Source: Excerpt from the book "Ahkām wa Masā’il Kitāb-o-Sunnat ki Roshni Main" by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Is it permissible in Islam to play the flute (bānsurī) for entertainment or to pass free time?
Playing the flute or any similar musical instrument is not permissible in Islam, even for the purpose of entertainment or passing time.
Instead, the believer is encouraged to:
✔ Recite the Qur’an,
✔ Listen to beneficial Islamic lectures,
✔ And engage in the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah,
— for true peace and tranquility lies in remembering Allah.
﴿أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ﴾
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
[Surah al-Raʿd: 28]
Musical instruments, including the flute, are part of the “voice of Shayṭān”, and they distract from the remembrance of Allah.
Nāfiʿ reported:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما once heard the sound of a flute. He placed his fingers in his ears and turned away from the path. Then he asked me: “O Nāfiʿ! Do you hear anything now?” I replied: “No.” So he removed his fingers and said: “I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he heard a similar sound and did exactly what I did.”
This authentic narration proves that:
✘ Playing or listening to the flute—whether for fun, leisure, or amusement—is not permissible.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ and ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما physically blocked their ears upon hearing the sound of a flute, showing their clear disapproval.
✘ Playing the flute is not allowed, whether to pass time or entertain oneself.
✔ A believer should find joy and contentment in Qur’an recitation, dhikr, and beneficial knowledge, not in music or instruments that distract from Allah.
May Allah protect our ears, hearts, and minds from the distractions of Shayṭān.
Āmīn.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible in Islam to play the flute (bānsurī) for entertainment or to pass free time?
❖ Answer:
Playing the flute or any similar musical instrument is not permissible in Islam, even for the purpose of entertainment or passing time.
Instead, the believer is encouraged to:
✔ Recite the Qur’an,
✔ Listen to beneficial Islamic lectures,
✔ And engage in the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah,
— for true peace and tranquility lies in remembering Allah.
❖ Allah Says:
﴿أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ﴾
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
[Surah al-Raʿd: 28]
❖ Flutes and Music — A Distraction from the Remembrance of Allah:
Musical instruments, including the flute, are part of the “voice of Shayṭān”, and they distract from the remembrance of Allah.
❖ Action of the Companion ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
Nāfiʿ reported:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما once heard the sound of a flute. He placed his fingers in his ears and turned away from the path. Then he asked me: “O Nāfiʿ! Do you hear anything now?” I replied: “No.” So he removed his fingers and said: “I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he heard a similar sound and did exactly what I did.”
Reference: Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Karāhiyyat al-Ghinā’ wa al-Zamar: Ḥadīth 4924
❖ Clear Implication:
This authentic narration proves that:
✘ Playing or listening to the flute—whether for fun, leisure, or amusement—is not permissible.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ and ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما physically blocked their ears upon hearing the sound of a flute, showing their clear disapproval.
Conclusion:
✘ Playing the flute is not allowed, whether to pass time or entertain oneself.
✔ A believer should find joy and contentment in Qur’an recitation, dhikr, and beneficial knowledge, not in music or instruments that distract from Allah.
May Allah protect our ears, hearts, and minds from the distractions of Shayṭān.
Āmīn.
