5 Proofs Why Heavy Metal Music is Not Haram in Islam
C.J Ahmed-19.03.2023
Heavy metal music is a form of rock music that has more of a large pitched noise with high volume and distruption. Listening to heavy metal music is not haram in Islm because listening to music is not haram. The opposition among among Muslims to heavy metal music is that it is satanic and some music lyric s contains Kufr and Shirk. You can still listen to heavy metal music even if it has certain lyric s that are satanic or disbelief. The evidence is in a hadith where youg girls were singing a song and uttered a statement disbelief but the prophet told them to omit that statement and continue singing.
, ‘Among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.’ On that the Prophet said, ‘Omit this (saying) and keep on saying the verses which you had been saying before.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhari).
Hadith's which prove that heavy metal 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.
4) It was narrated that Naafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Ibn ‘Umar heard a woodwind instrument, and he put his fingers in his ears and kept away from that path. He said to me, O Naafi’, can you hear anything? I said, no. So he took his fingers away from his ears and said: I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he heard something like this, and he did the same thing.
(Abu Dawud with an authentic chain of narration)
In the above hadith Ibn Umar (rali) narrated that the prophet (sal) put the fingers in his ears when he heard a woodwind instrument but it is clear from this hadith that the prophet (sal) did not order ibn Umar (rali) to do so. From this we can understand that listening to music is not at all haram because if listening to music was haram, the prophet(sal) would have forbidden Ibn Umar (rali) from listening to music. The prophet (sal) personally closed his ears but did not order anyone else to do so.
5) It was narrated that al-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh ibn ‘Afra’ said: “After the consummation of my marriage, the Prophet (sal)me and sat on my bed as far from me as you are sitting now, and our little girls started beating the duff and reciting verses mourning my father, who had been killed in the battle of Badr. One of them said, ‘Among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.’ On that the Prophet said, ‘Omit this (saying) and keep on saying the verses which you had been saying before.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhari).
Many scholars have come to the conclusion that playing the duff is only allowed during the Eid or during the consummation of a marriage giving the above hadith examples. This opinion is once again baseless because the prophet (sal) never said anywhere that the duff should only be played during such an occasion. Some scholars are trying to derive meanings of their own using these hadiths. It is clear from all the Quranic verses and Sahih hadith that playing musical instruments is halal in Islam. Now the question rises whether it is permissible to play instruments like the tabla and similar instruments. Some try to argue that it is haram by mentioning the below hadith.
Narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade alcohol, gambling and drums.
(Abu Dawud and authenticated by Albani)
The above hadith is only talking about drums in particular and not the general beating instruments. So from this we can conclude that the tabla comes under the things which Islam is silent. This hadith in Abu Dawud which forbid drums is only one hadith and the hadiths I have mentioned above on the permissibility of drum like musical instruments surpasses and gives us the general understanding that drums are halal. There are many weak narrations that are used by some Muslims. Below are some of the most famous of them.
Al-Hakim At-Tirmidhi related from Abu Musa Al-'Ash’ari that the Prophet (sal) said,
"Whoever listens to the sound of singing will not be permitted to listen to the spirits in Paradise."
Ibn 'Asakir relates from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet (sal) said,
Ibn 'Asakir relates from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet (sal) said
"Whoever listens to a female singer, molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Judgment."
In Thamm Al-Malahi Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya' relates from Ibn Mas'ud a saying of the Prophet:
(Sal):
"Singing makes hypocrisy to grow in the heart like water makes herbs grow." (Al-Baihaqi 10/223 and Abu Dawud no. 4927)
From the above hadith proofs, it is very clear that all forms of music including heavy metal are halal in Islam.
Heavy metal music is a form of rock music that has more of a large pitched noise with high volume and distruption. Listening to heavy metal music is not haram in Islm because listening to music is not haram. The opposition among among Muslims to heavy metal music is that it is satanic and some music lyric s contains Kufr and Shirk. You can still listen to heavy metal music even if it has certain lyric s that are satanic or disbelief. The evidence is in a hadith where youg girls were singing a song and uttered a statement disbelief but the prophet told them to omit that statement and continue singing.
, ‘Among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.’ On that the Prophet said, ‘Omit this (saying) and keep on saying the verses which you had been saying before.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhari).
Hadith's which prove that heavy metal 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.
4) It was narrated that Naafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Ibn ‘Umar heard a woodwind instrument, and he put his fingers in his ears and kept away from that path. He said to me, O Naafi’, can you hear anything? I said, no. So he took his fingers away from his ears and said: I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he heard something like this, and he did the same thing.
(Abu Dawud with an authentic chain of narration)
In the above hadith Ibn Umar (rali) narrated that the prophet (sal) put the fingers in his ears when he heard a woodwind instrument but it is clear from this hadith that the prophet (sal) did not order ibn Umar (rali) to do so. From this we can understand that listening to music is not at all haram because if listening to music was haram, the prophet(sal) would have forbidden Ibn Umar (rali) from listening to music. The prophet (sal) personally closed his ears but did not order anyone else to do so.
5) It was narrated that al-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh ibn ‘Afra’ said: “After the consummation of my marriage, the Prophet (sal)me and sat on my bed as far from me as you are sitting now, and our little girls started beating the duff and reciting verses mourning my father, who had been killed in the battle of Badr. One of them said, ‘Among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.’ On that the Prophet said, ‘Omit this (saying) and keep on saying the verses which you had been saying before.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhari).
Many scholars have come to the conclusion that playing the duff is only allowed during the Eid or during the consummation of a marriage giving the above hadith examples. This opinion is once again baseless because the prophet (sal) never said anywhere that the duff should only be played during such an occasion. Some scholars are trying to derive meanings of their own using these hadiths. It is clear from all the Quranic verses and Sahih hadith that playing musical instruments is halal in Islam. Now the question rises whether it is permissible to play instruments like the tabla and similar instruments. Some try to argue that it is haram by mentioning the below hadith.
Narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade alcohol, gambling and drums.
(Abu Dawud and authenticated by Albani)
The above hadith is only talking about drums in particular and not the general beating instruments. So from this we can conclude that the tabla comes under the things which Islam is silent. This hadith in Abu Dawud which forbid drums is only one hadith and the hadiths I have mentioned above on the permissibility of drum like musical instruments surpasses and gives us the general understanding that drums are halal. There are many weak narrations that are used by some Muslims. Below are some of the most famous of them.
Al-Hakim At-Tirmidhi related from Abu Musa Al-'Ash’ari that the Prophet (sal) said,
"Whoever listens to the sound of singing will not be permitted to listen to the spirits in Paradise."
Ibn 'Asakir relates from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet (sal) said,
Ibn 'Asakir relates from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet (sal) said
"Whoever listens to a female singer, molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Judgment."
In Thamm Al-Malahi Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya' relates from Ibn Mas'ud a saying of the Prophet:
(Sal):
"Singing makes hypocrisy to grow in the heart like water makes herbs grow." (Al-Baihaqi 10/223 and Abu Dawud no. 4927)
From the above hadith proofs, it is very clear that all forms of music including heavy metal are halal in Islam.