Listening to Music ?

Question:

So I need to stop listening to music and I know it’s haram completely. And I don’t listen to nasty American songs because they have no good in them. I just need like I guess like guidance on how to stop listening to music besides deleting all my music which I did but then I play it on YouTube. بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

You mentioned that you know that music is Haraam. Having knowledge and admitting one’s mistake are the first steps to correcting oneself. However, merely possessing knowledge of something is not sufficient. To act upon that knowledge, great courage is required. Music is such an instrument of Shaytan that he uses to take people away from the remembrance of Allah (SWT) and gradually lead them to destruction.

Firstly, make a sincere tawba (repentance) from this sin. Allah (SWT) says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا

Translation: “O you who believe! Repent to Allah a sincere repentance. (Surah At-Tahrim: verse 8)

Umar (RA) describes a ‘sincere repentance’ as not returning to the sin that he repented from just as milk does not return to the udder. (Hashiya of Shaykh Sabooni for Riyadh As-Saliheen: p. 19 [Maktaba Asriya])

Keep in mind three conditions for tawba to be accepted. Many people resort back to sin due to not keeping these conditions in mind. If any of these three conditions are missing, then the tawba is invalid:

1. To remove oneself from that sin

2. To regret committing it

3. To have a firm resolve never to return to it

If the sin relates to the right of someone, then along with the above-mentioned conditions, they must fulfill the right, e.g. if he steals someone’s watch, he must return it to its rightful owner. (Riyadh As-Saliheen: p. 18 (Al-Maktaba Al-Asriya)

Many people listen to music for enjoyment (which is temporary). Whatever sin we are involved in or we have repented from, we must find a substitute for it otherwise we may return to it. We advise you to busy yourself in zikr (remembrance), recitation of the Quran, and seeking Islamic knowledge. Punctually acting by the aforementioned suggestions will keep you spiritually strong to combat your desire to listen to music. Doing it when you ‘feel like it’ or whenever you ‘get the time’ will not be effective. You have to set aside time for the above-mentioned advice to see results and this may be achieved by making a schedule for yourself.

To start, read the Kalima, Istighfar, and Durood 100 x’s each, morning and evening. Also, read one juz of the Quran daily. If this is not possible, read as much as you can, e.g. half a juz or a quarter. Lastly, find out if there are any classes taught locally by authentic pious scholars. If this is not feasible, you may take online courses at reliable institutes to increase your knowledge because knowledge is what will bring you closer to Allah (SWT).

For further encouragement and motivation, stay in touch with a pious Shaykh and inform him of your spiritual condition just as you would inform a doctor regarding your physical health and act per his advice. Attend his gatherings and always remain in the company of pious people whose goal in life is to please Allah (SWT). Also, read the stories of the pious people before us, e.g. the lives of the Prophets, Sahaba, and Awliya. Whenever you get the urge to listen to music remind yourself of death and the events that take place after it, e.g. life in the grave, the fearful scenes of the Day of Judgement, the Hell-Fire, etc. Finally, constantly ponder that Allah (SWT) is watching you at all times and make abundant dua to Him to help you leave this sin because it is only through His help that we are able to do good and avoid evil.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham