Muslims & Music: What Scholars Won’t Tell You!

The connection of music to Islam has been controversial for centuries, with philosophers and believers offering different arguments. Some Islamic traditions permit music under specific conditions, while others caution against its utilization. But what does Islam really say about music? Let us explore the historical, religious, and cultural dimensions of this debate.


Music has never been a non-human activity, and Islamic cultures are not an exception. Islamic scholars such as Abu Nasr Muhammad al-Farabi in the Islamic Golden Age studied and wrote about the science of music. In the Ottoman Empire and other Islamic kingdoms, music was a sophisticated art form that affected both Eastern and Western music.

Maybe the most significant use of music in Islamic society has been in religious worship. Sufi orders, for instance, use music as a way of inspiring love of God and bringing communities together in congregational worship. In rhythmic chant, melody, and poetry, Sufi music has found a space where religion and creativity meet.


Quran and Hadith, Islamic primary sources of learning, neither in clear words make music Halal nor Haram. This ambiguity has led to several interpretations by scholars.

Other authors refer to Quranic passages threatening "idle talk" (Surah Luqman 31:6), but they see it as a warning against music that leads away from religion. Others, however, assert that the verse does not mention music and that it is subject to interpretation based on context.

The Hadith books too have contradictory views. Some accounts state that the Prophet Muhammad was against musical instruments, while others describe instances when he allowed singing, particularly during weddings and celebrations. These divergent accounts have led scholars to offer different conclusions over the centuries.

Today, the controversy about music in Islam continues. There are some societies and thinkers who are less stringent, allowing music that is according to Islamic ethics—i.e., it must be moral, free of obscenity, and not distracting one from religious obligations. They lay more emphasis on the intent and content than the act itself.

Some take a more religious view, while others are strict. They feel that music is capable of distancing people from religious duties and creating ill habits. Their objection lies not with music per se but with its capacity to influence the mind and spirit.

Despite controversial opinions, music has a deep-seated place in the majority of Muslim societies. Styles such as Nasheed (Islamic song) and Qawwali (Sufi devotional music) prove that music and religion are not mutually exclusive. Such styles tend to carry the themes of love, faith, and ethical living, which aim to inspire and not distract.

Reflect, for example, on the legendary Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His Qawwali singing was deafening, transcending borders and touching hearts across cultures yet being deeply religious in intent. His life is an illustration of how music can be used both for the preservation of culture and personal belief.

The question of music in Islam is not one with a clear, absolute answer—it is a matter of interpretation, cultural context, and personal belief. Some see music as a beautiful expression and means of raising the soul, while others avoid it because of religious conservatism.

In the end, the controversy around music in Islam is a sign of the diversity within the Muslim world. What is most important is to approach this subject with respect and empathy, understanding that religion is a highly individualistic part of life and that different views can exist.