Short answer
Because Islam asks that what we listen to, like what we say and do, should draw us nearer to God (﷾), not away from Him. It is not against joy or a beautiful voice. The Prophet (ﷺ) let girls sing and beat the daff, a frame drum, on Eid and at a wedding (Muslim 892b; Bukhari 5147), and his poet recited in his mosque (Bukhari 3212). What Islam turns away from is two things. The first is words that call to sin, or that give anyone what belongs to God (﷾) alone. When a girl sang that the Prophet (ﷺ) knew what would happen tomorrow, he stopped her, for only God (﷾) knows the unseen (27:65). The second is musical instruments. The Prophet (ﷺ) named them among things some of his followers would wrongly make lawful (Bukhari 5590), and the four schools of Islamic law hold them forbidden. So Muslims turn to the voice: nasheeds, poetry and, above all, the recitation of the Qur'an. Loving music is no barrier to Islam.
Full explanation
What the Qur'an and the Prophet (ﷺ) said
The Qur'an speaks of "those who purchase idle tales, without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah" (31:6). That is the heart of the matter: what leads a person away from God (﷾). The Companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud was asked about this verse. He said, by Allah (﷾), that it means singing, and repeated it three times (Ibn Kathir). The Prophet (ﷺ) spoke of people who would come among his followers. They would treat as lawful unlawful sex, silk for men, intoxicating drink and musical instruments (Bukhari 5590). For this reason the four schools of Islamic law hold that singing with musical instruments is forbidden.
“But there are, among men, those who purchase idle tales, without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty.”
On those who buy idle talk to mislead from the path of Allah, Ibn Kathir says they turn away from the Qur'an to musical instruments and singing. He reports that Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, asked about the verse, said: by Allah, it refers to singing, and repeated it three times.
Abu Amir or Abu Malik al-Ash'ari reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said there would be people among his followers who treat as lawful unlawful sexual relations, silk for men, intoxicating drink and musical instruments.
On listening to songs in the four schools. It says that singing with musical instruments is forbidden by agreement of the four schools, quoting a standard work of each: Ibn Abidin's Radd al-Muhtar (Hanafi), which counts listening to the daff, the pipe and the like as forbidden; al-Dardir's al-Sharh al-Kabir (Maliki); Zakariyya al-Ansari's Asna al-Matalib (Shafi'i); and Ibn Qudama's al-Mughni (Hanbali). The Shafi'i and Maliki works it quotes count singing without instruments as disliked (makruh).
Words that call to sin or to shirk
Before the tune, Islam looks at the words. A girl at a wedding sang that the Prophet (ﷺ) knew what would happen tomorrow. He stopped her at that line and told her to go on with what she had been singing before (Bukhari 5147). Only God (﷾) knows the unseen: "None in the heavens or on earth, except Allah, knows what is hidden" (27:65). So a song is forbidden if it gives a person or a saint what belongs to God (﷾) alone, such as knowledge of the unseen, or calls on anyone but Him for help: "invoke not any one along with Allah" (72:18). The same goes for words that make sin attractive or mock the faith, the "idle tales ... to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah" (31:6). With or without instruments, such words are forbidden.
Al-Rubayyi' bint Mu'awwidh reports that after her wedding the Prophet (ﷺ) came and sat with her, while young girls beat the daff and sang verses mourning her father, killed at Badr. One of them sang: among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow. He said: leave this, and go on with what you were saying before.
“Say: None in the heavens or on earth, except Allah, knows what is hidden: nor can they perceive when they shall be raised up (for Judgment).”
“"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;”
“But there are, among men, those who purchase idle tales, without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty.”
What is allowed: the voice and the daff
On a day of Eid two young girls sang in Aisha's house. When Abu Bakr protested, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: every nation has its Eid, and this is our Eid (Bukhari 952). In another report of the same day, the girls were playing the daff, a frame drum (Muslim 892b). At one wedding he asked whether there was no entertainment, for the Ansar liked it (Bukhari 5162). At another, young girls beat the daff and sang while he sat with the bride (Bukhari 5147). So clean words sung with the voice are allowed. So is the daff on days of joy such as Eid and weddings. Some scholars allow the daff at other times too. For that, a Muslim asks a qualified scholar.
Aisha reports that on a day of Eid two young girls of the Ansar were with her, singing what the Ansar recited about the Day of Bu'ath, and they were not singers. Abu Bakr protested at the musical instruments of Satan in the house of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the Prophet (ﷺ) said: O Abu Bakr, every nation has its Eid, and this is our Eid.
