Often we go to have coffee or eat lunch or something, and the coffee house has music in the background. I hate it in my heart and don’t pay attention to it, is this haram? Also, on television sometimes there will be a documentary or a clean (honestly clean) show with the occasional background music, I swear my purpose is not to listen to them, what do I do? Am I sinning nonetheless?
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
It is best to refrain from visiting places which have music in the background irrespective of how loud the music is or not.
However, places where you need to go for example supermarkets; you can go there as the background music is not related to the purpose of your going to the supermarket.
In general it is best to refrain from watching television programmes as it is not free from breaking various rulings of the Sharia. Such as:
- Looking at unlawful women. Jarir ibn Abdullah narrates that I asked The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam about the sudden glance (that is cast) on the face (of a non-Mahram). He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes. (Muslim, 1015)
Allah (SWA) in the Holy Qur’an has said:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts)” (Surah Noor v.30-v.31)
- Listening to Music.
Allah (SWA) in the Holy Qur’an has said ‘And there are among men, those that purchase idle tales, to mislead (men) from the path of Allah and through ridicule. For such there will be a humiliating punishment. (Surah Luqman v.6)
The tafsir of the word Lahwal-Hadith (idle-tales means music as explained by Saaiduna Abdullah Ibn Masud Radiallahu Anhu (see Sunan Baihaqi p.223 v.1) and by Saaiduna Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu (Sunan Baihaqi p.221 v.1)
Imran bin Hussain Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said ‘This ummah will experience the swallowing up of some people by the earth, metamorphosis of some into animals, and being rained upon with stones’. A man amongst the Muslims asked: ‘O Prophet of Allah! When will this be?’ He said: ‘When female singers and musical instruments appear and alcohol will be consumed’ (Sunan Tirmizi p.44 v.2)
Saaiduna Ali Ibn Talib Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said ‘When my ummah begin doing fifteen things, they will be inflicted with tribulations. And (from those fifteen) he said: ‘When female singers and musical instruments become common’ (Sunan Tirmizi p.44 v.2)
- Sometimes there may be contents of sexual nature.
Saaiduna Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said, “Allah has written the very portion of zina which a man may indulge in. There will be no escape from it. The zina of the eye is the lustful look, the zina of the ears is the listening, the zina of the tongue is the speech, the zina of the hand is the grip, the zina of the feet is the walking (to the place to commit zina), the heart yearns and desires and the private parts approve all that or disprove it.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham.