Listening to music and singing is a sin and cause for the sickening and weakening of the heart. The majority of the scholars of the Salaf are unanimous that listening to music and singing and using musical instruments is Haram (prohibited).
Evidence that Music and Singing are Haram

1. Allaah said, what translated means, “And of mankind he who purchases idle talks to mislead (people) from the Path of Allaah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allaah) by way of mockery, For such there will be a humiliating torment.” [31:6].

Al-Wahidi , along with other scholars of Tafsir (explaining the Qur’aan), said that “Idle Talk” in this Ayah is singing. The following companions gave this Tafsir: Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud, Mujahid and Ikrimah . Ibn Masud said, “By Allaah, whom there is no God except Him, idle talk is singing.”

2. The Prophet said (which means), “From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, ‘Return to us tomorrow.’ Allaah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.” [Al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494v].

This Hadeeth states that musical instruments are Haram, and there is no disagreement among the scholars on this. In his book, Ighathat Al-Lahfan, Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “When the Prophet said, ‘render as lawful,’ he meant that it was unlawful, then the people made it lawful.”

3. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, what translated means, group of this nation will be transformed into monkeys and swine.” They said, “Do not they testify that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammed is His Messenger?” He said, “Yes. And also they fast pray and perform Hajj.” They said, “Then, what is their problem?” He said, “They use musical instruments, drums and female singers. (One day) they will go to sleep after a night of drinking and having fun, In the morning, they will be transformed (by Allaah) into monkeys and swine.” [Iughathat Al-Lahfan].

4. Allaah said, criticizing the Kuffar’s worship around the Kaa’bah, what translated means, “Their prayer at the House (Kaa’bah) was nothing but Muka’an and Tasdiyah.” [8:35]. Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Atiyyah, Muj ahid, Ad-Dhahh’ak, AlHasan and Qatadah said that Muka’an means whistling, and that Tasdiyah means clapping of hands.

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Sayings of the Scholars Regarding Music and Singing
Imam IbnTaymiyyah said, “Listening to music and sinful fun are among what strengthens the satanic ways the most. This is exactly what the disbeliever’s used to do. Allaah said, And their prayer at the House (of Allaah) was nothing but Muka ‘an and Tasdiyah. [8:35]. Ibn Abbas, ibn Umar and others said that Tasdiyah is clapping of hands, and that Muka’an is whistling. This was the Mushrikeen’s way of worship. The Prophet and his companions worshipped Allaah , according to His order, in their prayer, reading the Qur’aan and Dhikr (supplication). It never occurred that the Prophet and his companions gathered to listen to singing that is accompanied by clapping or using drums.”

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah also said regarding the person, whose habit is to listen to music, “His state of emotions becomes less passionate when he hears the Qur’aan. On the contrary, when he listens to instruments of the devil (music), he dances a lot. If the prayer is established, he either prays while sitting down or performs it as fast as when the roaster picks seeds. He dislikes listening to the Qur’aan and does not find beauty in it while reciting it. He has no taste for the Qur’aan and feels no love for it or pleasure when it is read. Rather, he finds pleasure if he listens to Mukaa’ or Tasdiyah. These are satanic pleasures and he is among those whom Allaah mentioned in the Ayah, And whosoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allaah), We appoint for him Satan to be a companion for him. [43:36].” [Awliyaa' Ar-Rahman].

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Of the tricks of the enemy of Allaah, Satan, that he uses to trap those who do not enjoy much intelligence, knowledge or sincerity in religion, are M ukaa’ and Tasdiyah. These people of ignorance listen to and use musical instruments that are prohibited and which lead the hearts to abandoning the Qur’aan. These hearts are indulging in sin and disobedience of Allaah. Music, then, is Satan’s Qur’aan and the barrier between one and Allaah. It is the way to sodomy and adultery. With it, the lover finds what he seeks and dreams of sinful love. Satan has trapped the weak hearts in the love of singing and made it beautiful to them. Satan reveals to his agents’ fake proofs that they use as evidence to the beauty of singing. These people accept Satan’s revelation and, as a consequence, abandon the Qur’aan. When you witness them while listening, you will find them silent in humbleness, sitting idle and their hearts are concentrating and totally enjoying music and singing. Their hearts will feel closer to music, as if they were drunk. They dance and move in a suggestive manner, like faggots and whores. And why not? They are drunk with the pleasure of listening to music and singing and act accordingly. For other than Allaah, and for Satan, there are hearts that are being broken by sin, and fortunes that are being spent for other than Allaah’s Pleasure. They spend their lives in joyful fun and make a mockery of their religion. Instruments of the devil are sweeter to their ears than the Qur’aan. If one of them listens to the Qur’aan from beginning to end, it will have little effect or excitement on him. If Satan’s Qur’aan is being performed and heard, they feel joy in their hearts and one can see it in their eyes. Their feet dance, their hands clap, their breathing intensifies and the rest of their bodies feel joy. O you who are trapped in this sin, you who have sold your share of Allaah to Satan, what a losing deal! Why not feels this joy when you listen to the Qur’aan? Why not feel pleasure and comfort when the Glorious Qur’aan is recited? But, everyone seeks what he feels is suitable for him, and ends up with what is really suitable for him.” [Ighathat Al-Lahfan].

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz was asked about listening to music and songs, “Is it Haram? I only listen to it for pleasure. What about playing the Rababah (a kind of guitar) and old songs? What about using drums in weddings?”

Sheikh Ibn Baz said, “Listening to music is Haram and a sin. It is a matter that leads to weakening the hearts and abandoning the Dhikr of Allaah and the prayer. The scholars said about the Ayah, And of’ mankind he who purchases idle talks [31:6], that idle talks means singing. Abdullaah ibn Masud , the Prophet’s companion, used to swear by Allaah that it is singing. If singing is accompanied by the Rababah, ‘Ud (Arabic guitar), fiddles or drums, it is even more Haram. Any singing with any instrument is Haram and the scholars are unanimous on this. Therefore, Muslims must be aware of it. The Prophet said, “From among my nation there will be those who render as lawful adultery, silk (for men), AI-Khamr (alcohol) and musical instruments.” [Al-Bukhari]. I advise you and others to read the Qur’aan and keep remembering Allaah. I advise you to listen to Qur’aanic programs on the radio. This way, one will find pleasure and will keep busy so he can stay away from music and songs. As for weddings, the Daff (tambourine) can be used along with innocent singing that does not call to sin. This can be done at night, only in weddings and only by and for women. These songs are a way of announcing an Islaamic marriage. The Sunnah of the Prophet supports the above. As for the drums, they are Haram all the time. The Daffis permitted in weddings and only for and by women.”

Many Muslims today render music as permissible. This is due to their ignorance or outright defiance of the religion. We ask Allaah that we are among those who listen to the speech and follow the best of what it contains. These are the ones whom Allaah has guided and granted them the bounty of sanity and comprehending minds.