5 Reasons to Stop Listening to Music.

*This post was first published on this blog in May 2016.

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Assalamu alaikum!

This is the third week of me showing up, yayy! AlhamduliLah. I hope I can keep the momentum.

Today’s post is first, a very strong reminder to myself because it’s easy to forget one’s self with music which is absolutely everywhere.

[As you begin to read this week’s post, please keep an open mind ]

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In this modern time, music has become an unavoidable part of our lives. It is everywhere we go & turn. It is being played, listened to or sung by everyone – sadly, Muslims included.

If you’re a Muslim and you struggle with listening to music, here are 10 reasons that’ll hopefully bring clarity and help with your conviction to stop listening.

Reason #1: ALLAH said so.

Allaah says in Soorat Luqmaan (interpretation of the meaning):

“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allaah…” [Luqmaan 31:6]

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The interpretation of the Sahaabah and Taabi’in, that ‘idle talk’ refers to singing, is sufficient. This was reported with saheeh isnaads from Ibn ‘Abbaas and Ibn Mas’ood.

Abu’l-Sahbaa’ said: I asked Ibn Mas’ood about the aayah (interpretation of the meaning), ‘“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks’ [Luqmaan 31:6]. He said: By Allaah, besides Whom there is no other god, this means singing – and he repeated it three times.

Reason #2: Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said so.

” From among my followers, there will be people who will consider illicit intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks & the use of musical instruments as lawful…” (Saheeh Bukhari)

This hadeeth indicates in two ways that musical instruments and enjoyment of listening to music are haraam.

The first is the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “[they] permit” which clearly indicates that the things mentioned, including musical instruments, are haraam according to sharee’ah, but those people will permit them.

The second is the fact that musical instruments are mentioned alongside things which are definitely known to be haraam, i.e., zinaa and alcohol: if they (musical instruments) were not haraam, why would they be mentioned alongside these things?

(adapted from al-Silsilah al-Saheehah by al-Albaani, 1/140-141)

Reason #3: It Weakens One’s Faith.

A lot of songs are on things that are haram; zina, drugs, using foul language, making money by all means, objectification of women etc.

To put simply, you’re listening to haram & if you’re listening to things that are forbidden in Islam, what happens to you ?
Your faith will weaken because you unconsciously begin to accept the music & it’s haram entirety as the norm.

Reason #4: It Breeds Hypocrisy in the Heart.

You don’t drink , yet you listen to music that promotes it.

You don’t do drugs , yet you listen to music that promotes it.

You don’t have casual sex, yet you listen to music that promotes it.

You don’t care about the “dunya”, yet you listen to music that promotes it.

This is literally hypocrisy and continuous listening just makes this worse.

Reason #5: It Distracts One’s Mind from Acts of Worship & Remembrance of Allah.

How are you going to remember Allah when you’re listening to what He has forbidden ?

The fact that you’re even doing what He has forbidden means you’re not remembering Him.

You waste your time listening to music when you can use that time to just do dhikr or other acts of Ibadah.

How often do you find it easy to learn the lyrics of a song but find it very hard to learn an ayah or surah of the Quran ?
A wild guess. Very often?

The love of the Quran and the love of music cannot coexist in the heart of a believer.” [Ibn Mas’ud (R.A.)]

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Some people might say that since not all scholars say it’s haram, they can follow the opinions of the few scholars that say it’s allowed.

Please note that: The four Imams, their followers and the vast majority of earlier Muslim scholars are of the view that music is haraam.

And when there’s a seemingly difference of opinions, as Muslims we go with the majority & not what we’re “comfortable” with. Especially with things like this.

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To stop listening to music is NOT easy ( I know this from experience).

There’s temptation everywhere so you’ll fall short many times.

What is important is constantly trying & bi’idniLlah (by the permission of Allah), it’ll get easier.

• Constantly seek refuge with Allah from Shaytaan & ask Allah to make it easy for you to stop.

May Allah ease our affairs & rectify our conditions.

Further Reading:

1.https://islamqa.info/amp/en/answers/122790

2.https://islamqa.info/en/answers/50687/he-loves-islam-but-he-cannot-give-up-classical-music

3.https://islamqa.info/amp/en/answers/138471