The same report from Aisha of the two girls on the day of Eid, through another chain, in which the words are that the two girls were playing the daff, a frame drum.
Aisha reports that she prepared a bride for a man of the Ansar, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said: O Aisha, have you no entertainment? The Ansar like entertainment.
Al-Rubayyi' bint Mu'awwidh reports that after her wedding the Prophet (ﷺ) came and sat with her, while young girls beat the daff and sang verses mourning her father, killed at Badr. One of them sang: among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow. He said: leave this, and go on with what you were saying before.
Poetry, nasheeds and beautiful recitation
The Prophet (ﷺ) loved good words well said. His poet Hassan ibn Thabit recited poetry in the mosque, and the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for him. He said: O Allah (﷾), support him with the Holy Spirit, that is, the angel Gabriel (Bukhari 3212). The Qur'an criticises poets who "say what they practise not", "Except those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the remembrance of Allah" (26:224-227). The Prophet (ﷺ) praised the beautiful voice of Abu Musa reciting the Qur'an (Bukhari 5048). Nasheeds, songs of faith sung with the voice alone, carry on this tradition. Some Muslim singers release voice-only versions of their songs, such as Maher Zain's album Thank You Allah (Vocals Only). Some schools still count singing without instruments as disliked (makruh), which is less than forbidden (Islamweb). So a Muslim keeps it in its place, and the Qur'an comes first.
Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib reports that Umar came into the mosque while Hassan ibn Thabit was reciting poetry, and disapproved. Hassan said he used to recite poetry there in the presence of one better than Umar, and Abu Hurayra confirmed that the Prophet (ﷺ) had said to Hassan: reply on my behalf; O Allah, support him with the Holy Spirit.
“And the Poets,- It is those straying in Evil, who follow them: Seest thou not that they wander distracted in every valley?- And that they say what they practise not?- Except those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the remembrance of Allah, and defend themselves only after they are unjustly attacked. And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take!”
Abu Musa reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: O Abu Musa, you have been given one of the sweet voices (mazamir) of the family of David. The book places it among the reports on reciting the Qur'an beautifully.
A version of Maher Zain's first album, Thank You Allah (2009), sung with voices alone and no instruments.
On listening to songs in the four schools. It says that singing with musical instruments is forbidden by agreement of the four schools, quoting a standard work of each: Ibn Abidin's Radd al-Muhtar (Hanafi), which counts listening to the daff, the pipe and the like as forbidden; al-Dardir's al-Sharh al-Kabir (Maliki); Zakariyya al-Ansari's Asna al-Matalib (Shafi'i); and Ibn Qudama's al-Mughni (Hanbali). The Shafi'i and Maliki works it quotes count singing without instruments as disliked (makruh).
| What | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Words that call to sin or to shirk | Forbidden, with or without instruments |
| Musical instruments | Forbidden in the four schools |
| The daff at Eid and weddings | Allowed by the Prophet (ﷺ) |
| Clean words sung with the voice alone | Not forbidden; some schools count it disliked |
| Poetry with good words | Allowed |
| Reciting the Qur'an beautifully | Praised |
Qawwali
Qawwali is devotional singing from South Asia. It is sung at shrines and spiritual gatherings to the harmonium, the tabla and the dholak drum (Wikipedia). It is sung out of devotion, but its instruments are the part the four schools hold forbidden. Some verses call on a saint for help, or give anyone but God (﷾) knowledge of the unseen. Such words are wrong in themselves, like the line the Prophet (ﷺ) stopped (Bukhari 5147; 72:18). Words of praise for God (﷾) and His Messenger (ﷺ), sung with the voice alone, keep the devotion and lose nothing.
Qawwali is a form of devotional song from South Asia, sung above all at Sufi shrines and gatherings. A qawwali party sings to the harmonium, the tabla and the dholak drum, with hand-clapping.
On listening to songs in the four schools. It says that singing with musical instruments is forbidden by agreement of the four schools, quoting a standard work of each: Ibn Abidin's Radd al-Muhtar (Hanafi), which counts listening to the daff, the pipe and the like as forbidden; al-Dardir's al-Sharh al-Kabir (Maliki); Zakariyya al-Ansari's Asna al-Matalib (Shafi'i); and Ibn Qudama's al-Mughni (Hanbali). The Shafi'i and Maliki works it quotes count singing without instruments as disliked (makruh).
