Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Respected Bhai

My question`s are.

1 Why songs are not allowed to listen in islam?

2 Now a days we have "Naat" with modren back round music is ok to listen?

3 Is it Qualee is ok to listen?

 

Waiting for reply,

Thanks for guiding Burhan bhai

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Legal music songs

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question:Why songs are not allowed to listen in islam?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.494B       Narrated by Abu Amir

that he heard the Prophet (saws) 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.”

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3153        Narrated by Muhammad ibn Hatib al-Jumahi

The Prophet (saws) said, "The distinction between what is lawful and what is unlawful is the song and the tambourine at a wedding."

 

Beloved brother in Islam, if one takes ‘music’ to mean the melodious sound of the Muaddin while calling to prayer,  or the beautiful sound of the ‘Qari’ when he recites the Holy Quran,  or the musical sound of the ‘daff’ (tambourine) that is played to celebrate one’s wedding or on the Day of Eid, or the tunes of chorus sung by the mujahideen, etc.;  these are not only permitted,  these types of music are absolutely encouraged in Islam.

 

Thus, ‘music’ per say is not forbidden in Islam; what is indeed forbidden in Islam is the illegal string music which is so rampant in movies, television, radios, etc. which encourage ‘fahisha’ and indecency.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 33:

33      Say: ‘The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: ‘faahisha’ (shameful deeds) whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.’

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 151:

151     Say: "Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from: join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents: kill not your children on a plea of want;  We provide sustenance for you and for them;  come not even near ‘faahisha’ (shameful deeds) whether open or secret; take not life which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law”: thus doth He command you that ye may learn wisdom.

 

If one looks around the society we live in today, one would notice that conventional ‘music’ is related to almost every place that encourages ‘fahisha’ or indecency; and it is this concept of ‘fahisha’ and indecency that Allah has strictly declared haraam for the believers.  The principle in Islam is that every road that leads to the forbidden is also forbidden; and as illegal conventional ‘music’ is an accomplice to and leads or encourages ‘fahisha’ and indecency, it too would be considered forbidden.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.103         Narrated by Urwa on the authority of Aisha

On the days of Mina, (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah) Abu Bakr came to her while two young girls were beating the tambourine and the Prophet (saws) was lying covered with his clothes. Abu Bakr scolded them and the Prophet (saws) uncovered his face and said to Abu Bakr, "Leave them, for these days are the days of 'Id and the days of Mina."

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3154        Narrated by Aisha

I had a girl of the Ansar whom I gave in marriage, and Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Why do you not sing, Aisha, for this clan of the Ansar like singing."

 

Singing in its essence is neither prohibited nor unlawful in Islam.  Provided none of the commands and tenets of Islam are violated, it is permissible in Islam for one to sing, especially on joyous occasions like marriage, Eid, etc. if one wishes to do so.

 

What determines whether a song or singing is lawful or unlawful is what is said in the songs and whose ears access those songs.  The Muaddin (or caller to prayer) chanting the adhaan, or one reciting the Quran in a melodious voice, or the chanting of the ‘talbeeyah’ during pilgrimage, or the chanting of the mujahideen in battle, etc. are not only lawful but highly encouraged and meritorious in the Sight of Allah Subhanah. 

 

But if the songs being sung encourage indecency, ‘fahisha’, or glamorize elements of evil, or disbelief, or hypocrisy, or ‘shirk’, etc.; or songs which are sung by women when in the company or presence of non-mehram men; or songs being sung with illegal string music, etc.;  then all such songs and all such singing would be deemed prohibited in Islam.

 

Your Question: Now a days we have "Naat" with modren back round music is ok to listen?

Your Question: Is it Qualee is ok to listen?

To the best of our knowledge what we know as ‘naats’ or ‘nasheeds’ or ‘qawwalis’ today was not at all practiced or prevalent in the times of the Messenger of Allah (saws), nor in the times of the early generations of muslims after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

 

If one wishes to say phrases in the praise of the Last Messenger of Allah (saws), then the absolute best thing to do is recite the ‘durood’ or salutation upon the Noble Prophet (saws)…..and rest absolutely assured, that there is no better ‘naat’, ‘nasheed’, ‘qawwali’ etc. than the ‘durood’. 

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 56:

Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him and salute him with all respect.

 

Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari reported the following account from Bashir ibn Sa'd: "I asked Prophet (saws)  'O Messenger of Allah (saws),  Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings upon you.   How should we do it?'   The Messenger of Allah (saws) remained silent until we wished we had not asked him.   Then he told us to say,

'Allahumma salli 'ala muhammadin wa 'ala ali muhammadin kama sallayta 'ala ali ibrahima,  wa barik 'ala muhammadin wa 'ala ali muhammadin kama barakta 'ala ibrahima wa 'ala ali ibrahima;  fil 'alamin, innaka hammidum majeed.  {Narrated by Muslim.}

(O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Ibrahim,  and give baraka to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You gave baraka to Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.  In all the worlds, You are worthy of Praise and Glorious)

 

Man is obviously prone to ignorance and exaggeration; one whom he thinks or believes to be a pious individual, at times he raises them to the status reserved for the Prophets! And one whom he believes to be a Prophet, at times he raises them to the status and rank which is reserved for none save the One and Only Incomparable Lord and Creator! 

 

Thus one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day must be extremely careful to remain within the limits of Islam, and not say or listen to phrases or ‘naats’, ‘nasheeds’, ‘qawwalis’ etc. where the ignorant have raised the status of the Noble Prophet (saws) to that of Allah Subhanah, or raise the attributes of the Prophet (saws) to the Exclusive Attributes of Allah Subhanah. 

 

Some ‘naats’ and ‘nasheeds’ are indeed good and within the limits, but some ignorant people at times say and manufacture things about the Prophet (saws), which raise him (saws) to the Attributes which belong to Allah Subhanah, the Lord of the Worlds, Alone.  Such ‘naats’ and ‘nasheeds’ should be strictly avoided by the believers. 

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan