Q: Dear Moulana, Firstly, thank you for your answer on the prohibition of music in Islam. I indeed agree that some music may create hypocrisy and other evil things in the hearts of people, but I still have doubts about the permissibility of music. In fact, the following Hadith somehow proves that the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam allowed some types of music (those who do not cause evil to the heart).
From Bukhari Volume 2, Book 15, Number 70: Narrated Aisha radhiallahu anha:
Allah’s Apostle sallallahu alaihi wa sallam came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Buath (a story about the war between the two tribes of the Ansar, the Khazraj and the Aus, before Islam). The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam lay down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr radhiallahu anhu came and spoke to me harshly saying, “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam? ” Allah’s Apostle sallallahu alaihi wa sallam turned his face towards him and said, “Leave them.” When Abu Bakr radhiallahu anhu became inattentive, I signaled to those girls to go out and they left. It was the day of Eid, and the black people were playing with shields and spears; so either I requested the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam or he asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative. Then the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam made me stand behind him and my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, “Carry on! O Bani Arfida,” till I got tired. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam asked me, “Are you satisfied (Is that sufficient for you)?” I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave.
Furthermore,
Narrated Abu Musa radhiallahu anhu: “That the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said to him ‘O Abu Musa! You have been given one of the musical wind-instruments of the family of David.’ (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Virtues of the Qur’an, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 568)”
I would like to know your opinion about that.
Would you please forgive me if I am asking too much, I am confused. It would be great if you could help.
A: Jazakallah for your follow up query. It is good that you brought forward your doubts and views on the issue.
Firstly, your statement in brackets “those who do not cause evil to the heart” is your own personal inference from the hadith of Bukhari. It is not mentioned anywhere in the hadith that the “music” here refers to that which does not cause evil to the heart. We need to be very careful not to draw our own inferences from the hadith unless such inference is endorsed and authenticated by qualified Ulema.
Secondly, the hadith of Bukhari you quoted above makes mention of a particular instrument that has defined uses and is confined in its use. Further that hadith actually tells us that musical instruments ARE indeed haraam. Let me explain the second point first. When Abubakr (radhiyallhu anhu) exclaimed in astonishment “musical instruments of satan by the Messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam!” it tells us quite clearly that the Sahaaba had already learnt that musical instruments were haraam. If Hazrat Abubakr radhiallahu anhu had not heard this from Allah’s Messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, how could he have known that musical instruments were haraam? Whatever knowledge the Sahaaba possessed came from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). There was no previous Shariah from which they could have learnt. So it means that the understanding and prevalent belief among the Companions was that music and instruments of music were haraam. This explains the sudden and impulsive reaction of Hazrat Abubakr radhiallahu anhu. However, when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) commanded him to leave those girls and what they were doing, the Sahaaba then understood that that particular instrument was excluded from the prohibition. This brings us to the first point I made, i.e. the particular instrument used in this incident. The Ulema say that the instrument referred to in this hadith was the DUFF. This is a one-sided drum which was used during times of war, or to announce a nikah, or by public announcers in the olden days to draw people’s attention. This drum was also used by the Arabs during their festive occasions when reciting poetry. The Bukhari hadith thus tells us that the duff is permissible, thus excluding it from other musical instruments. Why was it excluded? The authentic and reputed commentators on hadith say the duff was excluded because it is not actually a musical instrument designed to create melody. Its purpose was mainly for publicizing events like nikah and state announcements, or to create noise at the time of battle. Therefore, these Ulema go on to say that the duff will only be permissible if used by children when singing lawful nazms, nasheeds, and qaseedas, since this is exactly what happened in the hadith. So the use of the duff, because it is an exception, must be confined to the use that appears in this hadith. It cannot be extended to other usages, like big people singing songs while playing the drum, nor shall other musical instruments be likened or compared to it, and it will be allowed only on the occasions that the hadith mentioned such as Eid day, nikah, and war. It is, therefore, not possible to use the Bukhari hadith as a basis for allowing any sort of music.
Regarding the hadith of Abu Musa radhiallahu anhu that you quoted, the translation rendered is totally incorrect. The Arabic phrase used in the hadith is : مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ Mazaameer is plural for Mizmaar, and mizmaar means a melodious voice, as mentioned by Imam Nawawi and other Scholars. This is not a musical instrument as the translation you rendered portrays. If it meant musical instrument then it would mean that Abu Musa possessed some form of musical instrument, and this is necessarily false. In fact The Messenger of Allah was referring to his melodious voice when reciting Quran. So this hadith has nothing to do with any musical instruments at all.
In summary music has been declared haraam in the Quran and Hadith because it is an act invented and promoted by Shaytaan, like khamr and gambling, etc.
I trust the above answers your objections
Mufti Siraj Desai