The Ruling on Musical Instruments: Qur’an, Hadith, and Consensus of the Scholars
Source: Fatawa Amun Puri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Puri
Question:
What do you say regarding musical instruments?
Answer:
Musical instruments are ḥarām.
❀ Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ﴾
(Luqman: 6)
“Among mankind are those who purchase idle talk (such as musical instruments), to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and take it as a mockery. For them is a humiliating punishment.”
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Malik al-Ashʿari رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ليكونن من أمتي أقوام، يستحلون الحر والحرير، والخمر والمعازف.
“There will be people from my Ummah who will consider fornication, silk (for men), wine, and musical instruments as lawful.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5590)
❀ ʿAllāmah Ghanim ibn Muhammad Hanafi رحمه الله (1030H) states:
إنها كبيرة فى الأديان كلها.
“Musical instruments are a major sin in all religions.”
(Majmaʿ al-Ḍamānāt, p. 132)
❀ Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi رحمه الله (1176H) states:
الملاهي نوعان؛ محرم وهى الآلات المطربة كالمزامير، ومباح وهو الدف والغناء فى الوليمة ونحوهما من حادث سرور.
“Musical entertainments are of two types:
① Prohibited: melodious instruments such as flutes, etc.
② Permissible: playing the duff and singing at a wedding or on occasions of joy.”
(Hujjat Allah al-Baligha, 2/298)
If singing does not arouse lust, is not performed by a woman, and is without musical instruments, then it is permissible.
Source: Fatawa Amun Puri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Puri
Question:
What do you say regarding musical instruments?
Answer:
Musical instruments are ḥarām.
❀ Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ﴾
(Luqman: 6)
“Among mankind are those who purchase idle talk (such as musical instruments), to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and take it as a mockery. For them is a humiliating punishment.”
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Malik al-Ashʿari رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ليكونن من أمتي أقوام، يستحلون الحر والحرير، والخمر والمعازف.
“There will be people from my Ummah who will consider fornication, silk (for men), wine, and musical instruments as lawful.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5590)
❀ ʿAllāmah Ghanim ibn Muhammad Hanafi رحمه الله (1030H) states:
إنها كبيرة فى الأديان كلها.
“Musical instruments are a major sin in all religions.”
(Majmaʿ al-Ḍamānāt, p. 132)
❀ Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi رحمه الله (1176H) states:
الملاهي نوعان؛ محرم وهى الآلات المطربة كالمزامير، ومباح وهو الدف والغناء فى الوليمة ونحوهما من حادث سرور.
“Musical entertainments are of two types:
① Prohibited: melodious instruments such as flutes, etc.
② Permissible: playing the duff and singing at a wedding or on occasions of joy.”
(Hujjat Allah al-Baligha, 2/298)
If singing does not arouse lust, is not performed by a woman, and is without musical instruments, then it is permissible.
