8 – Chapter Eight: The Wisdom Behind the Prohibition of Musical Instruments and Singing

O Muslim, you must hold with certainty that behind everything Allah has legislated for His servants—whether a command, a prohibition, or a permission—there lies wisdom, indeed many profound wisdoms. Those who know them do, and those who do not remain unaware; they may be manifest to some people and concealed from others. For that reason a true believer is obliged to hasten to obey Allah and not delay until the rationale becomes clear to him, for such hesitation contradicts faith, which is unconditional submission to the All-Wise Lawgiver. In this connection Allah says in the Noble Quran: “But no—by your Lord—they will not believe until they accept you as judge in all matters in which they dispute, then find in themselves no discomfort regarding your decision and submit in full submission.” (Q. 4:65)

This principle was the way of our righteous predecessors: Allah honoured them, opened for them the lands and the hearts of His servants, and nothing will reform the latter part of this ummah except what reformed its first generation. Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, was pre-eminent in embodying this attitude and set a sound example for others, as his splendid stance during the Treaty of Hudaybiyya demonstrates. Sahl ibn Ḥunayf, may Allah be pleased with him, related:

“It is authentically reported—O people, hold yourselves accountable!—that we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the day of Hudaybiyya. Had we perceived that fighting was required, we would certainly have fought, yet it was a truce between the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the idolaters. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, are we not upon the truth and they upon falsehood?’ He replied, ‘Indeed.’ ʿUmar said, ‘Are not our slain in Paradise…’”