| Q 2: What is the ruling on people gathering to listen to musical instruments, such as the lute, the violin, the drums and other instruments which are usually accompanied by singing? Please note that they claim that what they do is permissible.  A: The Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and the Prophetic Hadiths emphatically dispraise songs and musical instruments and warn against them. Furthermore, the Qur'an mentions that using such instruments causes misguidance and leads to mockery of Allah's Ayahs. Allah (Exalted be He) says:  And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allâh, or the Verses of the Qur’ân) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire). | | (Part No. 3; Page No. 425) | |
The majority of scholars explained that idle talks refers to songs and musical instruments and every sound that diverts from the Path of Allah (Exalted be He). It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:  Verily, among my Ummah (nation) there will be people who will deem as lawful: Al-Hir (sexual intercourse outside marriage), (wearing) silk (for men), Khamr (intoxicants) and musical instruments. The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed that at the end of the time, there will come people who will make it lawful as they have made wine, adultery, and silk lawful. This is one of the signs of his prophethood (peace be upon him), as all that he said really came true. The aforementioned Hadith clearly prohibits songs and musical instruments and censures those who regard them as lawful. It also dispraises those who consider it lawful to drink Khamr and commit Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage). There are many Ayahs and Hadiths against songs and musical instruments.Whoever claims that Allah (Exalted be He) made it permissible to listen to songs and musical instruments has ignorantly told lies against Allah (Exalted be He) and committed a grave act of Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect). May Allah save our hearts from following vain desires and Satan.It is even worse to claim that listening to songs is Mustahab (desirable). This reflects utter ignorance of Allah (Exalted be He) and His Din (religion). Thus, they falsely ascribe lies to His Shari`ah (Law). It is indeed Mustahab to play the tambourine during weddings for women only to publicize marriage and distinguish it from Zina. Moreover, there is no harm in singing some songs that are familiar to women on occasions which do not include any unlawful words or forsaking an obligation. This should happen in women's places that are isolated from men's in order to avoid intermixing between both sexes and without bothering the neighbors with loudspeakers, because this is a wrongful act. Similarly, it is impermissible for women in weddings to use any musical instruments other than the tambourine, such as the lute, the violin, or the Rababa (Arab fiddle), as this is Munkar. They are only permitted to use the tambourine.Men are not allowed to use or play any musical instruments whether in wedding parties or on other occasions. Rather, they are only permitted to train on weapons of war such as archery, riding horses, and competing in that field in addition to other instruments, such as | | (Part No. 3; Page No. 426) | |
training on using spears, tanks, planes, canons, automatic rifles, bombs, and all matters that help serve the purpose of Jihad (fighting or striving in the Cause of Allah).May Allah set right the affairs of Muslims, grant them good comprehension of their religion, and learning what help them in Jihad against their enemies and protection of their countries. He is All-Hearer and Responsive. |
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