Listening to na‘ts played on a stereo (DJ) system

Question

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُم ورَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ

Hazrat is it permissible to listen naats on dj (stereo system)?

— Mohammad Moaz, Pilibhit, India

Answer

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

The practise of reciting and listening to the praise of Allāh, the Praiseworthy and our Master Sayyidunā Muḥammad, peace and blessings be upon him is proven from the Kitāb and Sunnah. There are certain conditions that must be fulfilled for its permission, such as, the poetry must be in accordance to the Kitāb and Sunnah and free from anything inappropriate, there must be no musical instruments being played, and the reciter in a congregation must be a law-abiding adult male etc.

Listening to na`t on any type of speaker system, although is an instrument, has been widely allowed by the predecessors and contemporary Scholars, provided that it imitates the sound of that praise which has been allowed. This means that the poetry is appropriate in terms of sharī`ah, and it does not incorporate any musical instruments or imitations thereof, and it does not imitate the sound of a female or child etc and Allāh Ta`ālā knows best.

Faqīr Sayyid 'Asad al-Qādirī · (may he be forgiven)

Verified by Muftī Zāhid Ḥussain al-Qādirī