Is Music Haram in Islam? | What the Quran, Hadith and Scholars Say in 2026

The Quran does not contain a verse that explicitly states, in direct wording, that all music or every musical instrument is haram.

Instead, scholars who consider music prohibited rely partly on interpretations of verses dealing with idle entertainment, distraction and behaviour that takes people away from remembrance of Allah.

This distinction matters because the disagreement is not simply about whether Muslims accept the Quran. It concerns how particular Quranic passages should be interpreted and whether their wording applies specifically to music.

The verse most commonly discussed is Surah Luqman 31:6. The Arabic expression lahw al-hadith has been translated in different ways, including forms of distracting or idle speech.

The wording and several English translations can be compared directly in Surah Luqman 31:6 on Quran.com.

Last Updated: 24.09.2026

What Does Surah Luqman 31:6 Say About Music?

Surah Luqman 31:6 describes people who use lahw al-hadith to lead others away from the path of Allah.

Some early commentators understood lahw al-hadith as referring to singing or entertainment. This interpretation became an important part of the argument used by scholars who regarded certain forms of music as prohibited.

Other scholars understand the expression more broadly. They argue that it can include any speech, entertainment or activity that distracts people from religious obligations or deliberately leads them away from guidance.

The disagreement therefore concerns tafsir, rather than a Quranic statement directly saying that every musical sound is forbidden.

Other verses, including passages in Surah Al-Isra and Surah Al-Najm, have also appeared in classical discussions of entertainment and distraction.

Again, the connection with music generally comes through scholarly interpretation rather than an explicit reference to modern music or musical instruments.

What Do Hadith Say About Music And Musical Instruments?

Hadith are central to the Islamic discussion surrounding music because they contain references to musical instruments, singing, celebrations and entertainment.

Different narrations are used by scholars on both sides of the debate.

Some hadith are interpreted as evidence against musical instruments. Others describe singing, the daff and entertainment taking place during occasions such as Eid and weddings.

Understanding the debate therefore requires looking at the context of the narrations rather than treating every reference to singing or instruments as identical.

What Does The Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith About Musical Instruments Mean?

One of the strongest pieces of evidence cited by scholars who prohibit musical instruments appears in Sahih al-Bukhari 5590.

The narration describes people from the Muslim community who would treat several things as lawful, including alcohol, unlawful sexual relations and ma‘azif, commonly understood as musical instruments.

The full narration can be found in Sahih al-Bukhari 5590 on Sunnah.com.

Scholars who regard most musical instruments as haram argue that the wording is significant because the hadith places ma‘azif among things being treated as permissible when they should not be.

However, scholars who permit some forms of music have challenged how broadly this narration should be applied.

Discussions have included the transmission of the hadith, its interpretation, what exactly ma‘azif covers and whether the surrounding circumstances affect the ruling.

This hadith remains one of the most important pieces of evidence in the debate.

Which Hadith Allow Singing Or Music In Certain Situations?

Other authentic narrations describe singing and the use of a daff during celebrations.

Aisha reported that young girls sang in her presence during Eid. When Abu Bakr objected, the Prophet Muhammad permitted them to continue. Other narrations describe young girls beating a frame drum during days of celebration.

Scholars interpret these narrations differently.

Those holding a restrictive position generally understand them as specific exceptions for occasions such as Eid and weddings rather than permission for musical instruments in general.

Scholars taking a more permissive approach may regard them as evidence that sound, singing and musical entertainment are not inherently prohibited. They instead focus on the lyrics, setting, intention and consequences.

Both approaches therefore recognise the narrations while differing over how widely their permission extends.

Why Do Islamic Scholars Disagree About Music?

The disagreement about music has existed for centuries and cannot accurately be reduced to one scholar permitting everything while another prohibits everything.

Several issues contribute to the difference.

• Quranic Interpretation: Scholars differ over whether verses concerning idle talk specifically refer to music
• Hadith Interpretation: Scholars differ over how broadly narrations mentioning musical instruments should be applied
• Meaning Of Ma‘azif: There are discussions concerning exactly which instruments or forms of entertainment are covered
• Singing And Instruments: Vocal singing is often discussed separately from instrumental music
• Recognised Exceptions: Eid, weddings and the daff have special importance in the debate
• Content And Context: Some scholars consider lyrics, behaviour and surroundings important when determining the ruling
• Legal Methodology: Different jurists may apply Quranic verses and hadith evidence differently when reaching a legal conclusion

There is therefore a recognised scholarly disagreement, although the various opinions do not necessarily carry equal weight within every school of Islamic jurisprudence.

What Do The Four Sunni Schools Say About Music?

The four major Sunni schools are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali. Their classical literature contains extensive discussions about singing, entertainment and instruments.

It is misleading to reduce each school to a simple label such as “music is halal” or “music is haram” because individual jurists, instruments and circumstances may be treated differently.

Hanafi School

Classical Hanafi jurisprudence generally takes a cautious position towards musical instruments associated with entertainment.

