Music and Ghinā’: How Can One Distinguish Between Ḥalāl and Ḥarām Music?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Music and Ghinā’: How Can One Distinguish Between Ḥalāl and Ḥarām Music?

English:

Question #1121:

What are the criteria by which one can distinguish ḥalāl from ḥarām music? Is classical music ḥalāl?

Answer #1121:

Any music which is lahwī and deviates people from the way of Allah is ḥarām whether it is classic or not. To distinguish the subject of a ruling depends on the view of the mukallaf as a part of common people. There is no objection to other kinds of music in itself.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Music and Ghinā’