Listening to Music according to the 4 Imams…
Hasan al-Basri: If there is music involved in a dinner invitation to a walima, then do not accept the invitation.
[Please note that these 'consensus' opinions of the 4 great Imams and their schools, do not include some of the modern Western 'scholars' who visit the White House, so be careful before accepting or following them.] ;)
Imam Abu Hanifa: Strictest with regard to music as his and his students comments are the harshest, as mentioned by Ibn Qayyim. ‘It is haram to listen to all musical instruments, and the one who does is a fasiq (rebellious evildoer, someone who lacks moral restraint), whose testimony is to be rejected. Also said listening to music and ‘enjoying’ it is kufr.
Abu Hanifa said,”singing is one of the biggest sins that one must leave immediately.”
Imam Ahmad: “It sprouts hypocrisy in the heart and I do not like it.”
Imam Malik: When asked about those who said ‘singing is permissible’ said, ‘No one would say that except a faasiq. It is only the sinful people who do that.’ Scholars say that this is also the view of the people of Madinah.
Imam Shafi: ”The person is a fasiq and his testimony is not accepted.”
Conclusion: “Not one of the four madhahib said it was halal.”
Apologies if I’ve offended anyone (especially non-Muslims).
May Allah SWT guide us all and keep us upon the truth and forgive us our shortcomings.
I thought the Muhammed (SAW) allowed music in weddings
May Allah (S) forgive me if I am wrong
As-salamu ‘alaikum from Germany! Thank you brother for your useful information!
Concerning the remark of Leila just above, you find a detailed answer in
http://www.islamicboard.com/worship-islam/20238-music-singing-light-quran-sunnah.html
To abbreviate: in islam there are general answers/ remarks and detailed/ special answers/ remarks.
There is halal music and haram music, halal occations and haram occations. f.ex. Music with maazif (musical instruments, except the drum on certain occations like weddings if used by women) is haram.
The Prophet [salla LLAHu `alayhi wa sallam] said “There will be [at some future time] people from my Umma [community of Muslims] who will seek to make lawful: fornication, the wearing of silk, wine-drinking and the use of musical instruments [ma'aazif]. Some people will stay at the side of the mountain and when their shepherd comes in the evening to ask them for his needs, they will say, ‘Return to us tomorrow.’ Then Allah will destroy them during the night by causing the mountain to fall upon them, while He changes others into apes and swine. They will remain in such a state until the Day of Resurrection.” [narration of al Bukhari]
The messenger of Allah [salla LLAHu `alayhi wa sallam] said: “A people of my umma will drink wine, calling it by other than its real name. Merriment will be made for them through the playing of musical instruments and the singing of lady singers. Allah will cleave the earth under them and turn others into apes and swine.” [narration of Ibn Majah, Al-Bayhaqi, Ibn Asaakir].
Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) related that the Messenger of Allah [salla LLAHu `alayhi wa sallam] said, “Proclaim this marriage, solemnize it in the mosque and beat the daff upon its occasion.”
Singing songs to make babies sleep, to encourage workers etc. is halal (allowed), if there are no maazif employed and the texts are not contrary to islam. halal songs are called nasheed. Better use of time is to learn coran and `ilm of course. So who likes to listen to an-nasheed could do from time to time but should not replace learning by constantly listening to an-nasheed.