Is Music Haram?

A simple question, is music Haram? Simple answer, NO. Unless, you are willing to be duped into believing that "lahw al-hadîth" in Quran 31:06 means music. In order to do that you will have to also believe that "None can change/alter His words" in Quran 6:115 means "someone can change" God's words :)

Those who give undue importance to secondary sources may disagree but let me take this opportunity to once again highlight facts preventing millions from  accepting Mullah Islam. The way God has worded the verse Quran 9:101, each and every report ascribed to the Prophet Pbuh could be a complete fabrication, yes complete fabrication. There is no other way to put it hence it would be foolish to not make these reports  inadmissible as far as religious decrees are concerned. Ironically at least two Sahih Hadith in the Muslim's compilation confirm this by admitting to 12 hypocrites masquerading as companions and who's identities were never revealed. Even if one were to discount this game changing reality as far as the authenticity of these reports go, Hadith literature is at best non-conclusive on the issue of music and then this gem; 

Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "Some of my companions will come to me at my Lake Fount, and after I recognize them, they will then be taken away from me, whereupon I will say, 'My companions!' Then it will be said, 'You do not know what they innovated (new things) in the religion after you."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Hadith 584

Here is a convenient list to check and cross check the meaning of "lahw al-hadîth" across various dictionaries;

The author of Lisaan al `Arab writes:

"Lahw" is something you indulge in and entertain with, and your occupation in desire and show of delight and the like. (15/258)

Allamah Raghib Asfahaani the author of "Mufradaat" writes:

"Lahw" is something which forces you ignore what is important to you and what (meaningful work) you intend to do. (al-Mufradaat al Qur'an p:455)

The word Hadith means "something new" or a piece of news. Lisaan al Arab reads:

The word Hadith connotes what is new among things and (also) a news." (4/133)

Aqrab al Mawaarid reads:

The word al-Hadith connotes the new or the news/narrative. (1/170)

According to the lexicographers the phrase can be taken to connote the following things:

A plaything

Something that makes you forgetful of meaningful activity

Evil thing

Getting back to the issue of music, if by the logic of those who use Quran 31:06 as their ''proof'' to declare music Haram, in spite of the fact that neither words are present in the verse, then it should be pretty straightforward to draw another conclusion;

I don't need to drop names as to who were ''bought'' by whom in order to generate these custom built reports to please the emperor :) but here is the thing, the word Hadith is very much part of the term "lahw al-hadîth" and now it will be a neat trick to prove that secondary sources which by definition are ''new'' and were bought, are not distracting you from the words of God in the Quran. If on the other hand someone insist it is music or magic then bring forward your proof if you are truthful as God says in the Quran 2:111.

Let us remind ourselves of the the names of scholars who have studied various Hadith methodologies and do allow music, Imam Nawawi, Qadhi Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi and Qadhi Iyyad from the Malikis, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali and al-Izz ibn Abdesalam from the Shaafi'is, Mawlana Jalaluddeen Ar-Rumi from the Hanafis, and Ibn Hazm from the Dhahiris and many more