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:

Dear Burhan,

 

Asalamo alaikom wa rahmatullah.

Live long Burhan Brother that you are doing such a noble deed.

 

I am a muslim and expatriate here in UAE. Now I am working in a music Institute and a dance academy. I am working as an accountant. My question is that if my earnings (salary ) is Halal or Haram. Reply me as soon as possible can I resume my duty or I suppose to quit the job. Tell me in the light of Isamic teaching i.e. in the light of Quraan and sunna.

Jaza ka Allah khair.

 

(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:

 

Working in music dance academy

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.

 

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."

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4909  Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: ‘Singing (of unlawful songs) produces hypocrisy in the hearts.’

 

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 contemporary 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.

 

Your Question: ….Now I am working in a music Institute and a dance academy.

I am working as an accountant.

My question is that if my earnings (salary ) is Halal or Haram.

Respected brother in Islam, because you are employed as an accountant in the academy, one cannot say with absolute conviction that all your earnings are unlawful….but without an iota of a doubt, if the work that you do facilitates or aids or assists in the continuation of what is clearly described as unlawful in Islam, you would bear an appropriate portion of its sin.  And Allah Alone Knows Best. 

 

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