No, Hamburg has not banned music lessons because they're 'haram'

Published on 02/10/2025 - 9:41 GMT+2

A wide assertion connected societal media alleges that the German metropolis of Hamburg has banned euphony lessons successful nationalist schools due to the fact that euphony is considered "haram", oregon forbidden, successful Islam.

One station connected X says that the prohibition has been brought successful due to the fact that it would beryllium considered "Islamophobic" to enforce euphony lessons connected Muslims.

It's been seen much than fractional a cardinal times and contains a clip of a German-language quality report, which supposedly explains the details of the ban.

However, nary of the claims is true. While determination person been immoderate reports successful German media of isolated incidents wherever immoderate Muslim students refused to enactment successful euphony lessons, determination is nary prohibition connected euphony lessons successful Hamburg.

A study from Die Welt successful June, for example, which features the archetypal video attached to the viral X post, describes lone cases successful which students did not be the lessons owed to spiritual reasons.

It besides describes isolated incidents successful which girls person been attacked by Muslim students astatine antithetic schools. Ksenija Bekeris, a Social Democratic (SPD) person serving arsenic Hamburg's acquisition senator, is quoted arsenic saying that, portion nary of this behaviour is widespread, it volition not beryllium tolerated.

Local insubstantial Hamburger Abendblatt also reported successful June connected allegations that Muslim students person been threatening oregon insulting their classmates, and that determination is simply a definite "religious pressure" regarding covering and behaviour.

So, portion determination is immoderate grounds of tensions betwixt Muslim individuals and their respective schools, it's a acold outcry from suggesting that German authorities person banned euphony lessons for fearfulness of being Islamophobic.

Hamburg's acquisition committee clearly lists euphony arsenic a taxable to beryllium taught successful schools, with accusation astir the curriculum, acquisition plans and exam regulations connected its website.

Ultimately, Hamburg's Education Authority has besides wholly rejected immoderate conception that it has banned euphony lessons.

"This assertion is wholly unfounded," a spokesperson for the authorization told EuroVerify successful an email successful German. "Of course, euphony is taught astatine each schools successful Hamburg. This has ever been the case, and determination are nary plans to alteration it."

Does Islam forbid music?

As for whether euphony is seen arsenic "haram" successful Islam, the contented has agelong been controversial.

Essentially, determination is nary azygous Islamic position, and it depends connected an individual's mentation of the Qur'an and the Hadith—a postulation of traditions based connected purported sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.

Many reason that the Qur'an does not explicitly prohibition music, whereas others assertion its condemnation of "frivolous talk" encompasses singing.

This leads to varying views, ranging from implicit prohibition to support nether definite conditions.

For example, immoderate scholars deem each instrumental euphony and singing unacceptable, portion others accidental it's good arsenic agelong arsenic it doesn't promote oregon incite sinful behaviour, specified arsenic drinking alcohol.

Today, galore Muslims judge and person embedded euphony and singing profoundly successful their culture, religion and regular life, portion a number forbids most, if not all, music.

Regardless of one's interpretation, the mendacious claims astir euphony lessons successful Hamburg signifier portion of a wider disinformation communicative designed to villainise immigrants and whip up fear.