Please comment on the following ahadith:
Narrated Abu Malik Al-Ashari:
The Messenger (pbuh) of Allah (SWT) said, “Some people of my Ummah will drink wine, calling it by other than its real name, merriment will be made for them through the playing of musical instruments and the singing of lady singers. Allah will cleave the earth under them and turn others into monkeys and swine.
[Ibn Ma’jah Vol.5 Hadith No.4020]
Narrated Abu Amir or Abu Malik Al Ashari that he heard the Prophet saying,
“From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, ‘Return to us tomorrow.’ Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.7 Hadith No.5590]
I want to know the context of these ahadith. I understand the arguments that you and Mr. Ghamidi give but please do comment on the above ahadith.
Moreover, once I was having a discussion with my teacher. He told me that the Holy Prophet said that flute is act of Satan. He told me that it brings women towards the person who plays it.
Answer
If you read the two ahadith together carefully, you would notice that the mention of music is for the evil music. If music is used for getting entertained by engaging dancing girls in the process and if flute is used to attract women towards oneself, then the use of these instruments is most certainly evil. However, if the sound of flute brings tears in the eyes of someone who is moved into remembering Allah Almighty more effectively, then far from being evil, it would be an instrument of virtue and goodness.