The permissibility of music in Islam is a complex issue with differing scholarly interpretations. There's no single, universally accepted answer.
Different Perspectives on Music in Islam
Some scholars interpret certain religious texts as prohibiting all music, citing specific hadiths (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad) as evidence. These interpretations often focus on the potential for music to lead to immoral activities or distract from religious devotion. IslamQA explicitly states that music, musical instruments, and singing are haram, supported by evidence from the Quran and Sunnah. Several Reddit threads (r/Muslim, r/Hijabis) also reflect this stricter viewpoint, with some users expressing concerns about music's potential to distract from faith. A Quora post (https://www.quora.com/Is-music-haram-in-Islam-If-so-why) summarizing this viewpoint claims that music is haram due to association with immoral activities. Another Quora thread (https://learningislam.quora.com/Is-all-music-haram-This-topic-is-very-confusing-because-everyone-has-a-different-opinion-I-dont-understand-at-all) states unequivocally that music is haram. A Vice article (https://www.vice.com/en/article/is-music-haram-i-was-brought-up-to-think-so/) also notes the lack of direct Quranic references, highlighting the differing interpretations of hadith.
Conversely, other scholars argue that music itself is not inherently forbidden. They emphasize the importance of intent and context, suggesting that music can be permissible if it's not used for immoral purposes or to incite negative behavior. Imam al-Ghazali's view supports this, stating that music is permitted. This perspective is echoed in several online discussions, such as the Quora posts that mention music is allowed for self-entertainment, provided it doesn't encourage wrongdoing. About Islam mentions that some scholars believe music is permissible as long as it's free from immoral elements. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_music) highlights the diversity of opinion, noting some believe only a cappella vocals are allowed with gender-segregated performers and audiences.
Conclusion: A Matter of Interpretation
The question of whether music is haram is a matter of ongoing debate within Islamic scholarship. The permissibility of music depends heavily on individual interpretation of religious texts and personal understanding of Islamic principles.
