# Doesn't the practice of Medina show that music is haram?

*Does Medina's living tradition prohibit music? Not necessarily*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/kwmtt2tqao0/s/9/
- Date: 2020-08-24 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #179 | Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (28:39–29:57)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmtt2TQAO0&t=1719s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/kwmtt2tqao0/

**Topics:** Music; The Maliki school; Sunnah versus hadith

**Question as asked:** When you say music is halal because there is no sahih hadith to make it haram, what of the living tradition: would that not indicate prohibition?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Not necessarily: Malik disliked music by temperament, but Medina after the Prophet was known for its musical instruments.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says the living tradition does not necessarily indicate that music is prohibited.

**Evidence, his words at 28:39:** “no not necessarily in fact what's interesting you see what's interesting is even though imam malik i accept he didn't like music” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmtt2TQAO0&t=1719s)

## Longer summary

A question asks: if music is halal because no sahih hadith makes it haram, would the living tradition not indicate prohibition? Mufti Abu Layth says not necessarily. He accepts that Imam Malik did not like music, but says not liking something is a matter of temperament. He says Medina after the Prophet's lifetime was known for its interest in musical instruments, to the point that a proverb arose among those who disagreed: do not ask the people of Medina about music or about nabidh, because they will just say it is halal.

## Sources and names cited

- Imam Malik
- amal ahl al-Madinah (the practice of Medina)
- nabidh

## Transcript (machine tier, 28:39–29:57)

[28:39] twin flame right so mufti when you say music is halal because there is no sahih hadith to make it haram however what of the living tradition would that not indicate prohibition no not necessarily in fact what's interesting you see what's interesting is even though imam malik i accept he didn't like music but there's a difference you see people not liking something is based on their temperament but what is interesting is medina was known

[29:19] for people having an inc a proclivity an interest in musical instruments in the city of medina after the prophet's life it was known for that in fact the saying was that it became proverbial that a proverb that do not ask that people that disagreed with it said do not ask madina on music because they will just say it's halal and do not ask about alcohol or the other the nabeed because they will just say it's hala this became a saying so it's interesting you mentioned the

[29:56] living tradition thing chad man you're doing it you're doing it henna as always you're doing it all right ismael p are you doing huh drop in the p the super chat i have tried dmt and it was amazing welcome welcome to a different caravan

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment KWmtt2TQAO0/s/9. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/kwmtt2tqao0/s/9/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.