QUESTIONS
What is the Islamic ruling on music and other entertainment instruments, movies and theater?
Answers
Ibrahim Saleh Al-Husseini: Movies and songs, if they include useless entertainments only, then it is really forbidden in Islam. And if it does not include any of these and there is only music in it, then Imam Al-Ghazali and a group of scholars have permitted it, while other scholars such as Ibn Al-Hajj and others did not permit it. But Ibn Al-Hazm, Imam Al-Gazzali and other scholars have permitted it, as they said 'If anyone wants to prohibit instruments devoid of music, let him prohibit the voices of birds with birds, because, all of that are musics. But we will say to those who sell instruments of music and entertainment, “These kinds of instruments and entertainments are not permissible for a Muslim.