The ruling on listening to religious, national, children’s songs, and birthday songs, knowing that they are always accompanied by musical instruments on the radio or television:
Answer: Playing musical instruments is absolutely forbidden, and all songs accompanied by musical instruments are also forbidden. As for birthday celebrations, they are considered an innovation (bid’ah) and it is forbidden to attend or participate in them. This is based on the verse from the Quran: “And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead others from the way of Allah without knowledge” [Luqman: 6]. Most interpreters say that “the amusement of speech” refers to singing and includes the sounds of musical instruments. Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Singing grows hypocrisy in the heart as water grows plants.” In Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There will be among my followers people who will consider as permissible illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments.”
In Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (Islam) something that is not part of it, it will be rejected.”
Celebrating birthdays is considered an innovation because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not do it nor did he command it, and he is the most sincere and knowledgeable about the Shariah. His companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do it either, and they were the most loving to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the most eager to follow the Sunnah. If it were good, they would have preceded us in doing it. There are many evidences for this. Allah is the one whose help we seek, and there is no power or strength except with Allah. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
