Playing music at weddings

First of all, it should be clear that music in itself is not considered haram. Islam forbids music that contains immoral messages or is accompanied by illegal mixing or something that is prohibited or distracts a person from performing religious obligations.

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: Music can never be condemned unconditionally; exceptions must be made. Music is permissible as long it meets the following requirements:

1. Its theme and message is completely pure, ethical and free from lewdness;
2. It does not become addictive so as to be distracting from dhikr of Allah and recitation of Qur’an;

3. It does not interfere with one’s obligatory religious duties;
4. It is not associated with other evils such as drinking alcohol and mingling of men and women.
If such requirements are met, and a person is using music as a halal way of entertainment during weddings or similar occasions, then it cannot considered as haram, since every human being has an innate aesthetic sense or instinct. As Islam is a natural religion, it cannot completely disapprove of it as long as it is fulfilled in a legitimate manner. Therefore, do not object to playing music at weddings as long its message is ethical and Islamic and as long it does not interfere with Prayer and other acts of worship.