What is the ruling on music if it is merely a melody without singing, and does the same ruling apply to melodic sounds produced by tapping on household items or mobile applications that generate melodies?

The ruling on singing is not absolute, as its types vary and its rulings differ between permissibility and impermissibility. As for musical instruments and wind instruments, the consensus on the impermissibility of listening to them - except for the tambourine (daf) - has been recounted by many scholars. Singing accompanied by a forbidden musical instrument is considered unlawful by the majority of jurists. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah clarified that al-muka' (whistling) and al-tasdiyah (clapping) lead to indecencies and divert one from the remembrance of Allah and prayer. He also stated that the four Imams held all musical instruments to be forbidden, and that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, informed that there would be among his nation those who would legitimize unlawful sexual intercourse (al-hir), silk (al-hareer), intoxicants (al-khamr), and musical instruments (al-ma'azif). From this, it is understood that melodious sounds created for the purpose of pleasure and amusement fall under the ruling of musical instruments, whether produced without an instrument or with an instrument not traditionally used for amusement, because they are included among rhythmic and entertaining sounds. The reason for the prohibition of musical instruments is that they lead to indecencies and divert one from the remembrance of Allah and prayer.