Is It Permissible to Share Educational Content That Contains Background Music if One Believes Music Is Haram?
Question
I take the opinion that music is haram, but I was wondering if it is considered haram to share a video that contains simple background music if the primary purpose of the video is educational, informative, or beneficial. In other words, if the music is not the focus of the video and is only used in the background while the content itself serves a greater purpose, would sharing it still be impermissible, or is it judged based on the intention and overall benefit of the video?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shar‘i Context
The scholars differed regarding music. A strong and well known opinion among many jurists holds that instrumental music is impermissible, based on various narrations and the general concern of blocking pathways to heedlessness.
Allah says:
“And do not cooperate in sin and transgression.”
Surat al Ma’idah 5:2
If something is considered sinful in itself, assisting in spreading it would normally fall under cooperation in sin.
However, the matter becomes nuanced when the prohibited element is incidental and not the intended purpose.
2. The Nature of Incidental Versus Primary Elements
There is an important difference between:
- Sharing something because of the music, or where music is central
- Sharing something where music is secondary, minimal, and not the purpose
In your case, the primary intent is to share educational or beneficial material. The background music is not the goal, nor the focus.
If the music is light background audio and the core benefit is knowledge, the ruling differs from sharing something primarily musical.
3. Intention Alone Does Not Change the Ruling
It is important to note that good intention alone does not make a prohibited act permissible. However, when the questionable element is not the primary act itself, but attached incidentally, the ruling may differ.
For example, many scholars allowed entering marketplaces or environments where impermissible things exist, because the person’s purpose is lawful and the exposure is incidental.
4. Relevant Usul Principles
يغتفر في التابع ما لا يغتفر في المتبوع
What is tolerated incidentally is not tolerated when it is primary.
This principle means that if music were the main subject, it would be impermissible according to your view. But if it is secondary and not the objective, some scholars treat it differently.
درء المفاسد مقدم على جلب المصالح
Preventing harm takes precedence over bringing benefit.
If sharing the video clearly promotes music or encourages attachment to it, then avoidance is safer. But if the harm is minimal and the benefit significant, scholars weigh both sides.
5. Practical Application in Your Case
If you personally believe music is haram, then:
- If the music is faint, secondary, and not the focus, and the educational benefit is substantial, there is room within scholarly reasoning to consider it tolerated as incidental.
Final Ruling
When the music is merely incidental background audio and the primary purpose is beneficial and educational, there is a valid scholarly basis to consider it tolerated as secondary, though avoiding it remains the safer option for someone who believes music is haram.
Acting according to caution in matters of difference is praiseworthy, especially when alternatives are available.
And Allah knows best.