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Fatwa CenterShe is forced to listen to music at school
Question
Assalamulikum. In our school, during PT they play music of some singers and I'm forced to listen to it. What should I do?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Musical instruments are forbidden with the exception of the duff (tambourine with no cymbals), so it is not permissible to listen to them. Please refer to Fataawa 81545 and 120956 about the ruling on listening to music.
Therefore, it is not permissible for you to listen to the music there. If there is no way to avoid listening to music, it is an obligation to leave the school and look for another school. If you cannot find another school and it is a necessity that you study in this school, then it is permissible for you to continue studying there, provided that you fear Allaah to your best ability. You should detest this evil in your heart and leave the place where it takes place whenever it is possible for you to do so.
You should know that there is a difference between 'hearing' and 'listening'. The Fiqh Encyclopedia reads: “'Listening' literally and conventionally refers to the intent to listen with the purpose of understanding what is listened to or to benefit from it. As regards hearing, it may be with the above purpose or without it. So hearing is more general than listening.”
Therefore, if a person is obliged to be present in a place where there is sound of musical instruments and forbidden songs, then he is not sinful if he detests that in his heart and ignores it. But he is not allowed to listen to it with his heart (i.e. attentively while willing to know or understand what is said). This distinction is also supported by what Naafi’ – the freed slave of Ibn ‘Umar – said: “Ibn ‘Umar heard the sound of a shepherd's flute so he put his fingers in his ears and drove his animal off its course [in order to be far from the sound], saying: “Naafi’, can you hear it?” And I would say, 'Yes.' He continued as such until I said I could no longer hear it. Then he took down his fingers (he took them off from his ears) and drove his animal back to its course on the road and said, “I saw the Prophet doing so when he heard the flute of a shepherd.” [Abu Daawood, Ahmad and Ibn Maajah. Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]
Ibn Rajab said in Nuzhat Al-Asmaa’: “Ibn ‘Umar did not order Naafi’ to block his ears because Naafi’ was not listening, but hearing; hearing without listening cannot be described as a forbidden act from the person, as it is unintentional from him, even though it is better for him to block his ears so that he would not hear.”
Allaah Knows best.
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