Why Listening to Music is Halal During Ramadan: 2 Proofs
C.J Ahmed-02.04.2023
Ramadan is a month of joy and taqwa and Muslims obsere fast expecting the reward from Allah (swt). There is nothing wrong in engaging in your day to day activities such as listening to music while fasting during the month of Ramadan because Islam does not forbid listening to music durng the month of Ramadan.
Proof-1-The prophet (sal) even engaged in seual activity with his wives whie fasting
Most Muslims will be against engaging in activities such as having sex while fasting but Islam is an eay religion which facilitates things.
Narrated by Aisha (Rali), “The prophet (Sal) would have sexual relations when he was Fasting, and would place a cloth between him and her, meaning over the private part.”
(Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh. Its Isnad is Good (Jayyid)).
In another hadith,
“He (the Prophet, Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) used to kiss when fasting, touch when fasting, and was the most in control of his desires”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others).
The above hadiths prove from the actions of the prophet (Sal) that having sexual relations during Ramadan is not haram. These hadiths prove clearly that doing anything and even sex even if you ejaculate semen or other female secretion, would not invalidate the fast and there is no kaffara for this.
Proof-2- Music is not something that is haram
Hadith's which prove music to be permissible
1) It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that Abu Bakr (rali) entered upon her and there were two girls with her during the days of Mina beating the duff, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was covering himself with his garment. Abu Bakr rebuked them, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) uncovered his face and said, “Leave them alone, O Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.” That was during the days of Mina.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The above hadith clearly proves that the duff is a permissible musical instrument in Islam because two young girls were beating the duff and the prophet (sal) allowed them to play when Abu Bakr (rali) rebuked them. Some scholars try to argue that playing the duff is permissible only during Eid. This argument is an erroneous argument because there is clear evidence that playing even the flute is also allowed during the Eid.
2) It was narrated that Aisha (Rali) said: “Abu Bakr (Rali) entered upon me and there were two of the young girls of the Ansar with me who were singing the verses that the Ansar had recited on the day of Bu’ath.”She said: “But they were known to be singers. “Abu Bakr (RA) said: “Wind instruments of the shaitan in the house of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)? That was the day of Eid. Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “O Abu Bakr! Every people have their Eid and this is our Eid. “In another narration it is said that Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “Let them be O’ Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.”
(Narrated in Sahih Muslim)
The above hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim clearly debunks this argument. This very hadith proves that you can play any musical instrument including wind instruments and the prophet (sal) listened to them. Some could argue that this is only during Eid celebrations but there is no evidence suggesting that musical instruments are halal only during Eid. For something to be the hukm (ruling), there needs to be clear text forbidding it. There is no clear ruling from the prophet (sal) stating that musical instruments are only allowed during Eid hence the permissibility given by the prophet (sal) in this hadith is a general permissibility. This hadith proves that even wind musical instruments which are considered as satanic is allowed. The other argument put forward by scholars is that the beating of the duff should only be done by women or girls and men are forbidden to play these instruments. This argument has no basis. It's only the opinion of the salaf scholars may Allah (swt) reward them but they are like all other humans and are prone to mistakes. Blindly sticking to their opinions is haram in Islam. The other evidence to prove the permissibility of music comes from the next hadith.
3) It was narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) went on one of his military campaigns, and when he came back, a black slave woman came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I vowed that if Allah brought you back safe and sound, I would beat the daff before you and sing. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If you vowed that, then do it, otherwise do not do it.’” So she started to beat the duff, and Abu Bakr came in whilst she was doing so. Then ‘Ali came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Uthmaan came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Umar came in and she threw the daff beneath her and sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The Shaitan is afraid of you, O ‘Umar. I was sitting and she was beating the daff, then Abu Bakr came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Ali came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Uthmaan came in when she was beating the daff, but when you came in, O ‘Umar, she put the daff down.”
(Narrated in Tirmidhi and authenticated by sheikh Albani in sahih al Tirmidhi)
The above hadith prove two points, one is
1) The general permissibility to listen to music which is not forbidden
2) from the statement of the prophet(sal) The Shaitan is afraid of you, O ‘Umar" it shows that although this kind of singing by the slave was likened to Shaitan, the prophet (sal) listened to it and also allowed his companions like Abu Bakr(rali) and Umar(rali) also to listen. This clearly proves that music is halal in Islam.
