Is It Permissible to Work at a Gym Where Music Is Played?
Question: My friend works at a gym, they play music there, he never adds to this sin by picking the music himself or guiding others to this sin etc. Is it permissible for him to work there? Since he doesn't add to this sin but even tries to stop it at times. He tries to cover his ears through other means sometimes but he can't do it for 8 hours straight. Is it permissible for him to work there if he currently has no job options? Should he keep trying to find job options?
Summary:
If the man’s work at the gym is permissible in and of itself, and he does not play the music, choose it, or assist in it, but rather objects to it according to his ability and hates it in his heart, and he has a genuine need for this job and currently cannot find a suitable permissible alternative, then it is permissible for him to remain in the job to the extent of his need. However, he must avoid listening to the music as much as he is able and continue seriously searching for a job that is free from this evil. However, if he is able to leave this place and move to a permissible job without considerable hardship, then the basic principle is that he should stay away from a place in which evil is present, especially if the music is played continuously and he is unable to change it. The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, have stated that whoever is in an environment where he is unable to object to an evil should avoid that environment and not remain present where the evil is taking place.
Answer:
First: Music and Musical Instruments Are Evils
From the Sunnah:
- Sahih Al-BukhariIt is narrated in a suspended form stated with certainty, from the hadith of Abu Amir or Abu Malik al-Ashari, who said that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“There will certainly be among my Ummah people who will regard illicit sexual relations, silk, alcohol, and musical instruments as lawful.”
In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ informs us that there will be people from his Ummah who will regard certain prohibited matters as lawful. Regarding something prohibited as lawful means committing what is haram while claiming that it is halal through false interpretations. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to take responsibility for playing music, choosing music for people, or assisting in spreading it, because Allah, the Exalted, says:
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah al-Maidah: 2]
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression.”
If the employee does not play the music, does not choose it, does not call others to it, and his work does not constitute direct assistance in it, then this situation differs from that of a person whose job is to sell songs or play them. The scholars have issued fatawa stating that it is prohibited to work in a music shop when a person’s job involves playing recordings for customers and selling them, because this constitutes direct assistance in something prohibited.
Second: What Must He Do Regarding the Music Present in the Workplace?
From the Sunnah:
- Sahih MuslimIt is authentically reported from Abu Saeed al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.”
Therefore, he is required to object to the evil according to his ability.
From the Scholars:
- Shaykh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
[What Is the Ruling on Not Objecting to an Evil Because of the Strength of the One Committing It?] “If he is in an environment where he is unable to object with his hand or his tongue, then he should avoid it and not remain present where the evil is taking place. He should stay away and reject it in his heart.”
In another fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Baz entitled The Limits and Guidelines of Changing Evil With One’s Hand, he explained the levels of objecting to evil, stating that a person who does not possess authority should not attempt to change it with his hand in a manner that leads to fitnah. Rather, he should object with his tongue and heart according to his ability. Accordingly, what this man is doing by trying to have the music turned off whenever he is able, not approving of it, and trying to avoid hearing it is correct in principle.
Third: Is Merely Hearing Music Unintentionally the Same as Deliberately Listening to It? A distinction should be made between incidental hearing that a person does not intend and deliberately listening and paying attention to it. If the music is being played by the management of the establishment and he is unable to stop it, does not intend to listen to it or pay attention to it, and it merely reaches his ears because he is present at work, then this is not the same as someone who plays music for himself and deliberately chooses to listen to it.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah at-Taghabun: 16]
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
- [Surah al-Baqarah: 286]
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”
Therefore, he is not required to keep his ears covered for eight hours if doing so is impossible or causes severe hardship. Rather, he should avoid deliberately listening to the music and minimize his exposure to it as much as he is able.
Fourth: Is It Permissible for Him to Continue in the Job Because He Cannot Find an Alternative? This matter requires some detail. The basic principle is that a Muslim should stay away from an environment in which evil is widespread and he is unable to change it.
From the Scholars:
- Shaykh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding entering marketplaces in which evils are present:
“He should not enter them except if he is someone who enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil, or due to a severe need, while lowering his gaze and being cautious of the causes of fitnah.”
This fatwa establishes an important principle regarding this issue: being present due to a need while doing one’s utmost to avoid the evil is different from being present in a place of evil without any need.
Accordingly, if he needs his salary to provide for himself and those whom he supports, cannot currently find another job, and his actual work is permissible and does not directly involve music or assisting in it, then it does not appear that he is required to leave his job immediately in a manner that would place himself or those whom he supports in hardship. Rather, he may remain to the extent of his need while seriously searching for an alternative. However, it is not appropriate for him to say, “I have no alternative,” then stop searching and remain in this workplace despite being able to find another job. Fifth: Must He Search for Another Job? Yes. He should seriously search for another permissible job that is free from music and other evils as much as possible. He should not treat his current job as a permanent option if an alternative becomes available.
From the Scholars:
- Shaykh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding an environment in which a Muslim is unable to object to the evil:
“He should avoid it and not remain present where the evil is taking place. He should stay away and reject it in his heart.”
Therefore, if he finds another suitable job that is free from this evil, moving to it will be safer for his religion and further remove him from hearing what is prohibited.
Conclusion: If his work at the gym is permissible in and of itself, and he does not play the music, choose it, or assist in it, while hating it and objecting to it according to his ability, and he currently cannot find another job despite needing the salary, then it is permissible for him to continue working there to the extent of his need. He is not held accountable merely because the sound of the music reaches his ears unintentionally if he does what he is able to avoid it. Allah, the Exalted, says: “So fear Allah as much as you are able.” However, he must not deliberately listen to the music. He should object to it according to his ability and continue seriously searching for another job that is free from this evil. If he finds a suitable permissible job, he should leave this environment and move to the other job, in compliance with the command to avoid evil and not remain in a place where it occurs when one is able to leave it
And Allah knows best.
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