Is Music and Singing Haram? – Detailed Evidence from Qur'an and Sunnah

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His slave and Messenger.

The issue of music, singing, and musical instruments is not a minor matter of personal preference. It is a legislative ruling that requires returning to the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the understanding of the Salaf (righteous predecessors). After a thorough and objective examination of the evidence, the ruling is clear and decisive: music and all musical instruments are haram (forbidden). This is not the view of a few strict scholars; rather, it is the consensus of the Sahabah, the Tabi'in, and the four imams (Abu Hanifah, Malik, al-Shafi'i, and Ahmad).

In this answer, we will present the evidence from the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, the statements of the Sahabah and great imams, and then refute the most common doubts raised by those who attempt to justify music.

What is Ma'azif?

The Arabic word "ma'azif" (مَعَازِف) is the plural of mi'zafah. In the Arabic language and the terminology of the Salaf, it refers to musical instruments. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Fath al-Bari (10/55): "Ma'azif means musical instruments." Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from al-Jawhari that ma'azif means singing, but the more precise linguistic meaning is instruments that produce sound, including drums (except the simple daff in specific circumstances), flutes, stringed instruments, and all tools of entertainment that are used for idle amusement.

Evidence from the Qur'an

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala describes a category of people who actively acquire "idle talks" (lahw al-hadith) for the purpose of turning others away from the path of Allah. The Sahabah and the early Tabi'in were unanimous that this refers to singing and musical instruments.

Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), the great Companion and scholar of the Qur'an, said concerning this verse: "By Allah, besides whom there is no other god, this means singing – and he repeated it three times." This narration is authentic (sahih).

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), the interpreter of the Qur'an, said: "Idle talks is falsehood and singing." Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him), the student of Ibn 'Abbas, said: "It means playing the drum (tabl)." Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This verse was revealed concerning singing and musical instruments (woodwind instruments)."

Allah quotes Iblis (Shaytan) as saying that he will mislead the children of Adam with his "voice." The majority of the mufassirun (Qur'an commentators) from the Salaf explained "his voice" as singing and musical instruments. Mujahid said explicitly: "His voice is singing and falsehood."

In this passage, Allah criticizes the disbelievers for turning away from the Qur'an and instead engaging in "samidun" – which, according to Ibn 'Abbas and 'Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on them), means singing in the dialect of Himyar. When they heard the Qur'an, they would sing to drown it out. This verse condemns that behavior.

Evidence from the Authentic Sunnah

The reasoning from this hadith is twofold: First, the Prophet ﷺ uses the word "permit" – which implies that these things are forbidden in shari'ah, and these people will make them permissible against the law. Second, musical instruments are mentioned alongside zina and alcohol, which are unanimously haram. If musical instruments were not haram, they would not be listed with these major sins.

This hadith demonstrates the prophetic practice: when hearing the sound of a musical instrument, the Prophet ﷺ blocked his ears and left the area. Ibn 'Umar, the Companion, did the same. This is an action-based ruling showing that listening to musical instruments is not permissible. The distinction between "hearing" (without choice) and "listening" (with intention) is important. Here, the Prophet ﷺ intentionally blocked his ears to avoid hearing the sound, and he only removed his fingers when the sound stopped. This proves that one should not remain in a place where musical instruments are being played if he can leave.

The Consensus (Ijma') of the Scholars

Contrary to the claims of some modern lax voices, the four established madhhabs (schools of fiqh) are unanimous that all musical instruments are haram. There is no genuine dispute on this matter among the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah.

Hanafi Madhhab: Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The madhhab of Abu Hanifah is the strictest in this regard, and his comments are among the harshest. His companions clearly stated that it is haram to listen to all musical instruments such as the flute and the drum, even tapping a stick. They stated that it is a sin which implies that a person is a fasiq (rebellious evil-doer) whose testimony should be rejected. They went further than that and said that listening to music is fisq (rebellion, evildoing) and enjoying it is kufr (disbelief)." (Ighathat al-Lahfan, 1/425).

Maliki Madhhab: Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about playing the drum or flute. He said: "He should get up if he finds that he enjoys it, unless he is sitting down for a need or is unable to get up. If he is on the road, he should either go back or move on." (al-Jami' by al-Qayrawani, 262). He also said: "The only people who do things like that, in our view, are fasiqs." (Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 14/55).

Shafi'i Madhhab: Ibn al-Qayyim said, explaining the view of Imam al-Shafi'i: "His companions who know his madhhab stated that it is haram and denounced those who said that he permitted it." (Ighathat al-Lahfan, 1/425). The author of Kifayat al-Akhbar, a Shafi'i scholar, counted musical instruments as munkar (evil) that must be denounced.

