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Is Music Haram in Islam?

Scholars disagree: most classical jurists and IslamQA say musical instruments are haram, while a minority permit clean music. Both sides, plus the daff.

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Short answer

Scholars disagree. Most classical jurists, and fatwa sites such as IslamQA today, hold that musical instruments are haram except the daff (hand drum) at weddings and Eid, citing Sahih al-Bukhari 5590. A minority, including Ibn Hazm, al-Ghazali, and Egypt's Dar al-Ifta, permit music whose words and setting are free of sin. Both sides agree that music with immoral lyrics, or that leads to sin, is haram.

Music is part of almost everything now: the gym, the supermarket, every reel and video you scroll past. So it is natural to wonder whether listening is a sin, or whether the strict answer you heard growing up is the only one.

The honest answer is that this is a genuine scholarly disagreement, not a settled matter of creed. This guide lays out what each side says and why, so you can understand the ruling rather than just hear a verdict.

Is music haram in Islam?

There is no single agreed ruling. The majority of classical scholars from the four Sunni schools considered musical instruments forbidden, with a recognised exception for the daff on joyful occasions. A minority of respected scholars permitted music as long as its content and setting are clean.

Egypt's Dar al-Ifta puts it plainly in its 2013 fatwa: listening to music "has differing opinions in Islamic law," it is not a matter of creed, and so Muslims should not condemn one another over it. IslamQA, by contrast, concludes that "music, musical instruments and singing are haram in Islam."

Position Who holds it Instruments Singing (vocals only)
Prohibited Most classical jurists; IslamQA (Fatwa 5000) Haram, except the daff at weddings and Eid Allowed if the words are clean and there is no fitnah
Permitted with conditions Ibn Hazm, al-Ghazali; Egypt's Dar al-Ifta Allowed unless tied to sin, drinking, or indecency Allowed if the words are clean
Agreed by both All of the above Haram when it leads to sin Haram with immoral or un-Islamic lyrics

What is the evidence that music is haram?

Scholars who prohibit music rely mainly on one hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and one verse of the Quran.

The hadith: the Prophet ﷺ said, "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" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5590). The Arabic word translated "musical instruments" is ma'azif. Because it is listed alongside things that are clearly haram, and the people are described as making them lawful, these scholars conclude that instruments are forbidden.

The verse: "And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge" (Quran 31:6). IslamQA notes that the companion Ibn 'Abbas explained "amusement of speech" (lahw al-hadith) as singing.

Why do some scholars say music is allowed?

Scholars who permit music argue that no clear text explicitly forbids it, and that the Prophet ﷺ himself allowed singing and drums on happy occasions.

  • Singing on Eid. Two young girls were singing in the house of 'Aishah on Eid. Abu Bakr objected, calling it "musical instruments of Satan," but the Prophet ﷺ said, "O Abu Bakr! There is an 'Id for every nation and this is our 'Id" (Sahih al-Bukhari 952).
  • The daff at weddings. The Prophet ﷺ said, "What differentiates between the lawful and the unlawful is the Duff, and the voice (singing) for the wedding" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3369, graded hasan).
  • Intention matters. Dar al-Ifta quotes Ibn Hazm: whoever listens to singing to help himself obey Allah is rewarded, whoever uses it to aid disobedience is sinning, and listening for simple relaxation is pardoned, "such as a person walking in his garden."
  • Al-Ghazali held that instruments become impermissible when they are the signature of drinkers and lewdness, but otherwise remain permissible.

Ibn Hazm also questioned the chain of the Bukhari hadith, though most hadith specialists defend its authenticity. That debate is one reason the disagreement has lasted for centuries.

Is the daff allowed in Islam?

Yes. Almost all scholars, including those who prohibit other instruments, allow the daff (a simple frame drum) at weddings and Eid. The Nasa'i hadith above directly encourages it for announcing marriages. Where scholars differ is whether it is also allowed at other times and for men as well as women.

Are nasheeds halal?

Nasheeds with clean words and no instruments are widely considered halal. Dar al-Ifta notes that scholars agreed on the permissibility of a cappella singing at joyful times such as weddings, homecomings, and Eid, as long as conditions are met. Nasheeds that add instruments or heavy production fall back into the same debate as music generally.

Is it a sin to hear music in public?

Many scholars who prohibit music distinguish between choosing to listen and simply hearing music you cannot avoid, such as in a shop or a taxi. The concern is with deliberately listening and seeking it out, not with sounds you have no control over. If you can reasonably avoid it, for example by switching the station or using headphones with something else, the cautious approach is to do so.

How can you cut back on music if you want to?

Replace it gradually rather than going silent overnight. People who successfully reduce music usually swap it for something they enjoy:

  1. Start with the moments that matter most, such as before and after prayer, so your mind is calmer when you stand to pray. Our guide on how to focus in salah explains why that transition helps.
  2. Swap playlists for Quran recitation, nasheeds, or podcasts during commutes and workouts.
  3. Clean up your feeds. Short-form video is where most music now arrives uninvited; see our take on whether posting on TikTok is haram.
  4. Keep your prayers steady. Allah says "prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing" (Quran 29:45). Prayer is the anchor that makes other changes stick.

Whatever view you follow, do not let this question become a reason to look down on others or on yourself. Focus on what is clear: your five daily prayers. Salah Home is a prayer tracker app, free to download on iPhone, that lets you log each prayer with a tap, keep your streak, and earn Dates to build a peaceful virtual home, a gentle reminder that small, steady steps count.

Frequently asked questions

Is listening to music a major sin?

Scholars who prohibit music generally treat deliberately listening to instruments as sinful, while scholars such as Ibn Hazm and Egypt's Dar al-Ifta consider clean music permissible. Both agree that music with immoral content or that leads to sin is haram.

What hadith says music is haram?

The main evidence is Sahih al-Bukhari 5590, in which the Prophet ﷺ foretold people who would treat illegal intercourse, silk, alcohol, and musical instruments (ma'azif) as lawful. Scholars who permit music question how strongly this hadith proves a prohibition.

Is the daff haram?

No. Nearly all scholars allow the daff at weddings and Eid, based on the hadith "What differentiates between the lawful and the unlawful is the Duff, and the voice for the wedding" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3369).

Are nasheeds without instruments halal?

Yes, nasheeds with clean lyrics and no instruments are widely considered permissible. Egypt's Dar al-Ifta notes scholarly agreement on a cappella singing at joyful occasions when its conditions are met.

Is it haram to listen to music while studying or working out?

It depends on which scholarly view you follow. Under the majority view, instrumental music is avoided at all times; under the permissive view, clean music for relaxation or focus is allowed. Quran recitation or vocal-only audio is an option that satisfies both views.

Sources

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