❀ Ruling on Listening to Music and Watching Indecent TV Programs ❀
Source:
This article is derived from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, based on the Fatwas of the scholars of the Haramain. The translation was done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
What is the ruling on listening to music and songs? Also, what is the ruling on watching programs in which women appear adorned and beautified?
Listening to music and songs is haram, and there is no doubt regarding its prohibition. It is reported from the Companions and Tabi‘in that music and singing nurture hypocrisy in the heart, and listening to it falls under "Lahw al-Hadith" (idle or vain talk).
Allah ﷻ says:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
[Surah Luqman 31:6]
"And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk to mislead others from the path of Allah without knowledge and makes a mockery of it. For such there will be a humiliating punishment."
In the explanation of this verse, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه said:
“By the One besides Whom there is no deity, this refers to singing (غناء).”
The interpretation of a Companion holds weight, as Tafsir (exegesis) has three levels:
① Tafsir by the Qur’an itself,
② Tafsir by Hadith,
③ Tafsir by the statements of the Companions.
Some scholars have even said that the interpretation of a Companion can be taken as equivalent to a Marfū‘ Hadith (attributed directly to the Prophet ﷺ), though the more correct view is that while it does not hold the status of Marfū‘, it is closer to the truth than other opinions.
Moreover, listening to music and songs falls under the Prophet’s ﷺ warning:
ليكونن من أمتي أقوام يستحلون الحر والحرير والخمر والمعازف
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Drinks, Chapter 6]
"There will be among my Ummah people who will regard as permissible: fornication, silk, alcohol, and musical instruments."
This Hadith clearly states that such people will wrongly consider these forbidden things as lawful, while in fact, they are haram.
The term "معازف" refers to musical instruments.
Hence, I advise my Muslim brothers to abstain from songs and music, and not to be deceived by those who issue fatwas declaring them permissible, as the evidences for their prohibition are explicit and clear.
As for watching programs in which women appear beautified, that is also haram. As long as women continue to be a source of temptation, such programs will remain forbidden. Generally, involvement in such programs or interaction with those involved is harmful—even if men and women do not directly see one another—because the primary purpose of such content is to cause moral harm to society.
I pray that Allah ﷻ protects the Muslims from its evil and grants rectification to the Muslim rulers. Āmīn.
[Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله]
Source:
This article is derived from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, based on the Fatwas of the scholars of the Haramain. The translation was done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on listening to music and songs? Also, what is the ruling on watching programs in which women appear adorned and beautified?
❖ Answer:
Listening to music and songs is haram, and there is no doubt regarding its prohibition. It is reported from the Companions and Tabi‘in that music and singing nurture hypocrisy in the heart, and listening to it falls under "Lahw al-Hadith" (idle or vain talk).
Allah ﷻ says:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
[Surah Luqman 31:6]
"And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk to mislead others from the path of Allah without knowledge and makes a mockery of it. For such there will be a humiliating punishment."
In the explanation of this verse, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه said:
“By the One besides Whom there is no deity, this refers to singing (غناء).”
The interpretation of a Companion holds weight, as Tafsir (exegesis) has three levels:
① Tafsir by the Qur’an itself,
② Tafsir by Hadith,
③ Tafsir by the statements of the Companions.
Some scholars have even said that the interpretation of a Companion can be taken as equivalent to a Marfū‘ Hadith (attributed directly to the Prophet ﷺ), though the more correct view is that while it does not hold the status of Marfū‘, it is closer to the truth than other opinions.
Moreover, listening to music and songs falls under the Prophet’s ﷺ warning:
ليكونن من أمتي أقوام يستحلون الحر والحرير والخمر والمعازف
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Drinks, Chapter 6]
"There will be among my Ummah people who will regard as permissible: fornication, silk, alcohol, and musical instruments."
This Hadith clearly states that such people will wrongly consider these forbidden things as lawful, while in fact, they are haram.
The term "معازف" refers to musical instruments.
Hence, I advise my Muslim brothers to abstain from songs and music, and not to be deceived by those who issue fatwas declaring them permissible, as the evidences for their prohibition are explicit and clear.
As for watching programs in which women appear beautified, that is also haram. As long as women continue to be a source of temptation, such programs will remain forbidden. Generally, involvement in such programs or interaction with those involved is harmful—even if men and women do not directly see one another—because the primary purpose of such content is to cause moral harm to society.
I pray that Allah ﷻ protects the Muslims from its evil and grants rectification to the Muslim rulers. Āmīn.
[Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله]
