haraam' " then music is also pure in nature and should be acceptable only of kind that does not harm your body and soul or anybody.

My question is, is music only of kind that does not harm your body and soul or anybody acceptable in Islam?

Best Regards

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Answer:

What kind of Music is allowed?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The music that is forbidden in Islam is the ‘impure’ and string music which facilitates ‘shirk’, ‘faheshaa’ and indecency. The contemporary music which is so rampant in movies, television, radios, etc. which encourage indecency, is definitely forbidden.

But if one takes music to mean the melodious sound of the Muazzin while calling to prayer, or the beautiful sound of the ‘Qari’ when he recites the Holy Quran, or the tunes of chorus sung by the mujahideen; these are not only permitted, these are considered virtues and a means of getting a huge reward from Allah Subhanah.

If one writes poetry in the Praise of Allah and sings it in a melodious voice, there is absolutely no harm. Even if one writes poetry of love and sings them to his wife, and there is no indecency in the wordings, there is no harm. Even the playing of the ‘daff’ (a circular drum type instrument played by the hand) at special occasions like marriage, etc. was allowed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) in Islam.

Every word has a specific meaning, and when we use the term ‘music’ it is understood to mean the music that we hear today on the radio and televisions. If one takes music to mean the pure music, like the melody of the azaan, or the recitation of the Quran, or the music made by the ‘daff’, or the music created by nature, these are absolutely legal in Islam.

What is forbidden are the string instrumental music, and the other forms of music and songs that we hear today… whereby the words and the music exhort shirk, ‘faheshaa’ and indecency.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan