If, then, listening is of two kinds—listening to what comes from the Most Merciful and listening to what comes from Satan—the distinction between them is among the greatest. Here, however, there are four possibilities: a person engages in the former but not the latter, in the latter but not the former, in both, or in neither.

The first is the condition of the foremost pioneers among the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who follow them in righteousness.

The second is the condition of the polytheists of whom Allah says:

“Their prayer at the Sacred House was nothing but whistling and clapping.”
[Surah al-Anfāl 35]

This is also the condition of anyone who adopts such listening as a religious practice and does not listen to the Quran. If they engage in this listening for pleasure rather than as a religious practice, while turning away from the Quran, they are evildoers—and hypocrites if they inwardly share the condition of the polytheists.

Those who engage in both kinds of listening include many Sufis. Those who fail to attend properly to either include many who adopt Arab ways.

These texts transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, which praise a beautiful voice reciting the Quran and encourage this listening, serve as evidence against those who turn away from such lawful, faith-nurturing listening. They do not serve as evidence for the merit of listening founded on religious innovation and polytheism.

Rather, both those who desire both kinds of listening and those who shun both depart from true uprightness and the perfect Quranic law. The former