There is nothing haram to listen to music during the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a month of joy and taqwa and Muslims obsere fast expecting the reward from Allah (swt). There is nothing wrong in engaging in your day to day activities such as listening to music while fasting during the month of Ramadan because Islam does not forbid listening to music durng the month of Ramadan.
Proof-1-The prophet (sal) even engaged in seual activity with his wives whie fasting
Most Muslims will be against engaging in activities such as having sex while fasting but Islam is an eay religion which facilitates things.
Narrated by Aisha (Rali), “The prophet (Sal) would have sexual relations when he was Fasting, and would place a cloth between him and her, meaning over the private part.”
(Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh. Its Isnad is Good (Jayyid)).
In another hadith,
“He (the Prophet, Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) used to kiss when fasting, touch when fasting, and was the most in control of his desires”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others).
The above hadiths prove from the actions of the prophet (Sal) that having sexual relations during Ramadan is not haram. These hadiths prove clearly that doing anything and even sex even if you ejaculate semen or other female secretion, would not invalidate the fast and there is no kaffara for this.
Proof-2- Music is not something that is haram
Hadith's which prove music to be permissible
1) It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that Abu Bakr (rali) entered upon her and there were two girls with her during the days of Mina beating the duff, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was covering himself with his garment. Abu Bakr rebuked them, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) uncovered his face and said, “Leave them alone, O Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.” That was during the days of Mina.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The above hadith clearly proves that the duff is a permissible musical instrument in Islam because two young girls were beating the duff and the prophet (sal) allowed them to play when Abu Bakr (rali) rebuked them. Some scholars try to argue that playing the duff is permissible only during Eid. This argument is an erroneous argument because there is clear evidence that playing even the flute is also allowed during the Eid.
2) It was narrated that Aisha (Rali) said: “Abu Bakr (Rali) entered upon me and there were two of the young girls of the Ansar with me who were singing the verses that the Ansar had recited on the day of Bu’ath.”She said: “But they were known to be singers. “Abu Bakr (RA) said: “Wind instruments of the shaitan in the house of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)? That was the day of Eid. Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “O Abu Bakr! Every people have their Eid and this is our Eid. “In another narration it is said that Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “Let them be O’ Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.”
(Narrated in Sahih Muslim)
The above hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim clearly debunks this argument. This very hadith proves that you can play any musical instrument including wind instruments and the prophet (sal) listened to them. Some could argue that this is only during Eid celebrations but there is no evidence suggesting that musical instruments are halal only during Eid. For something to be the hukm (ruling), there needs to be clear text forbidding it. There is no clear ruling from the prophet (sal) stating that musical instruments are only allowed during Eid hence the permissibility given by the prophet (sal) in this hadith is a general permissibility. This hadith proves that even wind musical instruments which are considered as satanic is allowed. The other argument put forward by scholars is that the beating of the duff should only be done by women or girls and men are forbidden to play these instruments. This argument has no basis. It's only the opinion of the salaf scholars may Allah (swt) reward them but they are like all other humans and are prone to mistakes. Blindly sticking to their opinions is haram in Islam. The other evidence to prove the permissibility of music comes from the next hadith.
3) It was narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) went on one of his military campaigns, and when he came back, a black slave woman came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I vowed that if Allah brought you back safe and sound, I would beat the daff before you and sing. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If you vowed that, then do it, otherwise do not do it.’” So she started to beat the duff, and Abu Bakr came in whilst she was doing so. Then ‘Ali came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Uthmaan came in whilst she was beating the daff, then ‘Umar came in and she threw the daff beneath her and sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The Shaitan is afraid of you, O ‘Umar. I was sitting and she was beating the daff, then Abu Bakr came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Ali came in when she was beating the daff; then ‘Uthmaan came in when she was beating the daff, but when you came in, O ‘Umar, she put the daff down.”
(Narrated in Tirmidhi and authenticated by sheikh Albani in sahih al Tirmidhi)
The above hadith prove two points, one is
1) The general permissibility to listen to music which is not forbidden
2) from the statement of the prophet(sal) The Shaitan is afraid of you, O ‘Umar" it shows that although this kind of singing by the slave was likened to Shaitan, the prophet (sal) listened to it and also allowed his companions like Abu Bakr(rali) and Umar(rali) also to listen. This clearly proves that music is halal in Islam.
There is nothing haram to listen to music during the month of Ramadan.