Wages for playing musical instruments

Question

Question: Those who play the “English band” (Western brass instruments) and are Muslims — this is their profession and their livelihood depends on it. What is the status of their wages according to the explanation of hadith? Also, should the mosque’s shops be given to them on rent or not? Kindly grant a fatwa both in detail and in summary; there is a dispute among us over this matter.

Answer

Playing the English band is not permissible in the Shari‘a, and making it one’s profession is also prohibited; its income is impermissible. If the mosque’s shops are given on rent to such people, that is also contrary to the respect due to the mosque.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.