Is it permissible to listen to Islamic songs with the sound of music in thebackground. Some people assert that beating of the Duff (drum) isestablished in Hadith.

To assert on the basis of some Ahaadith that to listen to Islamic songs%0D%0Awith music in the background is incorrect. Several Ahaadith clearly prohibit%0D%0Athe use of the drum as well as other musical instruments. Consider the%0D%0Afollowing Ahaadith:%0D%0A%0D%0A* Hadhrat Ibn Mas'ood (Radhiallaahu %C1nhu) reports that Rasulullah%0D%0A(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) declared every wine, gambling, beating of%0D%0Adrums and every intoxicant as Haraam. (Abu Dawud)%0D%0A%0D%0A* Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallaahu %C1nhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu%0D%0AAlayhi Wasallam) prohibited the beating of drums. (Kanzul Ummaal)%0D%0A%0D%0A* The Kubah (drum) is Haraam. (Bayhaqi; Musnad Bazzar)%0D%0A%0D%0AThese Ahaadith are general and prohibit the beating of the drum. Those who%0D%0Aclaim that the beating of drums is permissible generally use the Hadith%0D%0Awherein it is reported that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said,%0D%0A'Announce the Nikah even though it be with the Duff.' (Mishkat)%0D%0A%0D%0AIn another narration, it is reported that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi%0D%0AWasallam) passed by little girls who were beating drums. (Ibn Maajah)%0D%0A%0D%0AHowever, to use these Ahaadith to substantiate the beating of drums as a%0D%0Amusical instrument is baseless. The beating of drums on the occasions was%0D%0Afor the purpose of announcement of a Nikah or the arrival of somebody or the%0D%0Asighting of the moon. There is no evidence whatsoever that drums were used%0D%0Amerely for 'entertainment'. Rather it is reported that when Umar%0D%0A(Radhiallaahu %C1nhu) heard the sound of beating drums, he would send a person%0D%0Ato inspect the occasion. If it was a Nikah (which was being announced by%0D%0Ameans of the drum) he would keep quite. Otherwise, he would punish those%0D%0Ainvolved. (Fathul Qadeer)%0D%0A%0D%0AIn contemporary times there is no need to use the drum to announce any%0D%0Aoccasion, nor is it used for such purposes. In these times, it is used commo%0D%0Anly as a musical instrument. The use of the drum as a musical instrument is%0D%0Aexpressly forbidden as has been clearly ascertained from the Ahaadith%0D%0Amentioned in the beginning. Also, music itself is expressly forbidden in%0D%0ADeen. Allah Ta'ala says:%0D%0A%0D%0A* Almighty Allah Ta%E3la says in the Noble Qur%E3n: 'And there are some people%0D%0Awho purchase idle talk. for them is a severe punishment'. Ibn Mas%F3od%0D%0A(Radhiyallaahu %C1nhu) says that this verse was revealed regarding singing.%0D%0A%0D%0A* Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) said, 'Allah ordered me to%0D%0Adestroy musical instruments.'%0D%0A%0D%0A* Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) said, 'People from my Ummat will%0D%0Adrink wine and give it other names and singing girls and musical instruments%0D%0Awill be played before them. Allah will cause the earth to swallow them, and%0D%0Adisfigure their faces into apes and pigs.'%0D%0A%0D%0A* Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) mentioned, 'When singing girls%0D%0Aand musical instruments becomes common, wait for red winds, earthquakes, the%0D%0Aearth swallowing people, disfiguring and many more punishments.' (Mishk%E3t%0D%0A470)%0D%0A%0D%0AIn the light of the above, it is not permissible to hear Islamic songs%0D%0Ahaving the sound of beating drums in the background.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0A