Is this hadith authentic and suitable to quote?
‘On the day of judgement, molten lead will be poured into the ears of the person who used to listen to music’
Answer
Listening to music is totally prohibited in Islam. This is substantiated by verses of the Holy Quran and authentic narrations of Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). See here for details.
Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahullah) has recorded a narration in his Tarikh Dimashq on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) that Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever listens to a singing woman will have molten lead poured into his ears on the day of judgement’.
(Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 54 pg. 213)
Verdicts of the Muhaddithun
The above narration has been deemed as baseless (batil) by Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal (rahimahullah).
The chain for this supposedly goes through Imam Malik (rahimahullah). However Imam Daraqutni (rahimahullah) and others have mentioned that this is not established to be from the narrations of Imam Malik (rahimahullah) and has been made up.
It is therefore not suitable to be quoted.
(See Al ‘Ilalul Mutanahiyah, vol. 2 pg. 786 and Lisanul Mizan, vol. 7 pg. 453)
However this does not alter the fact that music is totally haram and impermissible.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar