Meaning of Qur'anic verse (31: 6)
Fatwa No: 85781

Question

Explain the verse 6 Surah Luqman. Is it allowed to listen to music and songs? Please give us the Daleel from the Qur'an and Sunnah. What does Wahhabi mean? Are they from Sunni Muslims.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allâh, the Verses of the Qur'ân) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).} [31: 6]. After Allah mentions those who are guided by the Qur'an and who dedicate themselves to it, He mentions those who turn away from it and do not show respect to it. Instead of listening to the Qur'an they prefer all kinds of nonsense and falsehood. They left the highest and most beautiful speech for that which is lowest and ugliest. This is why Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And of mankind is he who} these are the miserable ones, the deceived ones. "Buys" means chooses and desires just like the one who is ready to pay the price of a given thing. (Idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.)) means the talk that occupies the hearts with pleasure and which turn these hearts away from what is required. This includes any forbidden talk as well as any drivel, or any ineffective talk like singing and music (Satan's whisper), as well as anything that does not bring benefit in religion or worldly affairs. al-Tirmizi reported from Abi Umamah from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) who said: "Do not sell slave songstresses and do not buy them as there is no good in any trade with them. Their price is Haram. This verse addresses them: {And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh…} " . [ al-Albani says 'this Hadith is good' ].
Ibn Abi Shaibah reported from Abdullah Ibn Masoud that when asked about the interpretation of the verse: {And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.)} , "He Said: (it means)" "Singing, By Allah The One and The Only".
Such people deal in diversions and bad distractions instead of good speech. Their aim is to lead people astray from the way of Allah, without sound knowledge; after they themselves went astray and lead the people astray. It would not be possible unless they malign and speak evil of the truth proved in Shariah. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {and takes it (the Path of Allâh, the Verses of the Qur'ân) by way of mockery.} , i.e. they make fun of the truth and mock at it.
No doubt, whoever makes fun of the truth, arouses interest in doing bad acts, and calling people to falsehood will lead ignorant people to stray. The fate of such a person and his followers will be pitiful. Thus Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).} . It means they will receive a severe and humiliating torment.
For the other questions, please read the Fatawa: 85146 and 81463.
Allah knows best.

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