Can You Rent Out a Sound System for Music at Weddings?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
What is The Ruling of Playing Music at Weddings and Renting out the Sound System for it?
Darulifta Ahlesunnat (Dawateislami)
Question
What do the noble scholars and jurists of Islamic law say about the following: Zaid has a sound system shop and he also operates the sound system himself. He only takes the sound system to islāmic gatherings. But because it is currently wedding season, people ask him to provide his sound system on rent for playing music at wedding functions. They also request him to accompany the equipment and operate it so that the system does not get damaged. They also agree to pay him the wage for one night. So, the question is, can Zaid himself become an ajīr to provide the service of playing the music and can he rent out the sound system for this purpose?
Answer
Playing and listening to music at weddings or at any other occasion is impermissible, ḥarām, and a sin as music generally contains musical instruments whereas musical instruments have been prohibited in the Qurʾān and Ḥadīth. It is even stated in the ḥadīth that music produces hypocrisy in the heart. In the described situation, because being hired as a sound operator for playing music at weddings contains issues, such as being hired for a sin and assisting someone in sinning, it is therefore impermissible, ḥarām, and a sin for Zaid to become an ajīr for playing music at weddings. Furthermore, the earning Zaid receives from this is not ḥalāl for him because the earning received from unlawful work is not ḥalāl.
As for renting out a sound system, sound systems are used for impermissible (e.g., music) and permissible (e.g., islāmic gatherings) purposes. The principle of sharīʿah is that when something can be used for impermissible and permissible purposes, it is impermissible to sell or rent it out to such a person about whom it is known that they will use it for impermissible purpose as this is assisting in sin and assisting in sin is impermissible and a sin. Therefore, because Zaid knows that in this situation the sound system will be used for an impermissible purpose, it is impermissible for Zaid to rent out the sound system for playing music in weddings.
Note – Nikāḥ is not only a Sunnah but it is a great blessing granted by Allāh for the fulfillment of a person’s natural needs. We should appreciate this blessing by ensuring that all wedding-related arrangements are carried out in accordance with Islamic teachings and avoid anything that Islām has prohibited.
Regarding the condemnation of music and instruments, Allāh Almighty states in the Noble Qurʾān:
﴾وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یَّشْتَرِیْ لَهْوَ الْحَدِیْثِ لِیُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ بِغَیْرِ عِلْمٍ ﳓ وَّ یَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًاؕ-اُولٰٓىٕكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِیْنٌ﴿
Translation (Kanz al-ʿIrfān): And among people there are those who purchase words of amusement so that they may divert from the way of Allāh without knowledge; and take it in mockery. There is humiliating punishment for them. (The Noble Qurʾān, Part 21, Sūrah Luqmān, Verse 06)
It is stated in the commentary of the above-mentioned verse in Tafsīr Ibn Kasīr:
قال ابن عباس وجابر وعكرمة وسعيد بن جبير ومجاهد ومكحول وعمرو بن شعيب وعلي بن نديمةوقال الحسن البصري: نزلت هذه الأية (وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ یَّشْتَرِیْ لَهْوَ الْحَدِیْثِ لِیُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ بِغَیْرِ عِلْمٍ ﳓ وَّ یَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًاؕ-اُولٰٓىٕكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِیْنٌ) في الغناء والمزامير
Translation: It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās, Jābir, ʿIkramah, Saʿīd Bin Jubair, Mujāhid, Makḥūl, ʿAmr Bin Shuʿaib, ʿAlī Bin Nudaimah رضي اللہ تعالى عنهم and Imām Ḥasan رحمۃ اللہ تعالی علیہ states that this verse was revealed regarding singing and instruments.(Tafsīr Ibn Kasīr, Vol. 06, p. 331, Publ. Dār Taybah Lil-Nashr Wal-Tawzīʿ)
Under this verse it is stated in Tafsīr Sirat-Ul-Jinān:
