The sixth point: Ibn al-Mundhir reported the scholars’ agreement on the prohibition of hiring people to sing or wail. He said:

“All the scholars whose views we have preserved agree that hiring female wailers and singers is invalid. Al-Sha‘bī, al-Nakha‘ī, and Mālik disapproved of it. Abū Thawr, al-Nu‘mān, Ya‘qūb, and Muhammad said: ‘Hiring anyone for any kind of singing or wailing is impermissible.’ This is also our position.”

Given that he reported the consensus of the scholars whose views he had preserved on the invalidity of hiring female wailers and singers—even though singing is permissible for women at weddings and on occasions of rejoicing, while for men it is either forbidden or disliked, though some scholars have allowed it—what, then, of the flute? None of the scholars permitted it for either men or women, whether at weddings or elsewhere. Those who permit it are not among the imams who are followed and renowned for their authority in religion.

Thus, the statement, “If one paid him for his flute-playing, that would be permissible,” is false and contrary to the positions of the imams of the Muslims, even if flute-playing were a permissible form of idle amusement. How much more so when it is a prohibited form of idle amusement! This becomes clear from the seventh point: not everything that is permissible to do may permissibly be done for payment.

Do you not see that, in the well-known hadith, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“No prize may be awarded except in camel racing, horse racing, or archery.”

He thus prohibited awarding prizes in competitions other than these