Title: A Further Exchange on 'About Music & Musical Instruments' Question/Comments: The answer to the above mentioned question is quite satisfying but I think you have used a lot of Hikmat while doing so. The reason why I see the problem with music is that Qur'an says that "Verily Sala'h stops you from vulgarity ( Fahsha ) and Munkar ". I do not have the exact translation with me. Once a Sahabi (RA) asked the prophet (pbuh) that if sala'h does not stop anyone from vulgarity then what. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) replied that he is not praying at all then (His sala'h does not hold any meaning). With this in mind and also the music of our times what do you think is the message of today's songs: Forget parents, love is everything. The best way to have fun is to have dates and the ones without a girl friend or a boy friend are wasting their lives. Dance till you drop etc. Now what do you think is the message coming from these songs. Some one once told me that they cannot do mathematics without music. This is how much we are into this trap of taghoot (the devil). So if we tell some one that there is nothing wrong with songs and music, I think that it would have a drastic effect. Answer: I must confess that I agree with you to a great extent. But my friend, I would like you to appreciate that I am trying to teach people the exact message of Islam. This is a job that must be taken up with great care. I do not have any authority of prohibiting anything that the Shari`ah has not clearly prohibited. I may think that listening to music or reading poetry or literature has a bad effect on the morals of the individuals, but even then if the Shari`ah does not clearly prohibit these activities, I must not cross my limits and prohibit them on my own... I am sure you will agree with me. As far as the prohibition or otherwise of music is concerned, I have already written in my previous reply that by considering all the narratives ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) in this respect, we come to the conclusion that music - per se - was not prohibited by the Prophet (pbuh). I, therefore think that it is not in my jurisdiction to prohibit something in the name of Islam, which has not been prohibited by the Prophet (pbuh). You have stated that the subject of the songs (poetry) is normally such that has a negative effect on the moral and ethical values of those who listen to it. I am sure, you will appreciate that if this is really the case, then the fault lies basically with poetry and not with music. Why do you think should it be prohibited to listen to the tune of my national anthem? That too is music. If you look at your arguments more objectively, you will see that these have been given primarily from two standpoints: One, the subject matter of songs; and two, the negative effect of the wild musical gatherings and dance parties. In both the cases, it is not any inherent fault in music itself, but rather its wrong use that makes the outcome negative. In the absence of a clear directive of the Prophet (pbuh), I see absolutely no reason to believe that music - per se - is prohibited in Islam. 8 th May 1998