Music in Islam

Music

Definitions of Music

The art of combining sounds or sequences of notes into harmonious patterns that is pleasing to the ear.

Any sound that is produced for entertainment and is capable of exciting passion.

Sounds that produce a strange type of sorrow or pleasure for the listener.

Origin of Music

When the Prophet Adam died Cain, the one who killed his brother Able out of jealousy, wanted to share his happiness with Satan. To celebrate his father’s death, Cain and Satan created musical instruments.

Bad Effects of Music

Increases blood pressure and blood sugar content and slows the human digestive system.

The excitement and tension from music can cause ulcers, affect the hearing, and produces emotional instability.

Music destroys the sense of shame and self-respect and removes feelings of love, humanness, and mercy: “Music is the ladder of fornication.” (Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.))

It creates hypocrisy: “Listening to music, songs, and useless words cultivates hypocrisy in the heart in the same way.” (Imam Sadiq (a.s.))

Music causes poverty: “Music creates hypocrisy and causes poverty.” (Imam Ali (a.s.))

It causes forgetfulness of God: “The house where music is played is not safe from sudden disasters. Supplications at such a place are not answered. Angels do not enter this place.” (Imam Sadiq (a.s.))

Punishments for Music

“Molten lead shall be poured into the ears of one who listens intently to songs.” (Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.))

“Whenever a person begins singing, two Satans alight upon his shoulders and continue to beat upon his chest, till the time he continues the song.” (Imam Sadiq (a.s.))

“When the singer shall emerge from his grave on the Day of Judgment, he shall be blind, deaf, and also mute.” (Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.))

“Music is that sin which has been promised a penalty of fire (of Hell) by the Almighty Allah. Since it is evident that whichever sin has been promised Hell as its punishment is a major sin. It could be derived from the above tradition that singing is also a sin of the same category.” (Imam Baqir (a.s.))

Source: “Music and Dancing – A Major Sin.” Ja’afari. May 1998, p15-18.