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Is listening to foreign songs as background music while performing other tasks, without dedicating time to them or being distracted from duties, and without them arousing instincts or carrying bad meanings (with the possibility of some meanings related to love that are not explicit), considered Haram?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Singing accompanied by musical instruments is forbidden to do and to listen to, whether it is emotional, motivational, or religious. The only exceptions to this are singing accompanied by the duff (tambourine) at weddings, on Eid, and upon the return of a traveler. As for singing without musical accompaniment, if it is by a woman to men, it is forbidden. If it is by a man with permissible words, such as Islamic anashid (chants), it is permissible, provided it is not done excessively. Scholars have unanimously agreed on the prohibition of listening to music due to its effect on arousing souls and enticing them to unlawful acts, as it is a symbol of the people of immorality. Everyone who listens to music finds it difficult to listen to the Qur'an. Listening to music is not permissible at all, regardless of whether it distracts from an obligation or not. If it distracts from an obligation, the sin is greater.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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