Music
Music is described as vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
Islamic rulings regarding Music
Although each scholar has their own specific ruling regarding music, the basic idea when it comes to music is that any sort of music that takes you away from Allah (swt) is regarded as haram. For example Ayatullah Khamenei’s website states the following regarding the criteria for halal music:
“Any music which is lahwī and deviating people from the way of Allah which is suitable for gatherings of merry making is haram whether it is classic or not. To distinguish the subject of a ruling depends on the view of the mukallaf (muqallid) as a part of common people. There is no objection to other kinds of music in itself.”
Music in the Holy Quran
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
“Among the people is he who buys diversionary talk that he may lead [people] astray from Allah’s way without any knowledge, and he takes it in derision. For such there is a humiliating punishment.” (31:6)
Music and Immorality
Imam Ridha (as) has said:
“If you listen to someone then you are worshipping the subject matter they are talking about. If they are speaking about God, then you are worshipping God. And if they tell you not what God has said then you are worshipping satan himself” (Uyun Akhbar Ar Ridha, Sheikh Sudooq).
Influences of music resemble the effects of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol (people loosen up). Lyrics of the music have powerful impacts on our brains. Usually, music is listened to as a past-time or to keep the mind occupied. For example, when driving. Not much attention is paid to the lyrics, however, eventually this takes away the natural feelings that are necessary to guard our souls against sinful acts.
Spiritual effects of Music
Our ears are very sensitive organs. They have a direct impact on us and influence our minds and souls. For example, receiving a compliment immediately makes you blush or an insult makes you red with anger. In essence, one word picked up by your ears and processed by your brain has an instant physiological impact where your cheeks turn red. Therefore, the things processed by our ears and brains have an immediate impact on our brains and souls. This is what makes music dangerous and unhealthy. Given that music has a powerful influence on our bodies and emotions, guarding this sensory organ is critical to our spiritual health.
Allah (swt) says: Let man, then, consider [the sources of] his food (80:24). Imam Hasan (as) says in a commentary on this specific verse “I am amazed at the one who contemplates over his food about how he fails to contemplate what his mind consumes.” (Safinat‑ul‑Bihar, vol. 2, p. 84)
Physiological effects of Music
Although there are many individuals who claim that music has healing powers and is therapeutic, there have been many studies conducted at prestigious universities example UCLA, NYU and others which talk about the detrimental effects of music (www.al-islam.org). For example, a study conducted at Brigham Young University talks about the overstimulation and anxiety-inducing effects that are caused by music. However, this is not why music is prohibited in Islam but it can be a good demotivator.
