How do we reconcile the prohibition of musical instruments and wind instruments with the description by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari as having been given a wind instrument from among the wind instruments of the family of David, due to his beautiful voice in reciting the Quran?
When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, heard Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reciting the Quran, he said: "He has been given a mizmar from the mazamir of the family of David." The intended meaning of mizmar here is a beautiful voice, because the root of zamr is singing. And "family of David" refers to David himself, and David, peace be upon him, had a very beautiful voice. This is indicated by what is narrated in the Hadith of al-Bara' concerning the Prophet's saying, peace and blessings be upon him, when he heard Abu Musa reciting: "It is as if this is from the voices of the family of David." The application of mizmar to a beautiful voice may be derived from musical instruments (alat az-zamr), meaning it is a resemblance to the beautiful sound of musical instruments. However, this resemblance does not imply the permissibility of forbidden instruments.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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