Prayer: Is It Permissible to Hold Educational Song Bands and Play Instruments Like the Organ in a Masjid?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Prayer: Is It Permissible to Hold Educational Song Bands and Play Instruments Like the Organ in a Masjid?

English:

Question #396:

In order to combat the non-Islamic cultural invasion, we gathered about 30 students from elementary and high schools in the form of song bands in the masjid. The members of these bands participate in classes on the Qur’an, the practical laws of Islam, and Islamic ethics appropriate to their age and intellectual level. What is the rule regarding such activities? What is your ruling on playing a musical instrument called organ by this band? And what is the rule of playing this instrument in the masjid while observing shar‘ī standards?

Answer #396:

There is no problem in having classes on Qur’an, practical laws of Islam, Islamic ethics and practicing religious and revolutionary songs in a masjid. But it is obligatory to show appropriate respect for the status, sacredness, and position of the masjid. One should avoid actions that contradict the dignity of the masjid, and it is not permissible to disturb the praying persons.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Prayer