اس آیت میں"لَهْوَ الْحَدِیْثِ" سے متعلق ممتاز مفسرین کا ایک قول یہ ہے کہ اس سے مراد گانا بجانا ہے ۔
Translation: One opinion of the grand exegetes is that لَهْوَ الْحَدِیْثِ in this verse refers to playing music. (Tafsīr Sirāt-Ul-Jinān, Vol. 07, p. 475, Publ. Maktaba-Tul-Madīnah, Karachi)
Music produces hypocrisy in the heart. Thus, a ḥadīth in Sunan Abī Dawūd states that it is narrated from ʿAbdullah Bin Masʿūd رضي اللہ تعالى عنه that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ stated:
ان الغناء ينبت النفاق في القلب
Translation: Singing produces hypocrisy in the heart. (Sunan Abī Dawūd, Chapter of prohibition of singing and instruments, Vol. 07, p. 287, Publ. Dār al-Risalah al-ʿĀlamiyah)
Regarding not assisting others in sin, Allāh Almighty states:
﴾وَ لَا تَعَاوَنُوْا عَلَى الْاِثْمِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ۪- وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِیْدُ الْعِقَابِٛ﴿
Translation: and do not help each other in sin and transgression and be mindful of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is severe in retribution. (The Noble Qurʾān, Part 06, Sūrah al-Māʾidah, Verse 02)
Commentating on the above-mentioned verse, Imām Abū Bakr Aḥmad Bin ʿAlī al-Jassās Rāzī Ḥanafī رحمة اللہ تعالى عليه (d. 370 AH/ 980 CE) writes:
نهي عن معاونة غيرنا على معاصی اللہ تعالى
Translation: In this verse, there is a prohibited of assisting others in transgression against Allāh. (Aḥkām al-Qurʾān Lil-Jassās, Vol. 02, p. 381 Publ. Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyah, Beirut)
It is stated in Al-Muḥīt al-Burhānī, al-Baḥr al-Rāʾiq Sharḥ Kanz al-Daqāʿiq, Fatḥ al-Qadīr, and al-Fatāwā ʿal-Alamgīrī (the following is cited from the first):
الاعانۃ علی المعاصی و الفجور و الحث علیھا من جملۃ الکبائر
(Al-Muḥīt al-Burhānī, Vol. 08, p. 312, Publ. Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyah, Beirut)
Regarding Ijārah (hiring) for a sinful act being impermissible, Shams al-ʾAʾimmah, Imām Sarakhsī رحمة اللہ تعالى عليه (d. 483 AH/ 1090 CE) writes:
و لا تجوز الاجارۃ علیٰ شیئ من الغناء و النوح و المزامیر و الطبل و شیئ من اللھو لأنہ معصیۃ و الاستئجار علی المعاصی باطل ، فان بعقد الاجارۃ یستحق تسلیم المعقود علیہ شرعاً ولا یجوز ان یستحق علی المرء فعل بہ یکون عاصیاً شرعاً
(Al-Mabsūt Lil-Sarakhsī, Vol. 16, p. 38, Publ. Dār al-Maʿrifah, Beirut)
The wage earned by doing an impermissible act is ḥarām. Regarding this, ʿAllāmah Shaykhī Zādah رحمة اللہ تعالى عليه (d. 1078 AH/ 1667 CE) writes:
لایجوز اخذ الاجرۃ علی المعاصی کالغناء والنوح والملاھی۔۔۔وان اعطاہ الاجر و قبضہ لایحل لہ
(Majmaʿ al-Anhur Sharḥ Multaqa al-Abḥur, Vol. 02, p. 384, Publ. Dār al-Iḥyā al-Turās al-ʿArabī, Beirut)
The Imām of Ahl as-Sunnah, Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān رحمة اللہ تعالى عليه (d. 1340 AH/ 1921 CE) writes:
حرام فعل کی اجرت میں جو کچھ لیا جائے، وہ بھی حرام کہ اجارہ نہ معاصی پر جائز ہے، نہ اطاعت پر۔
Translation: Whatever wage is received for ḥarām work is also ḥarām as neither is it permissible to get hired for sinful acts, nor for acts of worship. (Fatāwa Razawiyah, Vol. 21, p. 187, Publ. Razā Foundation, Lahore)
It is impermissible to sell such an object which can be used for sinning to such a person about whom it is known that they will use it for sinning. ʿAllāmah ʿAlā-Uddīn Ḥaskafī رحمة الله تعالى عليه (1088 AH/ 1677 CE) writes:
ويكره تحريما بيع السلاح من أهل الفتنة إن علم لأنه إعانة على المعصية
(Al-Durr al-Mukhtār Maʿa Radd al-Muḥtār, Book of Jihād, Chapter of Rebels, Vol. 04, p. 268, Publ. Dār al-Fikr, Beirut)
It is stated in Jadd al-Mumtār ʿAlā Radd al-Muḥtār:
ان الشئی اذا صلح فی حد ذاتہ لان یستعمل فی معصیۃ و فی غیرھا و لم یتعین للمعصیۃ فلم یکن بیعہ اعانۃ علیھا لاحتِمال ان یستعمل فی غیر المعصیۃ و انما یتعین بقصد القاصدین و الشک لا یؤثر
(Jadd al-Mumtār ʿAlā Radd al-Muḥtār, Vol. 07, p. 75-76, Publ. Maktabah-Tul-Madīnah, Karachi)
وَ اللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَ اٰلِہٖ وَ سَلَّم
(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہِ وَ اٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows best.)
Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
Ref No: OKR-0136
Date: 13th Jumād al-ʾŪlā 1447 AH / 05th November 2025