Can You Listen to Music in Ramadan?

Is listening to music in Ramadan haram?

Listening to music is haram , whether in Ramadan or at other times, but it is more forbidden in Ramadan, and is a greater sin. Fasting does not only mean refraining from eating and drinking, rather it means attaining piety or fear of Allah, and it means that all the physical faculties should refrain from disobeying Allah . 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting does not just mean (abstaining) from eating and drinking, rather fasting means (abstaining) from idle and obscene talk…” Narrated by al-Hakim who said: This hadith is sahih according to the conditions of Muslim. 

The sahih Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) clearly indicates that listening to musical instruments is haram. 

Al-Bukhari narrated in a mu’allaq report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There will be among my ummah people who regard adultery, silk, pork and musical instruments as permissible…” Al-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi said that this was a mawsul report. 

Why are musical instruments haram?

This hadith indicates that musical instruments are haram in two ways: 

1. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “[they] will regard… as permissible.” This clearly indicates that the things mentioned are haram, but those people will regard them as permissible. 
2. Musical instruments are mentioned in conjunction with things that are definitely haram, namely adultery (zina) and alcohol. If it were not haram it would not have been mentioned alongside them. (See al-Silsilah al-Sahihah by al-Albani , hadith no. 91)

Does listening to music in Ramadan invalidate the fast?

Sin (including listening to music) detracts from the reward of fasting. So the more the fasting person sins, and the more grievous his sins, the more it detracts from the reward of his fas, and he may lose the reward altogether. Thus he will have deprived himself of food and drink, and all other things that break the fast, and will also have deprived himself of the reward for that, by disobeying Allah. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There may be someone who fasts and gets nothing from his fast except hunger, and there may be someone who prays qiyaam and gets nothing from his qiyaam but a sleepless night.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah (1690); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah.

With regard to whether the fast is invalidated by committing sins, including listening to music, fasting is not invalidated by that; rather it is valid and the fasting person has discharged his duty and is not required to make it up, but his reward is reduced because of his committing sin, and the reward may even be lost altogether, as noted above.

Please see also the answers to questions no. 50063 and 37877 .

How to make the best of Ramadan?

The believer should make the most of this blessed month and turn to his Lord. He should repent to Allah and give up haram things that he was in the habit of doing before Ramadan, so that Allah might accept his fast and set his affairs straight.

And Allah knows best.