Question:
Aslaamualiakum
I pray you are well.
Please could you give a fatwa:
1) Is a Muslim a kaafir if he listened to many songs over the years and some of the songs might have contained words and statements of kufr. And this Muslim is in doubts and worried whether he enjoyed, taken pleasure and liked the kufr words and statements in a particular song/s OR just the melody, music, tune, sound of the words, sound of the music, sound of the song or other words and statements that are not kufr of/in the very same song/s mentioned above?
2) Is a Muslim a kaafir if he listened to a song/s that contained words and statements of kufr and he enjoyed the sound, music, melody and tune of the song/s but not the kufr words and statements?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Undoubtedly listening to music is a sin and very detrimental to ones Imaan. It is narrated in a Hadith,
‘Imran bin Husain narrated that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: “In this Ummah there shall be collapsing of the earth, transformation and being rained upon with stones.” A man among the Muslims said: “O Messenger of Allah! When is that?” He said: “When singing slave-girls, music, and drinking intoxicants spread.”( Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2212)
The Prophet ﷺ also mentioned “Singing produces hypocrisy in the heart.”(Sunan Abi Dawud 4927)
Listening to music and songs as mentioned in the query will not constitute Kufr and one will not become a Kaafir. However Tawbah should be made and seek forgiveness from Allah.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)
