All praise is due to Almight God, Allah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. And we
seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our own selves and from our wicked deeds. Whosoever has been
guided by Allah, there is none to misguide him. And whoseover has been misguided by Allah, none
can guide him. I bear witness that there is no other god except Allah, alone, without partner or
associate. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah, the Exalted,
bestow His peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad, upon his good and pure family, as well as
upon all of the noble companions and upon those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of
Reckoning.
Verily, the most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of
Muhammad (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him); while the worst affairs are novelties, for every
novelty is a blameworthy innovation. Every innovation (in matters of religion) is misguidance and
every misguidance is in the Fire.
The legality of music and singing in the Islamic shari'ah (the divinely-revealed law) is an issue which
is hotly debated among individuals and scholars in Islamic societies of our present day. Arriving at the
correct view requires unbiased, scholarly research of the available literature which must be supported
by authentic, decisive proof.
A considerable amount has been said and written both for and against this subject, and the
proliferation of doubt and confusion necessitates another more critical, meticulous analysis and
assessment of this whole matter, in order for one to come to a clear, decisive conclusion which leaves
not the least bit of doubt in the mind of the reader.
In hope of acheiving such a difficult and lofty goal, I have applied a distinctive method which I trust,
by Allah's leave, will succeed in achieving these treasured aims and objectives.
Firstly, I analysized and assessed the claims made by differing factions that certain Quraanic verses
support or prohibit the legality of the issue at hand. Secondly, I stringently researched the area of
pertinent hadeeth literature in order to shed light on the issue as well as to dispel a number of
misconceptions about the authenticity of certain traditions. Thirdly, I presented a consensus of the
Islamic scholars with special reference to the pious predecessors of the Islamic ummah; i.e. the noble
companions, the taabi'een, the famous imams and other jurisprudents (fuqahaa). Fourthly, I attempted
to explain the infinte wisdom which underlies the ruling of prohibition as ordained by the
divinely-revealed shari'ah. Fifthly, I cited examples of exceptions to the general rule of prohibition, as
either defined by the authentic sunnah or agreed upon by the scholars. Finally, I presented a synopsis
of the shar'iah texts and a conclusion which clarifies the prohibited aspects of music, singing and their
adjuncts.
I pray that Allah grants success in this endeavor, accepting it as a work done purely for His sake and
bestowing upon us and our brethren in faith, sincerity and guidance to His straight path.
Abu Bilal Mustafa Al-Kanadi
Ramadaan
 1406/May 1986
Makkah
 Al-
Mukarramah
ANALYSIS OF
QURAANIC
 TEXTS AND COMMENTARIES
It is vital that one critically assesses the extent to which certain verses of the Quraan allegedly stand
as proof for or against the legality of music and singing. Some of those verses which might be
misconstrued to indicate that music, singing, dancing etc are permissible, are mentioned first. They are
then followed with a sample of verses, which certain scholars have claimed to be proof of prohibition
regarding this issue.
VERSES CLAIMED TO INDICATE THE LEGALITY OF MUSIC
The following verses regarding the Psalms of Dawood (upon whom be peace) is case in point.
THE FIRST VERSE:
{And verily,We did favor some of the prophets over others, and to Dawood We gave the
Psalms.}(*1)
How does this verse purport to be proof for those who claim legality? It is a common misconception
of certain Muslims-especially those having a western background or living in the west-that Dawood
(peace be upon him)composed the Psalms and sang them to the accompaniment of music.(*2) There
are even some commentators of English translations of the Quraan who fall prey to the same error.
For example, Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments on this verse saying, "The spiritual gifts with which the
Prophets came, may themselves, take different forms according to the needs of the world and the
times in which they lived, as judged by the wisdom of God. A striking example here given is the gift
of song and music as given to David...(*3) The fact is that the Psalms were not composed by Prophet
Dawood (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings), but rather were revealed to him(*4) by Allah,
the exalted, as is clearly stated in the Quraan.(*5) Additionally, nowhere in the Quraan or in the
authentic traditions(*6) is there any support for thi

Chapter 1: Analysis of
Quraanic
 Texts and Commentaries
A. Verses Claimed to Indicate Legality of Music
1. The First Verse
2. The Second Verse
B.
Quraanic
 Verses Alleged to Indicate Prohibition of Music
1. The First Verse
2. The Second Verse
3. The Third Verse
Chapter 2: Critical Analysis of the
Hadeeth
 Literature
A. The Traditions and their Degree of Authenticity
1. The Narration of Al-
Bukhaari
2. The Narration of
Ibn
Maajah
3. The Narrations
Ahamd
 bin
Hanbal
4. The Narration of Al-
Haakim
 and Others
5. The Narration of Abu
Bakr
 Ash-
Shaafi'ee
Chapter 3: Consensus of the Companions,
Taabi'een
, Imams and other
Fuqahaa
A. The Position of the Companions on this Issue
B. The View of the
Taabi'een
, Imams and Scholars after Them
1. Imam Abu
Haneefah
2. Imam
Maalik
3. Imam Ash-
Shaafi'ee
4. Imam Ahmad bin
Hanbal
C. Those Who Approved of Singing and Its Refutation
Chapter 4: The Wisdom Behind Its Prohibition by the
Divively
-revealed
Shari'ah
Chapter 5: Exceptions to the Rule of Prohibition as Indicated by the Authentic
Sunnah
A. Examples of Occasions Specified by the
Sunnah
1.
Jihaad
 and Its Adjuncts
2. The Celebration of the two '
Eed
 Festivals
3. The Wedding Feast
4. The Arrival of a Respected Personality
B. Other Occasions Agreed upon by Scholars
C. Occasions Differed Upon by Scholars: A Critical Analysis and Refutation
Chapter 6: Synopsis of
Preceeding
Shari'ah
 Texts along with Conclusions to be Drawn from
Them
A. Musical Instruments
B. Singing (
Ghinaa
)
C. Related Issues Proceeding from the General Rule of Prohibition
1. Dancing
2. Professions Connected with Music and Its Adjuncts
3. The Muslim's Duty Regarding It
4. The Varying Gravity of the
Sinfullness
 of Music and Singing
D. Some Acceptable Alternatives to Prohibited forms of Music and Singing
1. Recitation of and Listening to the Reading of Allah's Book
2. Singing and Listening to Islamic Songs
3. Remembrance of Allah (
dhikr
)
4. Healthy Physical Sports
Conclusion

 The legality of music and singing in the Islamic shari’ah the divinelyrevealed law is an issue which is hotly debated among individuals and scholars in Islamic societies of our present day. Arriving at the correct view requires unbiased, scholarly research of the available literature which must be supported by authentic, decisive proof. A considerable amount has been said and written both for and against this subject, and the proliferation of doubt and confusion necessitates another more critical, meticulous analysis and assessment of this whole matter, in order for one to come to a clear, decisive conclusion which leaves not the least bit of doubt in the mind of the reader.