I've been having a big discussion with my non-Muslim parents about why music isn't allowed, and since I'm not very good at debates, I don't have very good answers. They keep telling me that music hasn't done them any harm, and that music makes you happy. I've tried comparing the affects of music to illegal drugs, but they keep asking me what harm having something to make you feel a certain way does. They also keep accusing me of being autistic, because of the apparent 'rules are rules' atitude they think I have, and they are worried about me becoming an extremist or just hiding away from society to get away from doing haram things. Please answer me soon, because I need answers before I go on a bike ride.

Please don't close this because it's a music topic, I really need answers. If I don't have any, they'll just think it's a stupid prohibition.

Please answer soon, I really need your help!

Greetings,

As an atheist and music fan, I'm afraid I agree with your parents 100%.

However, here is a link giving some Islamic perspectives.

There are also lots of threads on the forum dealing with this issue. Just type "music" into the search box.

It seems to me (as an outsider) that the only real reason for its prohibition in Islam is "Allah said so".

Peace

ASalama Alaikum...
I hope this answers your question. Enjoy........

Listening to music and singing is a sin and cause for the sickening and weakening of the heart. The majority of the scholars of the Salaf are unanimous that listening to music and singing and using musical instruments is Haram (prohibited).

Evidence that Music and Singing are Haram

1. Allaah said, what translated means, "And of mankind he who purchases idle talks to mislead (people) from the Path of Allaah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allaah) by way of mockery, For such there will be a humiliating torment[31:6].

:sister: The Prophet said (which means), "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. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allaah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection." [Al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494v].

This Hadeeth states that musical instruments are Haram, and there is no disagreement. In his book, Ighathat Al-Lahfan, Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "When the Prophet said, 'render as lawful,' he meant that it was unlawful, then the people made it lawful."

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah also said regarding the person, whose habit is to listen to music, "His state of emotions becomes less passionate when he hears the Qur'aan. On the contrary, when he listens to instruments of the devil (music), he dances a lot. If the prayer is established, he either prays while sitting down or performs it as fast as when the roaster picks seeds. He dislikes listening to the Qur'aan and does not find beauty in it while reciting it. He has no taste for the Qur'aan and feels no love for it or pleasure when it is read. Rather, he finds pleasure if he listens to Mukaa' or Tasdiyah. These are satanic pleasures and he is among those whom Allaah mentioned in the Ayah, And whosoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allaah), We appoint for him Satan to be a companion for him. [43:36]." [Awliyaa' Ar-Rahman].


Asalama Alaikum...

The following are just my personal thoughts, so take with a pinch of salt:

Pieces of music are composed by people and most likely these pieces are created with the intention to get across a message that is conceived within the depths of the mentioned individuals emotional selves.

When these pieces are heard by someone it seems to me that the subconscious thoughts of the creator of the music could somehow transfer to the individual, causing some form of untold damage which can differ on the basis of the creators emotional state at the time the music was composed. To me personally, it seems kind of counter-intuitive to find meaning in something which man has composed, seeing as the message given to us by Allah himself is supposed to be more important.

You will find that their are opposing views from scholars with regards to this issue.

Just because you don't wish to ever give up music does not mean that there is no evidence against it.
Scholars spend enough times debating this, without us bringing it up again.
I've got a good feeling this thread will get closed. There are already too many threads about music. Besides, this isn't a fiqh board.
W'salaam

I read some of the opposing views and didn't find them very convincing. Anyway, as Umm Shaheed said, this isn't a fiqh board.

I don't want to discuss whether it's not allowed, I want good reasons why. If I don't get any reasons that will convince an atheist, then they will just think I'm stupid.

The Prophet (SAW) taught us to stay away from that which is doubtful.
W'salaam

Greetings,
There is no evidence that all music is bad. If you think there is, then let's see it, but please be advised that I know far more about music than you do.

Peace

They won't accept it, they'll probably accuse me of having a 'rules are rules' attitude, and call me autistic again.

bro,
Don't introduce these issues as restrictions but as directions that Islam has pointed you in. So for example, rather than saying "I can't listen to music because I'm Muslim', say, 'I've reached an understanding where happiness to me is not found in the rhythms of worldly noises but the rhythms of loving devotion to and glorification of the Creator'. I said in another thread:

I've found that when giving Da'wah to such Muslims, if you tell them to focus on their relationship with God and learning their religion they will naturally leave music. Once someone becomes more focused on their religion, they abandon these things by themselves [* (Pop Culture in the Name of Islam)]

And you shouldn't introduce Islam to your parents starting with all the prohibitions and regulations first. That's putting the cart before the horse; you need to start with the message. For example, You aren't going to get a non-muslim to agree that men shouldn't wear silk or that we should enter the washroom with our left foot or that we should eat with our right hand. These rules come only after you accept the Qur'an and the Sunnah. So to argue with non-muslims over these rules is missing the mark.

Lastly, the title of this thread is 'why isn't music allowed?' but not all music falls under the same ruling and there are many gray areas as well.

I hope this helps.

Greetings,
Surely they're right, though? (Except for the part about calling you autistic - that's perhaps a bit cruel).

I know that as a Muslim you take rules seriously, but ultimately that's your only reason for abiding by them. You're not doing it for any logical reason that could be demonstrated to an outsider; you're simply obeying because you've chosen to do so.

There's nothing wrong with music per se - you've just chosen to abstain from it because you've been told to by an authority that you trust (Allah). This is why you're having such a problem with this issue, and why you can't find any convincing reasons beyond that for having given it up.

Peace

errm....all i knw is that allah has commanded tht the use of instruments excpet the drum is haraam....as they force u into things away from allah and ur religion, which music does...therefore music is classed as haraam....i hope tht helps
salaam brother

Personaly I do not see this as being a music thread per se. I view this as being an explanatory thread as to why some things are not permitted for Muslims.

I do not know why music is considered Haraam in most forms, however I do know that some forms of Music are haraam. I do not know if that includes all Music or if there may be some permissable Music. Based on my limited knowledge, I would say I probably should avoid all forms of Music so that I do not intentionaly present something that is Haraam to others.

Music is a moot point to myself as I can not hear most Music. However, I do need to be aware and do my best to keep from presenting something that is Haraam to others.

I would say that Music is haraam because it has the ability to generate an emotion, sometimes emotions can lead to haraam thoughts and/or actions. It is a tool well recognised by the advertising media, it is used to instill the desire for people to buy a certain product. If the advertising execs on Madison Avenue knows it can sell products, it seems that Shaitan probably knows it can sell sin.

Greetings,
Perhaps you'd like to explain why. All I'm doing here is stating facts.

Presumably Fishman has decided he wants to be a Muslim and obey Islamic rules, and who am I to argue with that? People are free to believe what they like.

Similarly, you are free to believe that music has harmful if effects if you like, perhaps taking justification from articles such as the one you've linked to; all I'm doing is pointing out the factual void that such an opinion stems from.

Peace