Are musical instruments permissible in Islam?

Bara Kherigi, Awakening’s co-founder & director, addresses one of the questions that invariably comes up whenever Islamic music is discussed: Are musical instruments permissible in Islam?

“There is a legitimate difference of scholarly opinion on this issue. While many scholars prohibited musical instruments, a significant number of respected scholars — classical and contemporary — permitted them within certain conditions.

The position we follow at Awakening is that music and musical instruments are permissible provided that the content itself is permissible, it does not lead to or accompany what is prohibited, and it does not distract a person from their religious obligations.

Music is a tool. It can elevate, inspire and bring people closer to beautiful meanings — or it can be used to promote things that are harmful and contrary to our values. What matters is not simply the instrument, but what we create with it and what it leads to.”

This is the second in a series of excerpts from a talk delivered at Inspire Changemakers on Islamic music, creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship and building with purpose.

Difference of opinion should be approached with knowledge, respect and adab.
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Awakening Music is a pioneering global music label with over two decades of creating some of the world’s most recognised faith-inspired Islamic and values-driven music. A subsidiary of UK-based Awakening Worldwide, Awakening Music currently represents Maher Zain, Mesut Kurtis, Humood Alkhudher, Harris J, Raef and Jaqlyn, and has previously represented Sami Yusuf, Hamza Namira and others.

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