However, that does not mean every human voice, poem, song or sound is automatically given the same ruling. Hanafi scholars have discussed singing, percussion, wedding celebrations and morally acceptable poetry separately.

Maliki School

The Maliki tradition also contains different discussions concerning singing and musical entertainment.

Some statements attributed broadly to the Maliki school can be misleading when taken out of their historical or legal context. The nature of the entertainment, behaviour accompanying it and its effect on religious duties can all be relevant.

Shafi’i School

Shafi’i scholars historically discussed both the content of singing and the instruments accompanying it.

Activities associated with indecency or prohibited conduct were treated differently from ordinary poetry, singing or celebration.

Hanbali School

Hanbali scholarship is generally associated with a restrictive position concerning most musical instruments.

At the same time, recognised exceptions such as the daff in particular celebratory circumstances appear within the wider Sunni legal discussion.

The safest way to describe the four schools is therefore to acknowledge a strong classical tendency towards restricting musical instruments while recognising disagreements, distinctions and exceptions.

Is Singing Without Musical Instruments Haram?

Singing without instruments is not necessarily treated in the same way as instrumental music.

Many scholars distinguish between the human voice and ma‘azif. This means that a vocal-only song may require a separate assessment based on what is being sung and its effect on the listener.

Lyrics containing clearly prohibited material remain problematic regardless of whether instruments are present.

Examples could include lyrics that:

• Promote Sexual Immorality
• Celebrate Alcohol Or Drugs
• Encourage Violence Or Criminal Behaviour
• Mock Religious Beliefs
• Promote Behaviour Considered Haram
• Cause A Person To Neglect Religious Obligations

Conversely, poetry, educational songs and vocals containing acceptable themes have historically been treated more favourably by many scholars.

The issue is therefore more complex than assuming every form of singing has exactly the same ruling as instrumental music.

Are Nasheeds And The Daff Haram?

Nasheeds are religious, moral or inspirational vocal compositions commonly heard throughout Muslim communities.

Vocal-only nasheeds are generally less controversial than songs containing conventional musical instruments. However, disagreements emerge when modern nasheeds contain drums, electronic sounds, instrumental arrangements or effects that imitate instruments.

The daff, also written as duff, has particular significance.

It is a simple frame drum mentioned in narrations connected with celebrations such as Eid and weddings. Because of these narrations, many scholars distinguish it from other musical instruments.

There are still disagreements concerning when it can be played, who may play it and whether permission extends beyond particular celebrations.

This is why saying “all drums are halal” simply because the daff appears in hadith would be too broad.

Likewise, saying every nasheed containing any sound effect is automatically prohibited ignores the detailed disagreements between scholars.

When Does Music Become Haram?

Even scholars who take relatively permissive positions on music usually place limits on what may be listened to.

Certain circumstances can make music clearly problematic regardless of the wider disagreement concerning instruments.

Music may be considered prohibited when it:

• Contains Explicit Sexual Content: Lyrics encouraging zina, pornography or sexually immoral behaviour conflict with Islamic moral teachings
• Promotes Alcohol Or Drugs: Music encouraging clearly prohibited substances raises an issue independent of the instrument itself
• Leads To Missing Salah: Entertainment should not cause obligatory prayer or other religious responsibilities to be abandoned
• Encourages Prohibited Behaviour: Lyrics that celebrate actions considered sinful create a separate religious concern
• Takes Place With Other Haram Activities: Music may accompany alcohol, indecent behaviour or other prohibited practices
• Becomes Excessive: Entertainment that dominates a person’s time and consistently takes priority over responsibilities can become spiritually harmful

This explains why discussions about music often focus on more than sound alone.

Is Music Allowed At Weddings And Eid Celebrations?

Weddings and Eid are among the most important exceptions discussed in Islamic sources.

Authentic hadith describe singing and the daff being permitted during festive circumstances. These narrations establish that Islam does not treat every form of celebration or rhythmic entertainment identically.

The disagreement concerns how far this permission extends.

A restrictive interpretation generally argues that the narrations establish limited allowances for particular occasions and instruments. Under this view, they cannot automatically be used as evidence that every instrument is permitted at every time.

A more permissive interpretation may see the narrations as evidence that entertainment itself is not inherently forbidden. The ruling would instead depend on factors such as lyrics, behaviour and the environment.

Even within a permissive interpretation, a wedding containing clearly prohibited activities would present separate concerns.

Is Background Music On TikTok, YouTube And Social Media Haram?

Modern technology has made the music question more complicated than it was for earlier generations.

Music may now appear automatically in TikTok clips, Instagram Reels, YouTube videos, advertisements, podcasts, games and television programmes.

A useful distinction is between deliberately choosing music and incidentally hearing it.

Someone may enter a shop where music is playing without intending to listen to it. Similarly, a person may open an educational video and unexpectedly hear background music.

That situation is different from deliberately searching for a song and listening to it for entertainment, particularly according to scholars who prohibit instrumental music.

