Is It Haram to Listen to a Nasheed You Do Not Understand?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is listening to a nasheed by “ISIS” haram if you don’t understand the lyrics and they are free of inappropriate content?

Also, is it haram if you don’t understand, but the lyrics contain minor inappropriate content?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

A nasheed that contains no inappropriate content may be permissible to listen to on its own. However, if it is associated with a designated terrorist group, it would be impermissible.

Additionally, if the listener does not understand the lyrics, it is better to choose nasheeds with clear, uplifting meanings so they can benefit from the message rather than simply listening for the sound.

There is general permission to listen to nasheeds that have no appropriate content. However, here, there is an element of association and cooperation.

Allah Most High says: “And aid one another in devotion to your Lord in every good and godfearingness, and do not aid one another in sin and transgression; And fear Allah: Verily Allah is unsparing in reprisal.” [Quran 5:2; Keller, The Quran Beheld]

Listening to Songs

Listening to a song is permissible if it meets the following conditions:

(1) The words/lyrics do not entail sin nor glorify sinful actions.
(2) The listening does not distract one from their religious obligations. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Every Prohibited Matter, Islam Provides an Alternative

When Islam forbids something, it offers a permissible substitute that is better and purer for the soul, such as listening to pure content, including nasheeds, qasidas, etc., which will inspire one to get closer to Allah and his prophet, and inspire one to do good in life that is beneficial in this world and the Next.

Islamic Devotional Songs

Why not try listening to nasheeds and qasidas ( spiritual odes) that instill the spirit of Islam, nearness to Allah, and the inspiration to follow the sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)?

And Allah knows best.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Related Answers

Listening to Islamic Songs with Musical Instruments — The relied-upon Hanafi position on nasheed, instruments, and the conditions under which vocal song is permitted.

Is It Permissible to Listen to Non-Islamic Songs, if the Song Is Merely Vocals Having No Bad Words or Meanings? — The two-condition test for vocal-only song: no sinful lyrics, no distraction from obligations.

Can We Transact with Oppressors and Their Supporters?] — The cooperation-and-loyalty dimension, including avoiding indirect relationships with wrongdoing and not aiding those at war with the Muslims.

Are the Lyrics to This Nashid Song Permissible? — How lyrical content is assessed even when words admit metaphorical readings, relevant to the comprehension and minor-themes variants.

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.