Teaching music

Q: We live in England and on our days off we teach the basics of Islam and the Arabic language in private schools to children who have come from countries such as India, Pakistan, and Yemen, etc. In their normal public school, these children learn all their lessons through the use of music and pictures to help and encourage their understanding and present ideas, but when they come to our Islamic school at the weekend, to study the Islamic sciences and Arabic, and they do not find such excitement, they run away. Is it permissible for us to use musical instruments in Islamic Nashids (songs) for these children and is it permissible to let them play with the pictures and dolls they like and find attractive, so they agree to come to the Islamic schools to learn their Din (religion)?

A: It is not permissible to use musical instruments or other toys, whether (Part No. 12; Page No. 185) for Islamic Nashid or other purposes, in education or other domains, because Allah (Exalted be He) says (what means): And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh without knowledge It is also related by Al-Bukhari on the authority of `Abdul-Rahman ibn Ghanam Al-Ash`ary who reported on the authority of Abu ‘Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash‘ary saying: By Allah! He did not lie to me when he told me that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say, “Verily, among my Ummah (nation based on one creed) there will be people who will deem as lawful: Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage), silk, Khamr (intoxicants) and musical instruments. And verily, some people will stay near a high mountain; their shepherd will come to them with one of their herds in the evening, and the poor will come to them for a need, but they will say, ‘Come back to us tomorrow.’ So, Allah will destroy them by night and bring down the high mountain, and He will transform others into apes and monkeys to the Day of Resurrection.” However, they should be stimulated through good Nashids that do not include anything forbidden by Islam and also through suitable prizes and other types of permissible encouragement and motivations that contain none of the forbidden things. Allah (Glorified be He) did not declare something to be Haram (prohibited) for his servants without providing instead of it the Halal (lawful) means that stand as a sufficient substitute, as He (Glorified be He) says (what means): And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). (Part No. 12; Page No. 186) And He (Glorified be He) also says: ...and whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him. We ask Allah to grant us all success in what pleases Him and guide His servants.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.