Authored by: Dr. Muhammad Zia ur-Rahman Azmi رحمه الله
Hence, it is haram for a Muslim to take singing or playing musical instruments as a profession, using that income to:
✘ sustain his own livelihood,
✘ provide for his dependents, or
✘ contribute to charitable causes.
Allah is Pure and accepts only what is pure. Engaging in such professions invites the wrath of Allah, removes blessings, and becomes a reason for prayers to be rejected.
Allah says:
«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنفِقُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ»
"O you who believe! Spend from the good things which you have earned."
[Al-Baqarah: 267]
It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, Allah is Pure and only accepts that which is pure..."
He then explained that a man undertakes a long journey, disheveled and dusty, raising his hands towards the sky, saying “O Lord, O Lord,” while his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he is nourished with haram – how then can his supplication be accepted?
[Sahih Muslim 1015/65]
[Al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah: Fatwa No. 1620]
✔ Ruling:
A Muslim must adopt Shari‘ah-compliant means of earning, so that his income is pure and halal, enabling him to spend lawfully on himself, his children, and dependents. Such spending brings divine reward and blessings in wealth, self, and family.Hence, it is haram for a Muslim to take singing or playing musical instruments as a profession, using that income to:
✘ sustain his own livelihood,
✘ provide for his dependents, or
✘ contribute to charitable causes.
Allah is Pure and accepts only what is pure. Engaging in such professions invites the wrath of Allah, removes blessings, and becomes a reason for prayers to be rejected.
Allah says:
«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنفِقُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ»
"O you who believe! Spend from the good things which you have earned."
[Al-Baqarah: 267]
It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, Allah is Pure and only accepts that which is pure..."
He then explained that a man undertakes a long journey, disheveled and dusty, raising his hands towards the sky, saying “O Lord, O Lord,” while his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he is nourished with haram – how then can his supplication be accepted?
[Sahih Muslim 1015/65]
[Al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah: Fatwa No. 1620]
