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Is there sin upon the one who plays music from one who returns to listening to it after a previous repentance, because he played it in front of him?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Not all singing is forbidden; rather, what is forbidden is that which includes music or vulgar lyrics, or if it is sung by a woman to men. There is a difference between sama' (hearing) and istima' (listening). Istima' is the intention to hear for understanding or benefit, while sama' is more general. As for the sin of one who plays songs, the one who plays them bears the burden of the listeners who backslid because of him, because he caused the forbidden hearing to be accessible to them. It has been stated in Islamic law that whoever establishes a bad practice or calls to misguidance bears its burden and the burden of those who act upon it after him, as Allah Almighty says: "That they may bear their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection, and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without knowledge" (Quran 16:25), and as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever establishes a bad practice in Islam will bear its burden and the burden of those who act upon it after him, without anything being diminished from their burdens." Calling to misguidance occurs through word and deed, and the one who causes it is like the one who directly commits it.

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

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