Is music haram in Islam? The spread of classical opinion.
The scholars differed — some forbidding musical instruments broadly, some permitting what was modest and non-distracting. A sourced overview of the spread.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Avoid what Islam has prohibited from amusement, falsehood, wrongful singing, musical instruments"
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"of all kinds, all-stringed instruments, cunning, deceit, gossip, rancor, severing ties of kinship,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"After this come clothing, household furniture, and tools, then instruments of the instruments."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Based on these principles, instruments like the Iraqi flute and string instruments, such"
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"this is permissible as long as it does not involve instruments and strings associated with the wicked."
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"it is singing. They were in a state of consecration, and such triviality was not fitting. The behavior"
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"These principles and texts indicate the permissibility of singing, dancing, playing with drums, and"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Similarly, the appearance of certain instruments under thin clothing can be as indicative as sound or smell."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"vessels, animal images on the ceiling or walls, listening to musical instruments and entertainment,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"People of piety disapprove of these. Furthermore, manufacturing entertainment tools and instruments"
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