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What Islam says about Music



Surah Luqman (Verse: 6)
Allah says in Quran
“And there are among men, those that purchase idle tales, to miss lead (men) from the path of ALLAH and through ridicule. For search there will be a humiliating punishment”

The great companion Abdullah Ibn Masood (Allah be pleased with him) states in the explanation of the word “ idle tales”: “By ALLAH its meaning is music” (Sunan Al- Bayhaqi, 1/223 & authenticated by Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, 2/411).

Imam Ibn Abi Shayba related with his own transmission that he (Ibn Massod) said:  “I swear by Him besides whom there is no GOD that it refers to singing” (5/132)

The great Companion and exegete of the Quran Abdullah Ibn Abbas ( Allah be pleased with him ) states: “The Meaning of this word is music. Singing and the like” ( Sunan Al- Bayhaqi, 1/221 & Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba, 5/132 )

Hassan Al-Bassri (Allah be pleased with him) said: “This verse was revealed in relation to singing and musical instruments” (Tafsir Ibn Kaseer, 3/442)
The same explanation has also been narrated from:  Mujahid, Ikrima, Ibrahim Nakha’i, Makhul and Others

Al-Hassan AL-Bassri (May Allah be pleased with him) said : "This Verse was revealed concerning singing and musical instruments (lit. woodwind instruments)" (Tafseer Ibn Kaseer, 3/451)

The Scholar of the Ummah, Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said:  “ this means singing”

Mujahid (May Allah be pleased with him) said:  “ This means playing the drum ( Tabl)"
(Tafseer Al-Tabri,21/40)

Al-Saadi (May Allah be pleased with him) said:  “ This includes all manner of Haram (Prohibited) speech, all idle talk and Falsehood, and all nonsense that encourages Kufr and disobedience, the words of those who say things to refute the truth and argue in support of falsehood to defeat the truth, and backbiting, slander, lies, insults and curses, the singing and musical instruments of the shetaan, and musical instruments which are of no spiritual or worldly benefit.”
(Tafseer Al-Saadi, 6/150)


Ibn Al-Qayyim (May Allah be pleased with him) said:  “The Interpretation of the Sahaabah and Taabi’in, that ‘Idle talks’ refers to singing, is sufficient.”
This was reported with saheeh isnaads from Ibn Abbas and Ibn Masood. Abu l-Sahbaa (May Allah be pleased with him) said:  “I asked Ibn Massod about the Aayah (interpretation of the meaning)” And of mankind is he who purcheases idle talks’[ Luqmaan 31:6]
He said: By Allah, besides whom there is no other god, this means singing-  And he repeated it three times.
It was also reported with a saheeh isnaan from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that this means singing

There is no contradiction between the interpretation of “idle talk” as meaning singing and the interpretation of it as meaning stories of the Persians and their Kings of the Romans, and so on, such as al Nadr ibn al Haarith used to tell to the people of Makah to distract them from the Qura’aan. Both of them are idle talk.
Hence Ibn’Abbass said:”Idle talk” is falsehood and singing.

Some of the Sahaabah said one and some said the other, and some said both.
Singings is worse and more harmful then stories of Kings, because it leads to zinaa and makes hypocrisy grow(in the heart) ;it is the trap of shaytaan, and it clouds the mind.
The way in which it blocks people from the Qur’aan is worse then the way in which other kinds of false talk block them, because the peoples are naturally inclined towards it and tend to want to listen to it. The ayah condemn replacing the Qur’an with idle talks in order to mislead (men) from the path of Allah without knowledge and talking it as joke, because when an ayah of the Qur’an is recited to such a person, he turns his back as if he heard them not, as if there were deafness in his ear. If he hears anything of it, he makes fun of it.
All of this happens only in the case of the people who are moist stubbornly kaafirs and if some of it happens to singers and those who listen to them, they both have a share of this blame. (Ighaatathat al-Lahfaan,1/258-259).

The above verse of the Qur’aan, along with the statements regarding its meaning is clear in the prohibition of music. It also serves as a severs warning for those who are involved in the trade of music in any way, shape or from ,as Allah warned them of” Humiliating punishment”. 
As for those that say, the verse refers to things that prevent one from the remembrance of Allah and not music, do not contradict the aforementioned explanation.
The interpretation of the verse with things that prevent one from the remembrance of Allaah is a more general interpretation which includes music and song as one of the for most thing that stop you from the remembrance of Allah is music this is the reason why the majority of the exegetes of the Qur’an have interpreted the verse with music only or with all those acts that prevent on from the truth with music being at the forefront .
Allah most high said to shaytan:
“Lead to destruction those whom you can among them with your (Seductive)Voice" (Surah al Isra, v.64)

One of the great exegete, Mujahid (Allah have mercy on him) interpreted the word voice (Sawt)” by music, singing, dancing and idle things.
(Ruh al-Ma,ani,15/111).

