Introduction
Let us be very honest for a moment.
When a huge concert happens anywhere in the world, Muslims react in three famous ways.
First group: They go. They scream. They upload fifty stories. They say they went for the “experience” but they only recorded the whole event through their phone.
Second group: The moment they see the crowd dancing, they go into full panic mode and type out a whole lecture in the comments.
Third group: They secretly want to go but pretend they are here only for nasheed concerts.
And recently, a reader messaged me and asked:
What is the solution boss
That is when I realised this topic is bigger than a short reply on social media.
Because concerts today are not like the old days where one guy sits with a flute and five people clap.
Today, even nasheed concerts look like pop events with dramatic lights, emotional choruses, and people shouting the singers name like they met a superhero.
So let us talk about concerts honestly.
Not to lecture.
Not to shame.
Just to finally answer the question: Are concerts haram?
But before you panic, breathe.
We will not start with Islamic references.
We start with reality.
Why Concerts Today Feel Like A Spiritual Traffic Jam
Look at any modern concert video. What do you see?
• a sea of people
• everyone packed like sardines
• hands in the air
• phones everywhere
• emotional high
• nobody cares who is beside them
It is not just music.
It is a full atmosphere that pulls your mind, heart, emotions, and your common sense.
When people get excited, they forget personal space. They forget modesty. They forget everything except “let me get a better angle for my Instagram”.
Even so called Islamic or nasheed concerts are not innocent.
Sometimes it feels like you are watching a pop show with spiritual lyrics.
Lights, sound system, smoke, dramatic entrances.
People crying.
People screaming the singers name.
People recording every second so they can show the world that they were there.
At this point, you are not connecting to God.
You are connecting to your front camera.
The Masjid Events Argument
Then we have the opposite crowd.
They say:
“Why go to concerts when there are masjid events? Go to the masjid. Safe. Clean. Spiritual.”
But even here, let us be honest.
Some masjid events today also feel like festivals.
Huge crowds. Food stalls. A bit of chaos.
Children running around.
Adults taking pictures.
Hardly anyone listening to the speaker until the last dua.
So if you compare:
• Concert
• Nasheed concert
• Masjid festival event
Are they all the same
Of course not. But do they share the same risk of distraction
Sometimes, yes.
That is why this topic is not simple.
The Real Question Behind All This
A reader who asked me “What is the solution boss” was not asking for a ruling.
He was asking something deeper:
“How do we live in this era without losing ourselves
How do we enjoy life and still protect our iman
Where is the line”
This is the real struggle today.
The Famous Muslim Excuses
Let us roast them gently.
Excuse 1
I only went for the vibe
Exactly. That vibe is the problem.
When your soul is vibrating more to the beat than to your dhikr, something is off.
Excuse 2
Allah knows my intention
Allah also knows you pushed seven people to get closer to the stage.
Excuse 3
It is just nasheed
But the way you screamed the singers name was not very nasheed behaviour.
Excuse 4
I did not mix with anyone
My friend, you stood in a crowd of two thousand people. You mixed with everyone.
Excuse 5
I needed a break from life
There are halal ways to rest.
Standing in a hot crowd with bad sound system is not self care.
Where Do We Draw the Line
Before we jump into references, think of this:
If an event pulls you away from your values
If it makes you forget your modesty
If it fills your heart more with hype than remembrance
If it puts you in places where you cannot avoid fitnah
Then at some point, you have to ask yourself,
“Is this even good for me”
This is where Islam comes in with clarity.
Now the Islamic References (after you are already invested)
Quran reminders
Allah mentions people who use entertainment to distract others from the truth.
Surah Luqman 31 verse 6
https://quran.com/31/6
Allah also commands lowering the gaze and protecting modesty.
Surah Nur 24 verse 30 and 31
https://quran.com/24/30
https://quran.com/24/31
These verses are not about concerts specifically.
But they describe behaviours that are almost guaranteed in these environments.
Hadith
The Prophet said that near the end of time, entertainment and music would become normal and people would treat them lightly.
Sahih Bukhari 5590
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5590
He also said iman wears out like clothes.
Mustadrak Al Hakim
https://sunnah.com/hakim/1/4
A place that overwhelms you emotionally and spiritually can slowly wear out your heart.
Scholars
Classical and modern scholars differ on music
But they are nearly unanimous on this principle:
If the environment leads to fitnah, encourages sin, or destroys modesty, then participation becomes haram.
That is the real concern with most modern concerts.
Nasheed Concerts vs Pop Concerts vs Masjid Events
Here is a simple comparison.
| Event | Atmosphere | Risk Level | Islamic Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop concert | high hype, close contact, wild behaviour | very high | often leads to actions that break modesty and self control |
| Nasheed concert | spiritual lyrics but emotional hype and crowds | medium | can be allowed if controlled and dignified |
| Masjid event | organised, structured, family friendly | low | usually safe but can still distract if crowd behaviour is uncontrolled |
So Are Concerts Haram
Here is the honest truth.
Most modern concerts are a spiritual minefield.
Not because Islam hates joy.
Not because Islam wants you to stay home and stare at the wall.
It is because modern concerts are built to overstimulate your senses, emotions, and desires all at once.
They weaken the heart, not strengthen it.
They create opportunities for behaviour we would normally avoid.
And they distract more than they benefit.
But at the end of the day, you decide.
Your conscience. Your heart. Your honesty with yourself.
Islam gives the principles.
You choose the environment you want for your soul.
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