Question:

I have a question regarding Music, which seems to be a major concern for our youth currently. Can I request to get a rational answer as to why Music is Haram (forbidden)?

Answer:

Certain types of music are haram (forbidden) to listen to (for details of what music is haram please refer to other Q&As)

This is indicated in the Holy Qur’an, where Allah (SWT) orders us to turn away from  laghw (vain words and deeds). Haram music is one of the major examples of vain words and thus it is impermissible.

“Indeed successful are the believers, those who in their prayer are humble and those who keep themselves aloof from Vain (words and deeds).” [23:1-3].

It is also indicated by a number of narrations from the Ahlul Bayt (as), including the following:

“Music is among the things for which Allah has promised the Fire (of Hell). Then he recited the following ayah: “And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks to mislead  from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).” (31:6)  (The Scale of Wisdom, n. 4889).

The narrations also indicate that music has a number of negative effects in relation to other sins. For example, in one narration, The Holy Prophet (S) says:” Singing is a ladder to Adultery.” Adultery is just one example of a sin which a person will become more inclined towards because of listening to music.

Part of the reason why music inclines a person towards sin is that evil messages can seep into the heart and desire of a person through the medium of music. Messages encouraging sins like adultery, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and empty infatuation are the most common messages passed through contemporary music and songs. According to the narrations of the Ahlul Bayt, listening to a singer attentively and taking in what they have to say along with the music amounts to worshipping that person:

“‘if a person listens to someone, he is worshipping him. If that person speaks for God, then the person is worshipping God, but if that person speaks for Satan, then that person is worshipping Satan”.

Music can also distract a person from the realities around them, and cause them to day-dream excessively. This often leads to failure in multiple aspects of life, because the person escapes the challenges of life by sinking back into a world of music and fantasy.

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei