Question
Do sins affect good deeds, and what is the ruling on listening to songs in Islam?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
① Regarding sins and good deeds:
- Some righteous deeds erase all sins, such as:
- Accepting īmān and Islām
- Performing Hijrah
- Completing a Ḥajj Mabroor
- Conversely, some sins destroy all good deeds, such as:
- Kufr (disbelief)
- Shirk (associating partners with Allah)
- Deliberately abandoning Ṣalāt al-ʿAṣr
Thus, in your case, it depends on the nature of the sin. Only then can it be determined whether your sins affect your good deeds.
② Regarding listening to songs:
- Musical instruments (maʿāzif, mazāmīr, and instruments) and songs are inherently harām and sinful.
- This ruling applies regardless of whether:
- It tempts a person toward further immorality or not
- It causes disturbance to others or not
- It is done in private or public
- It is played softly or loudly
In every case, it remains a ḥarām and impermissible act that one must avoid.
Conclusion:Some deeds can erase sins, and some sins can nullify deeds. As for songs and instruments, they are forbidden in all forms and must be abandoned for one’s faith to remain sound.
