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Is it permissible to attend mandatory music classes at school to avoid failure, with the intention of seeking forgiveness afterward?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Listening to music and musical instruments, except for the drum (duff), is prohibited. However, if absence from a music class leads to failure or a reduction in grades, then attendance is permissible, because what is prohibited as a preventative measure (sadd al-dhari'ah) is allowed out of necessity (hajah). If the student can distract himself or avoid listening, then he must do so. Ibn al-Qayyim and Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen mentioned that what is prohibited as a preventative measure is permissible out of necessity. Sheikh Sulaiman al-Majid issued a fatwa stating that if there are no schools free of music, then there is no harm in studying in schools that have a short weekly music class, provided that students are taught the prohibition of music, and that abandoning education is a greater harm.

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

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