How to Stop Listening to Music Once and for All

Disclaimer

This is not a discussion on whether music is halal or haram.

The proofs on its prohibition are clear, and it’s sad to see even some modern, Westernised and “liberal” shuyukh take this lightly.

And Allah ﷻ warns:

So this newsletter is not about proving prohibition — but about how to actually break free from it.

I would recommend The Muslim Lantern on YouTube who has discussed this matter in detail in shaa Allah. But always refer back to scholars from sunnah Wal jamaah and not random people (including me) on the internet.

And fear Allah.

Before We Begin — Remember 3 Things

1. I am not perfect.
   I’m only another Muslim girl on the internet, who struggled and by Allah’s mercy managed to leave music behind. We’re all in this together.

2. Take it easy.
   Yes, we rush to good deeds — but rushing with sincerity, determination, and consistency.

3. Renew your intention.
   For me, for you: we do this for Allah alone. This is about becoming better Muslims and working on our nafs.

Bismillah.

The Moment I Realised I Could Live Without Music

I can’t point to one single turning point in my life.

For me, it was more of a journey that began around the age of 15, when I first started practicing my dīn seriously. I wanted more from life. I wanted to be honest with myself.

Certain life events shook me deeply and forced me to question: Is what my culture says about Islam really true?

I couldn’t believe that the dīn I love so much — the dīn of Allah — would ever allow injustice. That realisation pushed me to study, to learn, and to dive deeper into Islam.

And the more I learned, the more love I developed for Allah ﷻ. Once that love entered my heart, I was convinced.

And as you grow in knowledge, you naturally start to recognise the haram things you’ve been doing. For me, music was one of them. It wasn’t easy. I relapsed many times.

Some people may think: “Really? Music is hard to give up?” 

But everyone’s test is different. Allah tests His servants according to their abilities, and we never know the battles someone is fighting behind closed doors.

Living in sin is complicated.

Sometimes it’s one particular sin that keeps haunting you again and again. For me, music was that. For others, it might be something else.

And that’s okay. Everyone’s path is different, and everyone’s struggles are valid.

I honestly wish I had read something like this back then — that someone had told me it’s possible to live without music.

Alhamdulillah, I learned it the hard way, but you don’t have to.

What If I Relapse?

Now you might fear: what if I relapse?
And honestly — it might happen. I’m not going to lie.

Like with any other sin or habit that takes real effort to quit, the process is rarely linear. It has ups and downs, victories and setbacks.

So instead of fearing relapse, prepare for it. What truly helped me was building a system. The only reason I relapsed in the past was because I didn’t have one.

Apart from your conviction and the love you are constantly working on towards Allah, having a simple structure will help you stay consistent, inshaaAllah.

My three-step rule I will present to you in this newsletter will help you in shaa Allah. Generally, remember:

1. Acknowledge it — don’t deny it, don’t sugarcoat it.

2. Make tawbah immediately — sincerely, even if it’s the hundredth time.

3. Return to your system — go back to the steps you built for yourself, instead of giving up completely.

Make dua, say bismillah, and try your best.
And tell me — one year from now, do you really think you’ll still be the same?

I highly doubt it.

The 3 Steps You Need

1. Determine Your Level

Let’s not beat around the bush. You need to know where you stand.

Are you ankle-deep?

Knee-deep? Neck-deep? Or maybe fully submerged in music?
It doesn’t matter — because wherever you are today, tawbah is still open.

You can still say: “Ya Allah, I want to leave this behind.”

But to move forward, you need to recognise:

• Why is music so important to you?

• What emotions are tied to it?

• What moments trigger you to listen?

For many of us (myself included), music is tied to emotions.

Heartbreak? Play sad music. Hype? Play gym tracks. Stress? Play calming beats.

Psychology shows that music activates the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine — which is the same cycle behind addictions (Harvard Medical School, 2011).

My advice: take pen and paper (not your phone!) and write:
“Why do I love music?”

Be brutally honest. Write down memories, emotions, triggers.

This gives clarity. Because most habits are not random — they are trained responses. You trained your brain to cope with emotions through music.

And now you need to retrain it. Yes, it will feel unnatural. Yes, it will hurt. But remember:

And honesty is the first step of real tawbah.

2. Start Small (Unless You Can Quit Cold Turkey)

If you’re someone who can quit a sin instantly and never look back — go for it.
But most of us aren’t like that.

For the rest of us, it’s wiser to quit step by step.

Example: If you listen in every situation — car, shower, gym, walking, cleaning — pick one to remove music from. Start with the easiest. Maybe while cleaning or walking.

Replace it with silence. Or if that feels too uncomfortable, replace it with something beneficial — Qur’an, a podcast, an audiobook.

This stage is about training your heart to be okay with silence. To be okay with being alone with your thoughts and with Allah’s creation. That’s growth.

Keep a small logbook of your progress. Slowly expand from one area to another.

Don’t let shaytan whisper: “You’re a hypocrite, you’re still listening elsewhere.”
As long as your intention is full quitting and you’re working step by step — that is valid.

Hold on to that.

3. The Phase After Quitting

Honestly — quitting is hard. But staying consistent is harder.

That’s why Allah emphasises tazkiyah (purification of the soul). This isn’t just about leaving a sin. It’s about rebuilding your heart, habits, and lifestyle around obedience.

Never compare your level 1 to someone else’s level 20. Every nafs is tested differently.

And remember: what happens to our ummah is connected to our sins.

Every personal struggle matters.

Your fight against music is part of the bigger fight to revive the Ummah.

So — don’t give up. Don’t let relapse destroy you.

Keep praying, even if you’re still struggling.
Keep fasting.
Keep making dua.
Keep reading Qur’an.
Keep building your character.

Because your other good deeds will help you overcome this sin.

Final Reminder

Allah never abandons you.
He left you prayer, dua, tahajjud.

And maybe — just maybe — this very struggle will be your ticket to Jannah.

Imagine standing on Judgment Day, Allah saying to you:
“Because you fought this sin sincerely for My sake, enter My Paradise.”

Isn’t that worth the effort?

May Allah help us purify our hearts, break free from sins, and fill our lives with Qur’an and dhikr. آمين.

Now that was a lot to take in - I know. Honestly I still have so many thoughts about this topic but I won’t bother you too much.

I will leave you with this for now and I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

Until then, Ill leave you

في امان الله _{(in the protection of Allah)}

❦ Dunja ❦