Imam suyuti(Allah have mercy in him) quoted Mujahid as saying: “Voice (in this verse) is singing and flute” (al Iklil fi intinbat al-tanzil,1444).
Another exegete, dahhak (Allah have mercy on him) also interpreted the word”sawt” With flutes. (qurtubi, al-jami li Ahkam al-Qur’an,10/288)

It was narrated that Mujaahid (may Allah mercy on  him) said :
“And befool them gradually those whom you can among them with your voice”-his voice  [the voice of Iblees/shytaan ] is singing and falsehood"

Ibn al-Qayyim (May Allah have mercy on him ) said : 
This idaafah [possessive or genitive  construction , i.e, your voice ] serves to make the this idaafah [ possessive or genitive construction ,i.e, your voice] server to make the meaning specific ,as with the phrases [ translated as ]” your cavalry “and “your infantry “[later in the same aayah]. Every one who speak in any way that is not obedient to Allah, every one who beloved in to a flute or other woodwind instrument , or who plays any kind of drum, this is the voice of the shytaan, Every one who walks to commit some acts of disobedience towards Allah is part of his [ the shytaan ‘s] infantry ,and any one who ride to commit sin is part of his cavalry .This is the view of the salaf, as inb, Abi,Haatim narrated from Ibn ,Abbaas :his infantry is every one who walk to disobey Allah. (Ighaathat al-Lahfaan).
 Allah says whilst describing the attributes of the servants of the Most compassionate (ibad al-reham):
“Those who witness no falsehood , and if they pass by futility, they pass by it with honorable avoidance “(surah al-Furqan, V.72).

Imam Abu Bakr al-Jassas relates from sayyiduna Imam Abu Hanifah (Allah be pleased with him)that the meaning of” falsehood (Zur)” is music & song,
Allah Says (interpretation of the meaning):  “Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Qur’an)? And you laugh at it and weep not, Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing)
[al-Najm 53:59-61]
‘Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It was narrated from Ibn’Abbaas that al-sumood [verbal noun from saamidoon, translated here as
“ Wasting your (precious)lifetime and amusements (singing)”]mean “singing”, in the dialect of Himyar; it might be said “Ismidi Lanaa”[sing for us,-from the same root as saamidoon/sumood] meaning ”ghaniy “ [sing] . And he said (may Allaah have mercy on him):
When they[the kuffar] heard the Qur’aan, they would sing, then this aayah was revealed.

Ibn Katheer(may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "Allah says (interpretation of the meaning) “Wasting your (precious) life time in pastime and amusements (singing)"

Sufyaan al-Thawwri said narrated from his father from Ibn’ Abaass (this means) singing. This is Yemeni (dialect): ismad lana means ghan lana [sing to us]. This was also the view of ‘Ikrimah.
( Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
It was reported form Abu umaamah (may allaah be pleased with him) that the messenger of Allah slave women. Do not buy them and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not sell singing slave and their price is haraam. Concerning such things as this the aayah was revealed( interpretation of the meaning): ‘And of mankind is he who purchase idle talks (i.e music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allaah…’
[Luqmaan 31:6]” (Hasan hadeeth)

HADITH SECTION

Narrated Abu ‘Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari:
That he heard the prophet saying’
“From among my followers there will be some people who will consider
Illegal sexual intercourse,
The wearing of silk,
The drinking of alcoholic drinks,
And the use of musical instruments,
As lawful……………
(BUKHARI, Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494)
Narrated by:
Al-Bukhaari ta’leeqan, no. 5590;
Narrated as mawsool by al-tabraani and al-bayhaqi.
See al-silsilah al-saheehah by al-albaani, 91.

+
Reproted by al-bukhaari in al-saheeh mu’allaqan, 51/10.
Reported nawsoolan by al-bayhaqi In al-sunan al-kubra, 3/272;
Al-tabaraani in al-mu’jam al-kabeer, 3/319;
And ibn hibbaan in al-saheeh (8/265-266).
Classed as saheeh by ibn al-salaah in ‘uloom al-hadeeth(32),
Ibn al-qayyim in ighaathat al-lahfaan (255) and
Tahdheeb al-sunan (5/270-272),
Al-haafiz in al fath (5/51) and
Al-albaani in al-saheehah (1/140).
+
Ibn al-qayyim (may allaah have mercy on him) said;
This is a saheeh hadeeth narrated by al-bukhaari in his saheeh, where he quoted it as evidence and stated that it is mu’allaq and majzoom.
He sadi; chapter on what was narrated concerning those who permit alcohol and call it by another name.
This hadeeth indicates in two ways that musical instruments and enjoyment of listening to music are haraam.
The first is the fact that prophet (peace and blessings of allaah be upon him) said;
“[They] permit” which clearly indicates that the things mentioned, including musical instruments, are haraam according to sharee’ah, but those people will permit them.
The second is the fact that musical instruments are mentioned alongside these things?
(adapted from al-silsilah al-saheehah by al-albaani, 1/140-141)
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Ibn al-qayyim (may allaah have mercy on him) said;
And concerning the same topic similar somments were narrated from sahl ibn sa’d al-saa’idi, ‘imraan ibn husayn, ‘abd-allaaah ibn ‘amr, ‘abd-allaah ibn ‘abbaas, abu hurayarah, abu umaamah al-baahili, ‘Aa’ ishah umm al-mu’ mineen, ‘Ali ibn Abi taalib, Then he mentioned it in ighaathat al-lahfaan, and it indicates that they (musical instruments0 are haraaam.
+
He compared musical instruments to things that are definitely known to be harraam, namely zina and alcohol. If instruments
Explanations  Of the Word MA’Azif:

