What is the ruling on military students who are forced to listen to military music in the army?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : Many military students whom Allah has blessed with commitment feel uncomfortable about listening to music, specifically the infantry music. So how should they act, given that this music is mandatory?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that music, whether in the army or elsewhere, is a calamity that has befallen people today, and it has become part of their work in some sectors. This is undoubtedly due to ignorance of the Shari'ah, negligence, or following some of the scholars who have permitted it. Some scholars have permitted musical instruments on the grounds that the hadith about them in al-Bukhari is broken, as they claim. Among these are Ibn Hazm and some contemporary scholars. So perhaps some people rely on such weak statements and see in them a proof for themselves.
But we see that musical instruments are forbidden, whether in the army or elsewhere, and that it is obligatory for Muslims to be content with what Allah has made lawful for them and to abandon what Allah has forbidden. Courage and boldness are not based on this at all. What fills the hearts with courage and boldness is the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[Al-Anfal 8:45] And what comes after that? [Al-Anfal 8:45] This is what fills the hearts with courage and boldness.
But in any case, these brothers who dislike music or playing are rewarded for their dislike and are recompensed by Allah. If they are able to remove it or reduce it, that is what is required. If they are not able to, they should not leave the great benefits of joining the army for this minor harm, relative to the benefits.
Because a person should compare the benefits and the harms.
And if the people of good leave such actions for the sake of this sin, it remains for the people of evil. And you know the danger of the army if it is not granted to the people of good.
I do not like to give examples of what happened when the people of evil and corruption took over the armies and reached the seat of power. What was it? It was of the evil and corruption that Allah knows best. So I urge my committed brothers, in particular, to join the army and to seek the help of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in reforming what they are able to reform. This harm, meaning the harm of music or playing, is a harm in which there is no doubt in my view, even though there is the disagreement I mentioned a moment ago. But I say: this harm is submerged next to the great, large benefits of the army being led by people of religion and righteousness. Yes.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : Many military students whom Allah has blessed with commitment feel uncomfortable about listening to music, specifically the infantry music. So how should they act, given that this music is mandatory?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that music, whether in the army or elsewhere, is a calamity that has befallen people today, and it has become part of their work in some sectors. This is undoubtedly due to ignorance of the Shari'ah, negligence, or following some of the scholars who have permitted it. Some scholars have permitted musical instruments on the grounds that the hadith about them in al-Bukhari is broken, as they claim. Among these are Ibn Hazm and some contemporary scholars. So perhaps some people rely on such weak statements and see in them a proof for themselves.
But we see that musical instruments are forbidden, whether in the army or elsewhere, and that it is obligatory for Muslims to be content with what Allah has made lawful for them and to abandon what Allah has forbidden. Courage and boldness are not based on this at all. What fills the hearts with courage and boldness is the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُواremember Allah much that you may be successful.
وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيراً لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَBut in any case, these brothers who dislike music or playing are rewarded for their dislike and are recompensed by Allah. If they are able to remove it or reduce it, that is what is required. If they are not able to, they should not leave the great benefits of joining the army for this minor harm, relative to the benefits.
Because a person should compare the benefits and the harms.
And if the people of good leave such actions for the sake of this sin, it remains for the people of evil. And you know the danger of the army if it is not granted to the people of good.
I do not like to give examples of what happened when the people of evil and corruption took over the armies and reached the seat of power. What was it? It was of the evil and corruption that Allah knows best. So I urge my committed brothers, in particular, to join the army and to seek the help of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in reforming what they are able to reform. This harm, meaning the harm of music or playing, is a harm in which there is no doubt in my view, even though there is the disagreement I mentioned a moment ago. But I say: this harm is submerged next to the great, large benefits of the army being led by people of religion and righteousness. Yes.