Is music haram in Islam? The spread of classical opinion.

""Allah has prohibited the singing slave girl, her sale, her earnings, and her teaching." We respond: By "singing slave girl," it refers to one who sings for men at drinking gatherings. Singing by a non-relative woman to libertines or those at risk of temptation is forbidden, as they aim at what is prohibited. However, a slave girl's singing to her owner does not imply prohibition, nor is it forbidden for someone other than her owner to hear her, considering no risk of temptation."

"If people gather and mimic drinking sessions with permissible drinks, it is prohibited because it resembles sinful behavior. Based on these principles, instruments like the Iraqi flute and string instruments such as the lute and zither are banned. However, instruments like the shepherd's staff, the pilgrim's staff, and certain drums, which produce pleasant sounds unrelated to wine or drinking gatherings, are permissible."

"peace be upon him, and the lamentation of sinners over their faults are exceptions. Singing that stirs joy, grief, or longing, where its stirring is permissible, is also allowed. For instance, the singing of the two girls on Eid day in the house of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and their singing at his arrival with the words: "The full moon rose upon us..."

"Abu Dawood raised an objection to this narration, noting its peculiarity. Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, remarked, "Singing is the incantation of adultery. Others have said that singing can lead to vice. Yazid ibn al-Walid warned, "Beware of singing, for it diminishes modesty, increases desire, and undermines virtue."

"عُمَر بْن الخَطَّاب, may اللّٰه be pleased with him, once addressed a wailing woman, saying: "She has no sanctity; she commands grief, which اللّٰه has forbidden, and forbids patience, which اللّٰه has commanded." It is widely known that the temptation of listening to singing and musical instruments is far greater than the temptation of wailing. Experience shows that whenever musical instruments and amusements become widespread among a people, اللّٰه afflicts them with adversities such as enemies, drought, and evil rulers."

"As He says: "And when they hear idle talk, they turn away from it" from سُورَة القَصَص, and "And when they pass by idle talk, they pass by with dignity" from سُورَة الفُرْقَان. مُحَمَّد بْن الحَنَفِيَّة said this refers to singing, and حَسَن or someone else said they honored themselves by not listening to it. اِبْن مَسْعُود said: "Singing plants hypocrisy in the heart just as water makes plants grow." This statement reflects an understanding of the effect and outcome of singing."

"These sounds belong to Satan, not to the Merciful: the sound of lamentation and wailing during times of sorrow and loss, and the sound of amusement, musical instruments, and singing during times of joy and attainment. The Prophet مُحَمَّد, peace be upon him, highlighted this in a حَدِيث narrated by أَنَس, may اللّٰه be pleased with him: "I have forbidden two foolish and sinful sounds: the sound of wailing at a calamity and the sound of musical instruments at a blessing.""

"When the Book is recited, they lower their heads, not out of fear, but as if they are heedless and distracted. But when singing comes, they dance like flies, and by اللّٰه, they do not dance for اللّٰه's sake. Drums, flutes, and the voice of a witness—when have you seen worship with entertainment? The Book is heavy on them because they see it as restricting with commands and prohibitions, while singing is light on them because they see it as unrestricted in amusement without prohibitions."

"Avoid what Islam has prohibited from amusement, falsehood, wrongful singing, musical instruments of all kinds, all stringed instruments, cunning, deceit, gossip, rancor, severing ties of kinship, bad character, arrogance, vanity, pride, boasting, obscenity, vulgarity, malice, envy, omens, injustice, aggression, and oppression.""

"not counting those I participated with the Muslims? In another narration: O my brother! Are you singing poetry when Allah has replaced it for you with the Qur'an? Hammad ibn Salamah said: Thabit claimed, from Anas, who said: I entered upon Al-Bara' while he was singing and tuning his bow, and I said: Until when will this continue? He said: Do you think I will die on my bed? By Allah, I have killed more than ninety."