Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Today I found a source of audio recordings of the writings of Harun Yahya on such topics as the miracle of DNA, the expansion of the universe, the work of ants, and how all these things have been given to us 1400 years ago in the Quran. For me they are incredibly valuable for my teaching of English….not only are they a source of material that will be fascinating to kids, but also they are invaluable audio resources for my students. The trouble is, they have little 10-15 second interludes of instrumental (probably computer – generated) music punctuating them….perhaps 2 or 3 within a 30-minute talk….is this a reason to not use them? Is it a reason not to let my students listen to them? They are available to me over the net, not on cassette, so the idea of erasing those parts doesn’t work.
In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Walaikum assalam,
I have asked about similar issues. Basically, if the actual thing you are listening to is halal, and the music is incidental’ and not related to the purpose or reason for the recording, then it would be permitted (as in your case) to listen to the recording.
The same would apply, for example, to audio documentaries, or even going to the supermarket, where they have background music that is neither related to the purpose of your going to the supermarket nor its raison d’etre.
However, instrumental musical biographies’ of Mawlana Rumi (Allah sanctify his secret and benefit us from our love of him), for example, would be out according to the relied upon position across the madhhabs.
Wassalam,
FarazRabbani