What do the eminent scholars, the imams of Islam and heirs of the prophets—peace be upon them—say about the nature of “the listening practice of the righteous”? May Allah be pleased with these scholars and grant them contentment. What is this practice? Is listening to poems set to melody and accompanied by musical instruments an act of devotion and obedience, or not? Is it permissible or not?

Shaykh al-Islām Taqī al-Dīn Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah be pleased with him—replied:

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace.

The foundation of this “question” is to distinguish between listening that brings religious benefit and listening that is permitted to alleviate hardship: between listening to draw near to Allah and listening for amusement. As for the listening that Allah Most High prescribed for His servants, and for which the early generations of this ummah—the Companions, the Successors, and their successors—would gather for the rectification of their hearts and the purification of