The Prohibition Of Listening To Music

A Short Sitting In A Taxi

Written by the Noble Shaykh
Abu ‘Amr Abdul-Kareem Bin Ahmed Al-Hajoree

Chapter: The Prohibition Of Listening To Music

Allah said, exalted be He in His loftiness:

وَمِنْ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ
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
Luqmaan 6

And He said, exalted be He in His loftiness:1

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلآئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلاّ إِبْلِيسَ قَالَ ءأَسْجُدُ لِمَنْ خَلَقْتَ طِينًا * قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ هَذَا الَّذِي كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إِلاّ قَلِيلاً * قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَمَنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَاؤُكُمْ جَزَاءً مَوْفُورًا* وَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُمْ بِصَوْتِكَ وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِمْ بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِي الأَمْوَالِ وَالأَولاَدِ وَعِدْهُمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمْ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلاّ غُرُورًا
And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate unto Aadam.” They prostrated except Iblîs (Satan). He said: “Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?” [Iblîs (Satan)] said: “See? This one whom You have honoured above me, if You give me respite to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a few!” (Allâh) said: “Go, and whosoever of them follows you, surely! Hell will be the recompense of you (all) an ample recompense “And befool them gradually, those whom you can among them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and any other call for Allâh’s disobedience), make assaults on them with your cavalry and your infantry, mutually share with them wealth and children and make promises to them.” But Satan promises them nothing but deceit
Al-Israa 61-64

Narrated by Abee Aamir or Abee Maalik Al-Ash’aree that he said: that he heard the Prophet may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family say: ‘‘From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments as being lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, ‘Return to us tomorrow.’ Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.” Reported by Al-Bukhari 5990, At-Tabaraanee in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer (3/282 no.3417) and in Ash-Shaameyeen (1/334 no.588) and Ibn Hibaan in Al-Ihsaan (15/154 no.6754) and Al-Bayhaqee in Sunan Al-Kubraa (3/272 and 10/221) and Abee Dharr Al-Harwee as comes in Taghleeq Al-Ta’leeq (5/17).

And it is a Hadeeth that is Saheeh.

And it has support from the Hadeeth of Awf Bin Maalik, At-Tabaraanee in Musnad Ash-Shaameyeen, and from the Hadeeth of Abee Hurayrah, Musaddad reported it in his Musnad Al-Kabeer, and from the Hadeeth of Abee Umaamah and Ibn ‘Umar and other than them.

And the differing regarding the Kunyah of a companion does not cause any harm, because all of the companions are upright, provided that it has been narrated by other companions. Return to Taghleeq At-Ta’aleeq (5/22).

And on the authority of Anas Bin Maalik may Allah be pleased with him, he said: the messenger of Allah may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family said: ”Two sounds are cursed in this world and in the hereafter, the sound of the flute at the time of happiness and wailing at the time of a calamity”. Reported by Al-Bazaar as comes in Kashaf Al-Astaar (795) and it is Hassan (sound).

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The Prohibition on Abbreviating the Salaah and Salaams upon the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

An important clarification on abbreviating  the salaah and the salaams upon the beloved Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the impermissibility of it.  A compilation of statements from the scholars of the past and present on this erroneous action.

“The author, Shaykh Zakariyyaa Al-Ansaaree, then mentioned that Imaam An-Nawawee related that there is consensus among those who are relied upon that it is legislated to send salaah upon the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) in speech as well as writing. So therefore, it not from the Sunnah to use symbols or abbreviations in place of it. “

In the Name of Allaah, may the Salaah and Salaam of Allaah be upon His Final Messenger, to proceed:

Muslims are obliged to send Allaah’s Salaah [1] and Salaam [2] upon Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) when his name is mentioned. Allaah has commanded us [3]:

(إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٥٦

“Verily Allaah and His Angels send salaah on the Prophet. O you who believe! Invoke salaah upon him, as well as a complete salaam!” (33:56)

And the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said:

“For each time someone invokes salaah upon me, Allaah writes for him ten good rewards because of it.” [4]

And the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) had described the one who does not send salaah upon him when he is mentioned as “the stingiest of people.” [5] And he exclaimed “Aameen!” to Jibreel’s supplication, “May Allaah repel the one who hears mention of you and does not invoke any salaah upon you!” [6]

So here is the issue that needs to be clarified: Many people use the abbreviation “SAW” or “PBUH” to fulfill this obligation in their writing. Is this something that fulfills the obligation of sending the salaah and salaam on the Messenger? Let us look now to some of the statements of the scholars regarding this practice.