Hanbali Madhhab: Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi, the great Hanbali scholar, said: "Musical instruments are of three types which are haram. These are the strings and all kinds of flute, and the lute, drum and rabab (stringed instrument) and so on. Whoever persists in listening to them, his testimony should be rejected." (al-Mughni, 10/173). Imam Ahmad's son 'Abd-Allah asked his father about singing, and Ahmad replied: "Singing makes hypocrisy grow in the heart; I do not like it." Then he mentioned the words of Malik: the evildoers (fasiqs) among us do that.

Al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) reported: "The scholars of all regions agree that singing is makruh and should be prevented." In the language of the Salaf, "makruh" often meant haram, especially when accompanied by "should be prevented."

Refutation of Common Doubts and Misunderstandings

First Doubt: "The ahadith forbidding music are weak."

This is a false claim. While some individual narrations have weakness, the hadith of "permission of musical instruments" narrated by al-Bukhari is sahih. The hadith of Ibn 'Umar blocking his ears is sahih. The hadith of Abu Umamah is hasan. The numerous chains and supporting reports from the Sahabah collectively establish the prohibition definitively.

Second Doubt: "The exception for the daff means all drums are allowed."

This is a grave error. The authentic exception is only for the simple daff (a hand-drum without any rings or rattles) and only for women on two occasions: 'Eid and weddings. Even then, the songs should not contain haram content. The Prophet ﷺ approved of young girls (not adult women, and certainly not men) playing the daff on 'Eid day. However, note carefully: When Abu Bakr al-Siddiq entered and saw this, he called it "musical instruments of the Shaytan." The Prophet ﷺ did not deny that description. He allowed it only as an exception for the 'Eid celebration for young girls. This cannot be generalized to all times, all people, or all instruments. Men playing any instrument, including the daff, is not allowed. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Clapping is for women and tasbih is for men." This indicates that rhythmic noise-making is specifically feminine. Men who play instruments are imitating women, which is cursed.

Third Doubt: "The hadith of the Abyssinians playing in the mosque proves music is allowed."

This is a misunderstanding. The hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari describes the Abyssinians playing with spears and shields (a display of martial skill) in the mosque on 'Eid day. 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) watched them. There was no singing, no musical instruments. It was a display of physical prowess and mock fighting. This has nothing to do with music. Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) clearly stated that this hadith indicates the permissibility of playing with weapons in the context of jihad, not music. Using this as evidence for music is either ignorance or deliberate distortion.

Fourth Doubt: "The two young girls singing in the hadith of 'Aishah proves singing is halal."

This is one of the most misused pieces of evidence. Let us examine the facts: The two young girls were below the age of puberty. They were singing simple verses about the battle of Bu'ath (war poetry, not love songs or romantic lyrics). They had no musical instruments – the hadith does not mention a daff in that narration; the daff appears in other versions, but it was a simple hand-drum. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq called it "musical instruments of the Shaytan." The Prophet ﷺ allowed it only because it was 'Eid and because they were young girls, and he was not even listening – he had turned his face to the wall.

Furthermore, Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) noted that 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was young at that time, and nothing was transmitted from her after she reached puberty except condemnation of singing. Her nephew al-Qasim ibn Muhammad condemned singing and took his knowledge from her.

Fifth Doubt: "Music softens the heart and brings one closer to Allah."

This is a dangerous lie from Shaytan. In reality, as Ibn Taymiyyah said, musical instruments are the wine of the soul. Those who are habituated to music find the Qur'an heavy and uninteresting. They become restless during Qur'an recitation but attentive when music plays. This is a sign of a diseased heart. True softness of the heart comes from the Qur'an, not from the voice of Shaytan.

Sixth Doubt: "The Sahabah listened to singing and poetry."

The Sahabah did listen to permissible poetry that contained wisdom, bravery, and Islamic values, without musical instruments. There is a vast difference between reciting poetry (which is allowed, though excessive poetry is discouraged) and singing with musical instruments. No authentic report exists of any Companion listening to a flute, a lute, a stringed instrument, or singing accompanied by instruments. Those who claim otherwise have no proof. Imam Muslim mentioned in his introduction to his Sahih that 'Abd-Allah ibn al-Mubarak said: "The isnad is part of religion. Were it not for the isnad, whoever wanted to could say whatever he wanted to."

Seventh Doubt: "Military music or drums at war are allowed."

There is no basis for this in shari'ah. This is an innovation and an imitation of the kuffar. During war, the Muslims are commanded to remember Allah, to be steadfast, and to focus on the enemy. Adding music to war is a modern Western practice, not from Islam. The Prophet ﷺ used a simple banner, calls to prayer, and rallying cries – not musical instruments.