The scholars of the Arabic language are unanimous on the fact that it refers to musical instruments.  (Ibn Manzur, Laisan al-arab, V .99, P.189).
+
Ma, aazif is the plural of mi’zafah, and refers to musical instruments (Fath al-baari,10/55),+
Instruments which are played.(al-Majmoo,11/577).
+
Al-Qurtaubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) narrated from al-Jawahari (may Allah have mercy on him) that ma, aazif means singing.
In his Sihaah it says that it means musical instruments.
It was also said that it refers to the sound of the instruments. +
In al-Hawaashi by al-dimyaati (may Allah have mercy on him) it says:
Ma, aazif means drums and other instruments which are struck or beaten.
(Fath al-Baari, 10/55).
+
Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah)(may Allah have mercy on him)said:
This hadeeth indicates that ma,aazif are haraam, and ma,aazif means musical instruments according to the scholars of (Arabic) Language .This word includes all such in struments.
(Al-Majmoo, 11/535).
+
Ibn al-Qayyim said in Ighaat al-Lahfaan(1/256):
The evidence for this is that ma,aazif refers to all kinds of things used for entertainment
There is no dispute among scholars of the Arabic language on this point. If they were halaal , he whould not have condemned  those who permitted them , or compared  permitting  wine and zina.
+
Al-Haafiz said in al-Fath (10/55): Ma’aazif refers to musical instruments.
Al-Qurtabi reported from al-Jawahri that ma,aazif meant singing , and what it says in his
Book al-Sihaah is that it refers to musical instruments.
The word ‘azif is applied to singing and all other kinds of instruments that be played.
+
Shaykh ibn Baaz said Majmoo’al-Fataawa, 3/423-424):
“Ma’ aazif refers to singing and musical instruments. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that at the end of time there will come a people who will allaow these things just as they will allow alcohol, zina and silk. This is one of the sings of his Prophet hood, for all of this has happened. The hadeeth indicates that [musical instruments] are haraam, and condemns those who say they are halaal, just as it condemns those who say that alchola and zina are allowed.
The aayaat and ahaadeeth that warn against singing and musical instruments are many indeed.

BUKHARI, Volume 2, Book 15, Number 70:
Narrated Aisha:
Allah;s Prophet Apstle (p.b.u.h.) came to my house while two girls were singing besides me the song of Buath(a story about the war between two tribes of the Ansar,the Khazaraj and the Aus, before Islam).
The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) lay down and turned his face to the other side.
Then Abu Bakar came and spoke to me harshly saying,
Musical instruments of Satan near Prophet (p.b.u.h.) truned his face towards him and said,Leave them
When Abu Bakar became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and spears;
So either I requested the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) or he asked me whether I would like to see the display.
I replied in the affirmative.
Then the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, “Carry on! O Bani Arfida,” till I got tired. I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave.
BUKHARI, Volume 2, Book 15, number 72:

Narrated Aisha:
Abu Bakar came to my house while two small Ansari girls were singing beside me the stories of the Ansar concerning the Day of Buath. And they were not singers.
Abu baker said protestingly , “Muscial instruments of Satan in the house of Allah’s Apostle!”
It happened on the ‘Id day and Allah’s Apostal said “ O Abu Bakr!
There is an ‘id for every nation and this is our’Id”.
BUKHARI  Volume 5 Book 58 number 268:

Narrated Aisha:
That once  Abu Bakar came to her on the day of ‘Id-ul-Firr or ‘Id ul Adha while the Prophet was with her and there were two girls singers with her, singing songs of the Ansar about the day of Buth.
Abu Bakr said twice. “Musical instruments of satan!”
But the Prophet said ,
“ Leave them Abu Bakr, for every nation has an ‘Id( i.e. festival) and this day is our ‘Id.”




MUSLIMS, Book 024, Number 5279:

Abu huraira reported Allah’s Massenger(may peace be upon him) as saying:
The bell is the musical instruments of the Satan.
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Massenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace)said:
“Bell is the flute of shaytan” ( Sahih Muslim & Sunan Abu Dawud).

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