Short answer
In the Hanafi school, and in the four schools in principle, playing and listening to musical instruments for entertainment is haram. The main proof is a hadith that lists instruments with wine and zina as things people will wrongly make lawful. The duff (frame drum) at weddings and Eid is the main exception, and a minority of scholars allow more.
Playing musical instruments (ma'azif) and listening to them on purpose is haram. The duff without jingles is permitted to announce a nikah and on similar occasions of joy such as Eid.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Instruments are haram. The duff is allowed at weddings and other occasions of joy, and the stronger view in the school allows it even with small jingles.
- Maliki
- Instruments are prohibited. The duff is allowed at weddings, and some Maliki scholars also allowed the larger kabar drum there.
Explanation
Islam does not ban sound, rhythm or beauty. The Quran is recited in a beautiful voice, the adhan is called aloud, and poetry was recited in front of the Prophet ﷺ. The ruling is about musical instruments (ma'azif) used for entertainment, and about songs whose words or setting lead to sin.
The main proof is a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari. The Prophet ﷺ foretold that people of his ummah would treat as lawful illicit sex, silk (for men), wine and musical instruments. Listing instruments with things that are clearly haram shows they are haram too, since nobody can 'make lawful' something that was lawful already. Ibn Mas'ud and other early scholars also explained 'the amusement of speech' in Surah Luqman (31:6) as singing and what goes with it.
The Hanafi books are firm on this. Al-Hidaya counts instruments of play among forbidden things, and Ibn Abidin explains that the sin lies in listening on purpose, not in a sound that reaches you without your choice. The four schools agree in principle. They differ only in details, such as which drums are allowed at a wedding.
A minority of scholars, past and present, allow instruments when the words are clean and the setting is free of sin. Ibn Hazm argued that the Bukhari hadith has a break in its chain, and some modern scholars follow him. Most hadith experts, Ibn Hajar among them, answered that the chain is connected and the hadith is authentic. AmalKit follows the Hanafi position, and you should still treat Muslims who follow the other view with respect.
What remains open to you: nasheeds without instruments, the duff at weddings and Eid, and clean poetry. See are nasheeds halal, is singing haram and hearing music by accident.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Luqman 31:6
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِى لَهْوَ ٱلْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ ﴿٦﴾
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.
Early scholars such as Ibn Mas'ud explained 'the amusement of speech' as singing and entertainment that pulls people from Allah's way.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5590
Sahih... يستحلون الحر والحرير والخمر والمعازف ...
"There will be people of my ummah who treat as lawful illicit sex, silk, wine and musical instruments."
Instruments are listed with things that are clearly haram, which shows they are prohibited.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya. Instruments of play are counted among forbidden things.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha. Separates deliberate listening, which is sinful, from hearing without intention, which is not.
- Fath al-Bari (Ibn Hajar), Kitab al-Ashriba, commentary on the hadith of the people who make instruments lawful. Answers the claim that the chain of the hadith is broken.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.