Is music really forbidden?

 

Many Muslims believe that music is haram (forbidden). Scholars often cite narrations that allegedly condemn musical instruments, linking them to immorality and deviation from Islam. But what if the very source they use to justify this claim—Hadith—was actually warned against in the Quran?

 

In this article, we’ll explore:

 

📀What the Quran really says about music

📀The meaning of "lahw al-hadith" 

📀Hadiths used to prohibit music

📀The contradiction between Hadith and the Quran on this issue

 

What does the Quran say about music?

 

The Quran does not contain a single verse forbidding music. The primary verse often cited in discussions about music is Surah Luqman 31:6, which states:

 

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ

 

“And among the people is he who buys diversion of Hadith  (lahw al-hadith / لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ ) to mislead others from the way of Allah without knowledge and takes it in ridicule. For such there will be a humiliating punishment.” 

 

Many scholars claim that “lahw al-hadith” refers to music. Here’s where it gets ironic—the verse actually warns against Hadiths (lahw al-hadith), not music!

Hadiths that distract and mislead people from God's path fit this description perfectly. Isn't it funny how scholars use Hadiths to ban music, when the Quran warns against idle Hadiths leading people away from God?

 

 

The Hadiths used to prohibit music 

 

Scholars who claim music is haram often quote the following Hadiths:

 

1. Sahih al-Bukhari 5590 

Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari:

that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection."

 

2. Sunan Ibn Majah 4020 

It was narrated from Abu Malik Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“People among my nation will drink wine, calling it by another name, and musical instruments will be played for them and singing girls (will sing for them). Allah will cause the earth to swallow them up, and will turn them into monkeys and pigs.”

 

 

What Happened to the Monkeys and Pigs?

If music were truly forbidden, and if those who listen to it were destined to be transformed into monkeys and pigs, wouldn’t the world look a little different by now? Think about it—how many people have listened to music throughout history? Billions. And yet, here we are, still fully human. No reports of people waking up with tails or snouts. No historical record of a mass transformation. No ancient texts describing villages of former music lovers who mysteriously turned into barnyard animals overnight.

The hadiths claim that those who listen to musical instruments will face this bizarre fate. But reality speaks louder: musicians, singers, and music lovers exist in every corner of the world, and they seem to be doing just fine. In fact, some of the most intelligent, creative, and even spiritual individuals have been deeply connected to music.

So, what went wrong? Did the transformation machine break? Or—just maybe—were these hadiths never meant to be taken seriously in the first place? Perhaps, instead of fearing guitars and pianos, we should fear something else: blindly following narrations that contradict logic, reality, and most importantly—the Quran.