Music on Islamic radio station

Category: 

Character & Morals

According to Madhhab: 

Hanafi

Reference: 

1440-223

Question: 

I would like a ruling regarding Music over Islamic Radio Stations. 

Answer: 
Music in Islaam is completely forbidden by the Qur’an and Ahaadith.
In the following Aayaat, the prohibition of music is mentioned:
 وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَّشْتََِيْ لََوَْ الَْْدِيْثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ بِغَيِْْ عِلْمٍ ق وَّ يَتَّخِذُهَا هُزُوًا ط اُلٰئِكَ لََمُْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِيٌْْ 
“From the people are those who purchase vain talks to deviate from the path of Allah, and takes it as a mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment.”
[Surah 31 Verse 6]
In this verse, the word “vain talk” refers to music, dancing, singing, etc. as is narrated by the majority of the commentators of the Qur’an.1
اَ فَمِنْ هٰذَا الَْْدِيْثِ تَعْجَبُوْنَ وَ تَضْحَكُوْنَ وَ لََ تَبْكُوْنَ وَ اَنْتُمْ سَامِدُوْنَ
“Do you wonder at this recitation? And you laugh at it and weep not, wasting your lifetime in pastime and amusements?”
[Surah 53Verse 59, 60, 61]
In this verse, according to some commentators “pastime and amusements” refers to music.2
 وَ الَّذِيْنَ لََ يَشْهَدُوْنَ الزُّوْرَ لا وَ اِذَا مَرُّوْا بِِللَّغْوِ مَرُّوْا كِرَامًا 
“And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.”
[Surah 25 Verse 72]
In this verse, according to some Mufassireen, including Imaam Abu Hanifah  , the word “falsehood” refers to music.3
In the following Ahaadith, the prohibition of music is mentioned:
عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْْٰنِ بْنِ غَنَمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِِْ اَبوُْ عَامِرٍ اَوْ اَبوُْ مَالِكٍ الََْشْعَرِيُّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ اَنَّه سََِعَ النَّبَِِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ لَهُ : لَيَكُوْنَنَّ مِنْ اُمَّتِِْ اَقْوَامٌ يَسْتَحِلُّوْنَ الِْْرَّ وَ الَْْرِيْرَ وَ الَْْمْرَ وَ الْمَعَازِفَ

“There will be people among my Ummah who will consider adultery, silk, liquor and musical instruments as permissible.” (Bukhaari)4

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ قَالَ : اِنَّ اللهَ حَرَّمَ الَْْمْرَ وَ الْمَيْسِرَ وَ الْكُوْبَةَ وَ كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَام 

“Certainly, Allah prohibited liquor, gambling and drums. And every intoxicant is Haraam.” (Ahmad)5

عَنْ اَبِِْ اُمَامَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ قَالَ : اِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَنِِْ هُدًى وَ رَحَْْةً ل لْعٰلَمِيَْْ وَ اَمَرَِ نْ حَِِْ الْمَزَامِيِْْ وَ الََْوْتََرِ وَ الصَّلِيْبِ وَ اَمْرِ الَْْاهِلِيَّةِ

“Allah has sent me as a means of guidance and as a mercy for the worlds, and commanded me to destroy the clarinet, strings (of musical instruments), the cross and the habits of the era of ignorance.” (Abu Dawood Tayaalisi and Ahmad)6

عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُوْدٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ اَنَّ النَّبَِِّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ قَالَ : اِاَّكُكُمْ وَ سََِااَ الْمَعَازِفِ وَ الْغِنَافِ فَاِهَُّمُمَا ينُْبِتَانِ الن قَافَ الْقَ لْبِ كَمَا ينُْبِتُ الْمَافُ الْبَقْلَ

“Beware of listening to musical instruments and music, because it causes hypocrisy to grow in the heart like the water causes greenery to grow.” (Ibn Safry and Daylami)7

And there are many other Ahaadith with regard to this subject.

From the above-mentioned Qur’anic verses and Ahaadith, it is clearly understood that music is not allowed in Shariah even though it may be played on a so-called Islamic Radio station.

AND ALLAH TA'AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST

ANSWERED BY: Ebrahim Patel

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:  Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B. 

Islamic Date:8 Jumaadal Ula 1440 - English Date: 15 January 2019

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