Al-Rubayyi' bint Mu'awwidh reports that after her wedding the Prophet (ﷺ) came and sat with her, while young girls beat the daff and sang verses mourning her father, killed at Badr. One of them sang: among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow. He said: leave this, and go on with what you were saying before.
“"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;”
Cat Stevens: why he left music, and why he came back
The famous singer Cat Stevens became a Muslim in December 1977 and took the name Yusuf Islam. In 1979 he auctioned his guitars for charity and left music to give himself to education and charity. When he recorded again in the 1990s, he used no instruments but percussion, and in 2000 he made the children's album "A Is for Allah". In 2006 he went back to pop music with "An Other Cup" (Wikipedia). He has given his reasons. After the attacks of 11 September 2001 he felt he had to build bridges between people, and it was his son who brought a guitar back into the house. He says he believes there is haram music and halal music (Al Jazeera, 2012). The four schools do not share his view of instruments, and a Muslim follows the evidence, not a famous name. Even so, his own words agree with the first point of this page: some music is haram.
Cat Stevens became a Muslim in December 1977 and took the name Yusuf Islam the next year. In 1979 he auctioned his guitars for charity and left his music career to give himself to education and charity among Muslims. When he recorded again in the 1990s it was on Islamic themes, with no instruments but percussion; the children's album "A Is for Allah" came out in 2000. In 2006 he returned to pop music with the album "An Other Cup", his first in 28 years.
Yusuf Islam, once the singer Cat Stevens, says that after he became a Muslim he stopped making music for many years. After the attacks of 11 September 2001 he felt he had to build bridges between people, and it was his son who brought a guitar back into the house. He says there is no word for music in the Qur'an, and that he believes there is haram music and halal music.
On listening to songs in the four schools. It says that singing with musical instruments is forbidden by agreement of the four schools, quoting a standard work of each: Ibn Abidin's Radd al-Muhtar (Hanafi), which counts listening to the daff, the pipe and the like as forbidden; al-Dardir's al-Sharh al-Kabir (Maliki); Zakariyya al-Ansari's Asna al-Matalib (Shafi'i); and Ibn Qudama's al-Mughni (Hanbali). The Shafi'i and Maliki works it quotes count singing without instruments as disliked (makruh).
If you love music
No one has to give anything up before becoming a Muslim. Islam wipes out what came before it, and a new Muslim learns and changes step by step. What Islam offers in place of music is not silence. It is the remembrance of God (﷾), and the Qur'an says: "for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction" (13:28).
Amr ibn al-As, near death, said that before Islam no one was more hateful to him than the Prophet (ﷺ), and he had wished to kill him. He told how he came to the Prophet to accept Islam. He asked the Prophet to stretch out his right hand so he could pledge, then drew his own hand back. Asked why, he said he wanted a condition: that he be forgiven. The Prophet asked whether he did not know that Islam wipes out everything that came before it.
“"Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.”
Perspectives
Islam is against music and joy
Music is a harmless art that brings people joy. Banning it is joyless, rests on weak evidence, and even famous Muslim musicians ignore it.
Islam bans all music and singing.
Rebuttal
It does not. The Prophet (ﷺ) let girls sing and play the daff on Eid and at a wedding (Bukhari 952; 5147), and his poet recited in his mosque (Bukhari 3212). What is forbidden is other instruments, and words that call to sin or to shirk.
The evidence against instruments is weak and disputed.
Rebuttal
The hadith is in Sahih al-Bukhari (5590), and the four schools agree on the ruling. A few scholars, such as Ibn Hazm, allowed instruments, and al-Albani wrote a book in reply to them.
Even Cat Stevens went back to music.
Rebuttal
He did, for reasons he has explained, and he still says there is haram music and halal music (Al Jazeera). The ruling rests on the Qur'an, the Prophet (ﷺ) and the four schools, not on any one person's choices.
The Islamic perspective
Islam asks that what we listen to should draw us nearer to God (﷾). It welcomes a beautiful voice, poetry, the recited Qur'an and the daff on days of joy. It turns from words of sin or shirk, and from musical instruments, which the four schools hold forbidden.
The Prophet (ﷺ) warned of people who would make musical instruments lawful, and Ibn Mas'ud said 31:6 means singing.
The four schools agree that singing with instruments is forbidden.
The Prophet (ﷺ) stopped a line that gave him knowledge of the unseen.
Clean words sung with the voice, and the daff on Eid and at weddings, are allowed.