It does not consider singing and playing musical instruments lawful professions.

It does not consider singing and playing musical instruments lawful professions. Any activity that is beneficial to one person but harmful to someone else or to society is considered Harām in Islam. All such types of actions carry a heavy punishment in this world and a dreadful retribution in the hereafter e.g. bribes, stealing, interest-taking, adulteration and frauds, unlawful hoarding of edible items to hike their rates making life difficult for the poor.

In the same way all such actions that instigate wars and those occupations that do not require effort, making the person rich by luck, such as lottery. All these occupations are Harām.” Shaykh Sadūq (r.a.) has narrated a tradition from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) that he said, “Any action of Khayanat with the Imam is ‘Soht’.” There are many types of ‘Soht’.

‘Soht’ includes that which is received from the tyrant rulers, bribe to Qazis, payment for prostitution, wine, alcoholic nabid (a kind of wine), and interest. “To bribe a Qazi (for giving a favourable judgement) is to disbelieve in Allah the Almighty.” [^1] A similar kind of tradition is to be found in the book al-Kāfi, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) says: “‘Soht’ means the payment for corpse, for dogs and wine.

It also denotes the fee paid to a prostitute, the bribe given to a judge and the payment to a Kahin.” [^2][^3] Although consumption of every type of Harām is ‘Soht’, some of them are denounced more emphatically and their punishment is more severe. The worst of these is taking bribe. One who accepts bribe is just like a disbeliever and the Holy Prophet (S) has cursed him. The one who takes interest is equated to the one who has made war against Allah (S.w.T.) and the Prophet (S).

Types of bribe There are Three types of bribes: (1) Bribe paid to a judge for a favourable judgement. (2) Bribe for ‘Harām’ work. (3) Bribe for permitted things. The first kind of bribe comprises of money etc. paid to a judge so that he may give a favourable judgement. The judge may also be bribed for pointing out the loopholes whereby one could weaken the position of the opposite party.

It is absolutely Harām even if the one who is paying the bribe is right and the judge delivers the correct judgement. The paying and receiving of this type of bribe or whatever may comprise this bribe is also Harām and a Greater sin. A person who pays or accepts such a bribe deserves the curse of Allah (S.w.T.).