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Is it permissible to listen to Islamic songs accompanied by musical instruments based on the Quran, Sunnah, and Ijma' (consensus)?

2 min readAlso available in العربية

Verses and Hadiths indicate the prohibition and condemnation of musical instruments. The Qur'an considered their use a cause of misguidance and taking Allah's verses in jest. Most scholars interpreted "idle talk" in the verse: ﴿And among the people is he who buys idle talk to mislead from the way of Allah without knowledge and takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating torment.﴾ as referring to songs, musical instruments, and every sound that turns one away from the truth. Similarly, "the voice of Satan" in the verse: ﴿And incite [to evil] whoever you can among them with your voice and assault them with your cavalry and your infantry and share with them in [their] wealth and [their] children and promise them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.﴾ was interpreted as singing, flutes, and drums.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade two sinful sounds: a sound accompanied by idle amusement and Satan's flutes, and a sound made during a calamity (wailing). It is authentically reported from him, peace be upon him, that he said: "There will be people from my Ummah who will consider unlawful sexual intercourse, silk, intoxicants, and musical instruments to be lawful." "Al-Ma'azif" refers to musical instruments and amusement tools. This Hadith indicates their prohibition because they are coupled with unlawful sexual intercourse and intoxicants, both of which are forbidden, and because those who deem them lawful are condemned.

Anasheed (Islamic chants) that are accompanied by music and are called "Islamic" are, in reality, singing and music. Calling them "Islamic" is a falsehood and a slander, and it is not permissible to substitute one forbidden thing for another.

The use of the tambourine (duff) in marriage celebrations is permissible for women specifically, to announce the marriage, provided that it does not encourage any evil or discourage any obligation, and that it does not involve mingling with men or an announcement that harms neighbors. As for men, they are not allowed to use musical instruments, neither in weddings nor on other occasions; rather, they are legislated to train with instruments of war.

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

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