Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah, former President of the ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) and member of the Fiqh Council of North America, states: “Scholars, past and present, have held different views regarding music. Some scholars, like Ibn Taymiyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim, forbid it wholeheartedly, while others, such as Ibn Hazm and Al-Ghazali, provide some guidelines and conditions for the permissibility. This difference over music goes far back to the time of sahabah and tabi`een; we have for example `Abdullah ibn Ja`far ibn Abi Talib from the tabi`een, who viewed it was permissible to use instruments with singing.
In my view, music is a tool and an instrument to conveying the message; therefore it depends on the type of message for which music will be used. If the message is negative or in conflict with Islamic teachings, it is forbidden; if it is positive and conveys a good message emphasizing morals and good behaviour, then it is allowed.”