Bakr Aboo Zayd said, “The safe practice, the way of true love, (seeking) reward (from Allaah), respect and honor for the Prophet of this nation is to send the salaah and salaam upon him when he is mentioned (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam), carrying out the order of Allaah and the guidance of his Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam). For this reason, written abbreviations or symbols used to represent salaah and salaam upon the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) are prohibited. Some examples of these are: SAAD (ص), SAAD-‘AYN-MEEM (صعم), SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM (صلعم), SAAD-LAAM-MEEM (صلم), SAAD-LAAM-YAA’-WAAW (صليو), and SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN.” [7]

These example are all used in some ‘Arabic books. The English equivalents of these abbreviations would be: SAAWS, SAW, PBUH, and the likes.

‘Abdul-Qaadir Al-Maghribee said, “As for SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM (صلعم), it seems as if it was invented in the 9th century after Hijrah. In the explanation of the Alfiyyah of Al-‘Iraaqee, a book about the sciences of Hadeeth, the author says, “Abbreviations must be avoided, as well as neglecting it.” This means that one should stay away from symbols and not abbreviate it by removing some of its letters, rather he should employ it (“sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam”) fully in his speech and writing.

The author, Shaykh Zakariyyaa Al-Ansaaree, then mentioned that Imaam An-Nawawee related that there is consensus among those who are relied upon that it is legislated to send salaah upon the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) in speech as well as writing. So therefore, it not from the Sunnah to use symbols or abbreviations in place of it.

Then Shaykh Al-Ansaaree mentioned that the first one to use a symbol for it, his hand had been cut off, and Allaah’s Refuge is sought…” [8]

Ibn Hajr Al-Haythamee said, “The word “SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM”  (صلعم) is not permissible. Rather, it is binding on us to send the salaah and the salaam.” [9]

Al-Fayrooza-abaadee said, “It is not appropriate to use symbols or abbreviations to refer to salaah and salaam, as some of the lazy ones do, as well as some ignorant people and even some students of knowledge – they write ‘SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM’ instead of writing ‘sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam.'” [10]

Ahmad Shaakir said, may Allaah have mercy on him, “It is the absurd tradition of some of the later generations that they abbreviate the writing of ‘sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam.'” [11]

Wasee Allaah ‘Abbaas, may Allaah preserve him, said: “It is not permissible to abbreviate the salaams in general in one’s writing, just as it is not permissible to abbreviate the salaah and salaam on the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam).  It is also not permissible to abbreviate either of these in one’s speech.” [12]

Some of the ignorant nussaakh who were just paid to copy books (by writing) used to abbreviate the salaah and salaam on the messenger with “SAAD-LAAM-‘AYN-MEEM” (صلعم) in a connected way so that it looked like a word in ‘arabic: SAL’AMA (صلعم).  So then some of them began to guess at its meaning, thinking it was a 4-lettered verb (rubaa’ee), ie. “kaan An-Nabiyyu sal’ama fee baytihi…” guessing at the meaning: “it must be a word for sitting with a certain posture” etc. wallaahul-musta’aan.

And Allaah knows best. May the most perfect and complete salaah and salaam be upon our beloved Messenger, and upon his noble family and companions.

Footnotes:

[1] Sending salaah on the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) means that one invokes Allaah to praise him and mention his high status to the angels. See Jalaal Al-Afhaam (p.253) of Ibn Al-Qayyim, Fat-hul-Baaree (11/179-197) of Ibn Hajr, or Ibn Katheer’s tafseer to verse 33:56.

[2] salaam: security

[3] the meaning of Soorah Al-Ahzaab (33):56

[4] an authentic hadeeth collected by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (#906, 3/187) on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). Al-Albaanee declared it to be saheeh in Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah (#3359, 7/1080).

[5] from a hasan hadeeth collected by Ibn Abee Ad-Dunyaa in As-Salaah ‘Alan-Nabee (p.30-31) on the authority of Aboo Tharr (may Allaah be pleased with him). Hamdee As-Salafee called it hasan in his checking of the book.

[6] from an authentic hadeeth collected by At-Tabaraanee in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer on the authority of Jaabir ibn Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him). Al-Albaanee authenticated it in his checking of Al-Munthiree’s At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (#1677,2/298).

[7] Mu’jam Al-Manaahee Al-Laf-thiyyah (p.188)

[8] Mu’jam Al-Manaahee Al-Laf-thiyyah (p.188-189)

[9] Al-Fataawaa Al-Hadeethiyyah (p.168)

[10] from his book As-Salaatu wal-Bushr, as quoted in Mu’jam Al-Manaahee Al-Laf-thiyyah (p.351)

[11] the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (#5088, 9/105)

[12] from a handwritten answer given to me by the shaykh (I have it on file #AAWA004 dated 1423/6/24)

[13] Original Source: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=138

Compiled and translated by Moosaa ibn John Richardson

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