Is BeatBoxing Halal in Islam?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Beatboxing [1](also beatbox, beat box or b-box) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one’s mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments.
Beatboxing is not permissible as it involves music.[2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saleem Ibn Sajawal Khan
Bradford, UK
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1] Beatboxing today is connected with hip-hop culture, being one of “the elements”, although it is not limited to hip-hop music. The term “beatboxing” is sometimes used to refer to vocal percussion in general (see vocal percussion for details).
[2] This is also a type of music, and is used in place of musical instruments. Musical instruments are impermissible primarily due to the sound emanating from them and not merely because of the instruments themselves. Therefore, beatboxing is also impermissible as it is the same rhythmic sound that emanates although not from an instrument. Therefore this will fall in the category of music.
Music is harmful for us and for society as a whole. It affects one’s emotions, creates arousal, passion and excitement, and also leads to various physiological changes in a person. It is a psychologically proven fact that music has an effect in arousing the human sexual desire.
Nabi (Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has mentioned:
“الغناء ينبت النفاق في القلب”
Translation: “Music cultivates hypocrisy in the heart” [Sunan Abu Dawud vol. 4 pg. 282, Hadith: 4927]