Ali
1
Assalāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh,
I hope you are well and in the best of īmān and health.
My name is Ali. I am a 37-year-old software engineer living in Canada, and I follow the Ḥanafī madhhab. I have two young children (ages 5 and 3), and I strive to maintain an Islamic environment in my personal and family life.
I’ve recently been reading about the position of Imam ʿAbd al-Ghanī al-Nābulusī (rahimahullāh), a later Ḥanafī scholar, who is reported to have held the view that musical instruments—such as the guitar or drums—are not inherently ḥarām. His opinion, as I understand it, is that instruments are only sinful if accompanied by unlawful content, gatherings, or lead to heedlessness or disobedience. Otherwise, in a private setting and with the proper intention, they would not be categorically prohibited.
Specifically, he is said to have permitted:
- Playing musical instruments alone, not in public or mixed gatherings,
- Using them strictly as a creative outlet or skill-building exercise,
- Avoiding lewd or vulgar lyrical content,
- Ensuring that the practice does not interfere with religious obligations or lead to spiritual harm.
My questions are:
- Is this position of Imam Nābulusī recognized as a valid minority view within the Ḥanafī school?
- Based on this position, would a person who plays a guitar or drums privately, under these strict conditions, be considered sinful?
I understand that the dominant Ḥanafī opinion prohibits musical instruments beyond the duff, but I am seeking clarity on whether Nābulusī’s view is within the boundaries of valid scholarly disagreement (ikhtilāf muʿtabar) according to Ḥanafī principles.
JazākumAllāhu khayran for your time and guidance. May Allah reward you for your efforts in serving the dīn.
Wassalāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh,
Ali Farooq
