Are music, dancing, and singing permissible in Islam, and how authentic are the sayings cited from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to prove this?

Musical instruments are tools of amusement, and the majority of scholars have agreed on their prohibition, citing numerous Quranic verses and Prophetic traditions as evidence. From the Quran, there is the Almighty's saying: "And among the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead from the way of Allah," and His saying: "And incite whoever you can among them with your voice," and His saying: "While you are unmindful." From the Sunnah, there is the hadith: "There will be among my Ummah people who will permit unlawful sexual intercourse, silk, intoxicants, and musical instruments," and the hadith of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, about his hearing the flute.

The imams of the four madhhabs have mentioned the detestability of singing and the prohibition of musical instruments. Some scholars have made an exception for the tambourine for women on Eids and at weddings, subject to certain conditions.

Some have cited the hadith of the Abyssinians playing in the mosque as evidence for the permissibility of singing, but this inference is incorrect. They also cited the hadith of the two slave girls singing, but scholars have criticized this inference. Some scholars have gone to the extent of saying that the prohibition of singing is linked to gatherings of intoxicants and late nights, but this is a false statement.

Others have argued that "amusement of speech" does not refer to singing, but this contradicts the interpretation of the Companions and their followers. And whoever claims that singing is an act of obedience if its intention is to strengthen oneself for Allah's obedience, this is a statement that contradicts both religious law and reason.