Eighth Doubt: "Singing is only forbidden if it includes zina or alcohol – otherwise it is fine."

This is a false distinction. The prohibition of musical instruments is absolute, as proven by the hadith that lists them alongside zina and alcohol. The scholars of usul al-fiqh explain that mentioning things together in a context of prohibition does not mean each is only forbidden when combined with the others. If that were the logic, then disbelief in Allah would only be haram if accompanied by not feeding the poor (a false conclusion). The prohibition stands independently.

Ninth Doubt: "Idle talk in Surah Luqman does not mean singing."

This is directly contradicting the Sahabah. Ibn Mas'ud swore by Allah three times that it means singing. Ibn 'Abbas said it means singing. The Salaf are the most knowledgeable of the Qur'an. Those who reject their interpretation are following their own desires.

The Exception for the Daff – Clarified in Detail

After all the evidence of prohibition, we must clarify the only authentic exception in the shari'ah. The Prophet ﷺ allowed women to use the daff (a simple hand-drum without rings/jingles) on two occasions:

1. On the days of 'Eid (al-Fitr and al-Adha).
2. At wedding celebrations (to announce the marriage and bring joy, within limits).

This exception is for women only, not for men. The songs must be free of haram content (no calls to shirk, no obscenity, no praise of sin). The daff must be the simple type without metal rings (i.e., not a tambourine). And it is only for these specific joyful occasions, not for daily entertainment.

Therefore, any man who plays the daff or any other instrument is imitating women and falling under the curse of the Prophet ﷺ. Any woman who plays instruments other than the simple daff on occasions other than 'Eid or weddings is also violating the shari'ah.

The Ruling on Selling, Buying, and Teaching Music

If an object is haram to use, it is also haram to sell, buy, or teach. The Prophet ﷺ said: "When Allah forbids a thing, He also forbids its price." The price of musical instruments is haram wealth. It is not permissible to work as a musician, a music teacher, a seller of instruments, or to accept payment for any of these services. The Sahabah and the imams were clear on this.

If a person has any musical instruments in his home, he should destroy them as an act of obedience to Allah. The Salaf used to destroy such instruments when they found them. This is not extremism; it is following the command of Allah and His Messenger.

The Condition of Those Who Permit Music Today

In our times, some people claim that music is permissible. They often rely on weak arguments, misinterpretations, or the opinions of later scholars who were not specialists in hadith (such as Abu Hamid al-Ghazali). These people are not following the Salafi manhaj. They are following their desires and the pressure of modern culture.

It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "No people go astray after having been guided except they developed arguments amongst themselves." (Sahih). Those who argue for music today are using specious arguments that have no weight against the clear texts.

Practical Advice for the Muslim

If you have been accustomed to listening to music, you may find it difficult to stop at first. This is because Shaytan has beautified it for you. But know that Allah promises to replace what you leave for His sake with something better. Start by:

1. Making sincere tawbah (repentance) to Allah and resolving never to return to music.
2. Deleting all music files from your devices and destroying any musical instruments in your possession.
3. Replacing music with the recitation of the Qur'an. Listen to skilled reciters who recite with beautiful voices (like al-Shuraym, al-Ghamdi, al-Afasy, etc.). The Qur'an is far more beautiful than any song.
4. Listening to authentic Islamic lectures, khutbahs, and beneficial knowledge.
5. Occupying your time with dhikr (remembrance of Allah), reading books of hadith and tafsir, and engaging in acts of worship.
6. Avoiding places where music is played and keeping company with righteous Muslims who fear Allah.

Remember the statement of Ibn al-Qayyim: "The one who has gotten used to music and for whom it is like food and drink will never have the desire to listen to the Qur'an." Do not let that be you.

Conclusion

After presenting the evidence from the Qur'an, the authentic Sunnah, the consensus of the Sahabah, the unanimous position of the four imams, and the explicit fatwas of the great scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah (Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Baz, Al-Albani, Ibn 'Uthaymin, al-Fawzan), the ruling is clear:

All musical instruments are haram. All singing that is accompanied by musical instruments is haram. Listening to music is haram. Selling, buying, teaching, and playing musical instruments are haram. The only exception is the simple daff (without rings) used by women on 'Eid and at weddings, and this exception does not extend to men or to other occasions.

The Muslim who fears Allah and desires the Hereafter should abandon music completely. There is no room for compromise on this matter. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ informed us that in the end times, some people will claim to permit musical instruments. We are living in those times. Do not be among them. Be among those who follow the evidence, not their desires.

And Allah knows best. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, his Companions, and all who follow them in truth until the Day of Judgement.

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