Fatwa ID: 07924
Answered by Alimah Humairah Badshah
Question:
There are hundreds of songs which contain hidden messages in them which are kufr words usually praising satan. There might even be heaps of songs that contain black magic in them which has a purpose of turning one away from their core beliefs and towards worshipping satan. I am aware that music is haram but I am afraid that listening to these would make me a kafir. This is because who knows by listening to those hidden messages or the sihr, it could end up subconsciously changing our core beliefs leading us out of Islam over time. Since I am aware that music these days have satanic subconscious messages and potentially even sihr in them which might have the power to take me out of Islam, would it make me a kaafir if I listen to these?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Firstly, as you know, listening to music is forbidden. When a person commits a sin such as listening to music, they should do sincere taubah immediately and make a firm intention not to do anything like it ever again. To further seek forgiveness and expiate one’s sin, it is advisable to do wudhu, offer two rakaats of nafl salah, and then seek the forgiveness of Allah (عز و جل). One can also offer sadaqah.1
Regarding your specific query, there is little proof that there are subliminal satanic messages in songs which do not already have overt kufr-related lyrics. Regardless, subliminal messages cannot turn a believer into a disbeliever.
In Sahih Bukhari, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said regarding an incident: “Satan circulates in the human mind as blood circulates in it, and I was afraid that Satan might throw an evil thought (or something) into your hearts.”2
From this, we can see that Satan whispers subliminally to humans all the time, even without the aid of corrupt music. But these whispers do not have power over us; kufr is a conscious choice and the whispers of Satan do not affect our belief. Even if it causes conscious fleeting thoughts, these things are normal and forgiven.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers unless they put it to action or utter it.”3
If one thinks that such whispers have caused them to have thoughts unbefitting of a believer, one should seek refuge in Allah (عز و جل) and put them out of one’s mind.4
In Surah Fussilaat, Allah (عز و جل) tells us: “And if a whisper from the devil reaches thee (O Muhammad) then seek refuge in Allah. Lo! He is the Hearer, the Knower.” [41:36]
However, it is a believer’s duty to avoid waswasa and talks of kufr. If songs with kufr-related lyrics begin to play, one should turn the song off or leave the room wherever possible.
In Surah Al-An’aam, Allah (عز و جل) says: “And when you come across those who ridicule Our revelations, do not sit with them unless they engage in a different topic. Should Satan make you forget, then once you remember, do not continue to sit with the wrongdoing people.” [6:68]
This is in no way an endorsement of other songs and music. However, Music with instruments is an immorality which causes hypocrisy in the heart. Even though this sin does not take you out of Islam it is still a very serious matter, and should not be taken lightly.5
Only Allah knows best
Written by Alimah Humairah Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
(1)
اسْتِمَاعُ صَوْتِ الْمَلَاهِي كَضَرْبِ قَصَبٍ وَنَحْوِهِ حَرَامٌ
Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fitr, https://shamela.ws) v.6 p.349
يَكْفِيه فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى التَّوْبَةُ، وَالْإِنَابَةُ
Kitab Al-Bahr Al-Raa’iq (Daar Al-Kutub Al-Islaamiyyah, https://shamela.ws) v.5 p.5
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ، مِنْ بَنِي أَسَدٍ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ، أَوْ ابْنِ أَسْمَاءَ مِنْ بَنِي فَزَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُنْتُ إِذَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ شَيْئًا نَفَعَنِي اللَّهُ بِمَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَنْفَعَنِي مِنْهُ وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَصَدَقَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يُذْنِبُ ذَنْبًا ثُمَّ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لِذَلِكَ الذَّنْبِ إِلَّا غَفَرَ لَهُ وَقَرَأَ هَاتَيْنِ الْآيَتَيْنِ {وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرْ اللَّهَ يَجِدْ اللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا} {وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ} الْآيَةَ
Musnad Ahmad (https://sunnah.com) b.1, no.46 (47/48)
وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ
Jami` at-Tirmidhi (https://sunnah.com) b.6, ch.79, no.71 (614)
(2)
قَالَ ” إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَجْرِي مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ مَجْرَى الدَّمِ، وَإِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَقْذِفَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمَا سُوءًا ـ أَوْ قَالَ ـ شَيْئًا
Sahih al-Bukhari (https://sunnah.com) b.59, ch.11, no.90 (3281)
(3)
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ لِي عَنْ أُمَّتِي مَا وَسْوَسَتْ بِهِ صُدُورُهَا، مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَوْ تَكَلَّمْ
Sahih al-Bukhari (https://sunnah.com) b.49, ch.6, no.12 (2528)
(4)
لِأَنَّ قَطْعَ الْوَسْوَسَةِ وَاجِبٌ
Badaai’ Al-Sanaai’ (Daar Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah, https://shamela.ws) v.1 p.21
وَالسَّبِيلُ فِي الْوَسْوَسَةِ قَطْعُهَا؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَوْ اشْتَغَلَ بِذَلِكَ لَأَدَّى إلَى أَنْ يَتَفَرَّعَ لِأَدَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَهَذَا لَا يَجُوزُ
Badaai’ Al-Sanaai’ (Daar Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah, https://shamela.ws) v.1 p.33
(5)
صَوْتُ اللَّهْوِ وَالْغِنَاءِ يُنْبِتُ النِّفَاقَ فِي الْقَلْبِ كَمَا يُنْبِتُ الْمَاءُ النَّبَاتَ
Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fitr, https://shamela.ws) v.6 p.349
وَاسْتِمَاعُ صَوْتِ الْمَلَاهِي حَرَامٌ كَالضَّرْبِ بِالْقَصَبِ وَغَيْرِهِ قَالَ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ اسْتِمَاعُ الْمَلَاهِي مَعْصِيَةٌ وَالْجُلُوسُ عَلَيْهَا فِسْقٌ وَالتَّلَذُّذُ بِهَا كُفْرٌ»وَهَذَا خَرَجَ عَلَى وَجْهِ التَّشْدِيدِ لَا أَنَّهُ يَكْفُرُ
Kitab Al-Bahr Al-Raa’iq (Daar Al-Kutub Al-Islaamiyyah, https://shamela.ws) v.8 p.215