For Muslims following a restrictive opinion, practical options can include:

• Muting Videos: Turn off audio when the sound is unnecessary
• Skipping Music-Focused Content: Avoid deliberately searching for musical entertainment
• Using Alternative Versions: Choose videos, podcasts or educational material without background music where possible
• Considering Intention: Accidental exposure is different from deliberately choosing repeated listening

The rise of social media has changed the circumstances in which music is encountered, but it has not created a new Quranic or hadith ruling. Contemporary scholars instead apply existing legal principles to new technology.

Is Music Haram During Ramadan?

Ramadan does not create a completely separate Islamic ruling on music.

A scholar who considers instrumental music prohibited throughout the year will normally apply that position during Ramadan as well.

A scholar who permits some music under certain conditions is also unlikely to say that the underlying legal classification automatically changes simply because Ramadan begins.

However, Ramadan places greater emphasis on worship, Quran recitation, prayer, self-discipline and avoiding distractions.

This leads many Muslims to reduce entertainment during the month even where they do not consider every form of music prohibited.

It is also important to distinguish between doing something sinful while fasting and invalidating the fast itself.

Listening to music is not generally listed among the acts that physically invalidate a fast in the same way as deliberately eating or drinking.

Someone following the view that particular music is haram may nevertheless consider listening to it sinful and contrary to the spiritual goals of fasting.

What Do Contemporary Islamic Scholars Say About Music In 2026?

The year 2026 has not introduced a new Islamic ruling on music. The central Quranic verses, hadith and classical juristic discussions remain the same.

What continues to differ is how contemporary scholars interpret and apply those sources.

Some maintain that the established position of classical Sunni jurisprudence prohibits most musical instruments apart from recognised exceptions.

Others permit music when it does not contain prohibited lyrics, encourage sinful behaviour, interfere with religious duties or occur alongside other prohibited activities.

A useful contemporary example comes from Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta. In a ruling published in December 2025, the institution stated that some music and songs are permissible while others are prohibited, placing significant emphasis on their content, setting and effect.

The full ruling is available through Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta ruling on listening to music and songs.

This position does not represent every Muslim scholar. Equally, the stricter interpretation should not be presented as though recognised scholarly disagreement has never existed.

For Muslims seeking a personal religious ruling, the most consistent approach is usually to follow a qualified scholar or recognised school of jurisprudence rather than selecting isolated opinions from social media.

Conclusion

The question “Is music haram?” does not have a one-sentence explanation capable of representing the entire Islamic scholarly tradition.

The Quran does not explicitly state in direct wording that all music is prohibited. Instead, verses such as Surah Luqman 31:6 have been interpreted by some scholars as referring to singing or distracting entertainment.

Hadith provide more specific evidence. Sahih al-Bukhari 5590 is central to the argument against musical instruments, while other authentic narrations describe singing and the daff being permitted during celebrations such as Eid.

Classical Sunni scholarship generally contains strong restrictions concerning musical instruments, although distinctions exist between instruments, singing, the daff, celebrations and other circumstances.

Other recognised scholars have adopted conditional approaches that focus more heavily on lyrics, context and consequences.

The debate therefore requires more precision than simply declaring that every sound is haram or that all music is halal.

Muslims seeking a personal ruling should consider the evidence, understand the scholarly position they follow and consult a qualified scholar when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is All Music Haram In Islam?

Scholars disagree. Many classical jurists restrict most musical instruments, while other scholars permit certain forms of music when the lyrics, context and effects do not involve prohibited behaviour.

Is Music Explicitly Haram In The Quran?

The Quran does not contain a verse directly stating that “music is haram”. Scholars who prohibit it rely partly on interpretations of passages such as Surah Luqman 31:6 alongside hadith evidence.

Did Prophet Muhammad Say Music Is Haram?

Hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad include references to musical instruments. Sahih al-Bukhari 5590 is particularly important to scholars who regard musical instruments as prohibited.

Is Singing Without Instruments Haram?

Singing without instruments is often treated separately. Its ruling may depend on the lyrics, circumstances, purpose and whether it leads to prohibited behaviour or neglect of religious obligations.

Is The Daff Halal In Islam?

Authentic narrations describe the daff being used during certain celebrations, including Eid. Scholars differ over how broadly that permission should be applied.

Does Listening To Music Break Your Fast?

Listening to music is not generally treated as an act that physically invalidates the fast. Scholars who consider particular music prohibited may nevertheless regard listening to it as sinful and inconsistent with the spiritual purpose of Ramadan.

Is Accidentally Hearing Music Haram?

Accidentally hearing background music is commonly distinguished from deliberately choosing to listen to it. This can apply when music is playing in shops, public places, advertisements or videos.

Can Muslims Listen To Music Without Bad Lyrics?

Scholars who take a conditional-permissibility position may allow music with acceptable lyrics when it does not lead to sinful conduct or neglected duties.

Scholars who prohibit most musical instruments may still consider the instruments themselves problematic even when the lyrics are clean.