URGENT: Why isn't Music allowed?

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...

format_quote Originally Posted by strider

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

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.

bro,

format_quote Originally Posted by Fishman

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.

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 [*]

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.

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.

Your parents need to realize something:

In Islam, we give up ALOT of things that we would normally love to do for the sake of Allah. In return, he gives us what he owes us and 1000x the pleasure in paradise. Music may be prohibited here, but in paradise, it is rampant. The hoors in paradise sing all day long.

The same can be thought of other things. There are two reasons why something is prohibited- either it causes us a great deal of harm (smoking) or because Allah wants to test us (music).

Let's give it up in this life so we can get it in the next life.

format_quote Originally Posted by czgibson

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

ok thats cool...dun bite my head off brother

Just when stating that you agree 100% with his parents sounded harsh, but you don't have to disagree with them, i just dunno why you said that, Fishmans nice so he didn't reply, but it kinda ticked me off

nevermind peace!

format_quote Originally Posted by Fishman

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.

Dear Fishman bro!

I'm afraid if i am trying to prove to everyone that whatever is prohibited in islam has a scientific explanation, it's not really going to work. The earlier the people get the message that islam is based on words of Allah and teaching of prophet (sallallahu alaihe wasallam), the better. Quote from Sura Ahzab Ayah 36....

It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.

I'm pretty sure this answer won't satisfy many inquisitive minds, but the prohibitions and allowances are primarily based on Allah and His Messenger's orders, not on scientific advantages or disadvantages.

You have shown great courage in your quest to embrace islam...MashAllah. May Allah help us all be guided on the straight path. Ameen

Well you know the reason i included effects of music was because his rents are non-Muslims and might find it hard to understand that 'Music is haraam (forbiddon) full stop' And the fact that he won't have reasons to back it up, they might say stuff to reassure him that Islams not the right religion for him and stuff, but really it should be the other way round, he should now be trying to convince them that Islam is the true religion, because he sees the truth in it, and inshaAllah if they also see the truth it will be easier for them to practice, ya know as a family, if you get what i'm saying. You can't expect a non Muslim to follow everything so easily without back-up, for us the Quran and Sunnah are enough but maybe not for them, so you have to use other factors science etc to help them have a better understanding.

Allhu alum (And Allah knows best),

AsalamuAlaykum.

format_quote Originally Posted by tasmiyah_B

Well you know the reason i included effects of music was because his rents are non-Muslims and might find it hard to understand that 'Music is haraam (forbiddon) full stop' And the fact that he won't have reasons to back it up, they might say stuff to reassure him that Islams not the right religion for him and stuff, but really it should be the other way round, he should now be trying to convince them that Islam is the true religion, because he sees the truth in it, and inshaAllah if they also see the truth it will be easier for them to practice, ya know as a family, if you get what i'm saying. You can't expect a non Muslim to follow everything so easily without back-up, for us the Quran and Sunnah are enough but maybe not for them, so you have to use other factors science etc to help them have a better understanding.

Allhu alum (And Allah knows best),

AsalamuAlaykum.

Dear Sis,



I really appreciate your concern and you are trying to help bro Fishman, like us all. I agree with you that to start off for a new muslim isn't easy and needs a lot of help with queries regarding Halal and Haram. I also agree that most of the things in Islam are very congruent with Modern Science. For satisfaction of heart it's all fine. What I won't endorse is something like "i left music because it has following disadvantages" and "i pray because it gives me good excercise and i fast because is good for my health". "i keep a beard because it has these advantages" etc.

Please i'm not condemning anyone's effort to help new muslims. I'm very sure you all are doing much better than i am.

I'd end on this ayah from sura baqara:

The Messenger (Muhammad ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)."

Jazakellaha

format_quote Originally Posted by czgibson

Greetings,


Sorry - I didn't mean to. Please accept my apologies. Let's discuss the issue rather than attacking people who hold different views from us.



It might have been harsh, but it's the truth. Having the word "Atheist" in my profile might seem harsh too. The Islamic prohibition on music is an issue I feel very strongly about. The fact is that there's no way to convince someone that all music is bad by using rational argument. Muslims don't believe music is bad because they have any valid, worldly reason for doing so - it's because of religious dogma, and all other arguments put forward in favour of the prohibition are just back-pedalling to try and justify that.

Peace

Once again, no one ever said anything about music being bad. Islam does NOT say music is bad for you. God has just banned us from listening to music as a mere test. In the Akhira (hereafter) we will be allowed to listen to all kinds of beautiful music and singing.

We're not trying to convince you that music is bad for the soul. In fact, it probably is good for you in some ways. That doesn't mean it isn't prohbitied by God as a means of testing the ones he loves- if they pass the test, Lo! They get the music forever in the herafter. If they fail the test, well then they don't get to listen to the music in the hereafter.

Do you want a pleasureable thing for 40 years or 4,000 years?

format_quote Originally Posted by czgibson

Muslims don't believe music is bad because they have any valid, worldly reason for doing so

Are you suggesting that religious reasons aren't valid or that none of the 'wordly' reasons invoked by Muslims are valid? If its the latter, then i would agree that it is methodologicaly flawed for Muslims to attempt to convince non-muslims that there is empirical benefit in Islamic regulations like entering the washroom with the left foot, men not wearing silk, and so on. These are our practices that naturally follow from our acceptance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

Regards

czgibson,

Yes well they are just people trying to explain why something is bad isnt it? they are doing their best, but they dont have God's wisdom- God knows best why music was made illegal for us and that should be good enough for a muslim. We place our trust in Allah swt.