بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Indeed evidence from the Book and Sunnah indicate the prohibition of listening to musical instruments and whatsoever accompanies it (singing, chanting, humming in unison, etc). The Exalted says:
و من الناس من يشتري لهوِ الحديث ليُضِلَّ عن سبيل الله
“And from mankind are those who purchase idle speech in order to divert from Allah’s path…” [Luqman: 6]
Ibn Masud and others interpreted it as music (songs, singing, etc). Thus there should be no doubt that musical instruments and singing are apart of idle speech which diverts from Allah’s path. Likewise in Al Bukhari’s authentic collection (there is a narration wherein) the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa salaam- said, “Surely there will be people from my nation that will declare permissible fornication and or adultery, the wearing of silk (for men), intoxicants (whether it is drunk, smoked, injected etc), and musical instruments…” This is very clear in its elucidation of the prohibition, because the declaring of something to be permissible can not exist unless it was (first understood to be) unlawful.
Hence the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa salaam- as spoken the truth as there are people from his nation that utilize musical instruments from the perspective of heedlessness and lack of concern (for its prohibition). So following whatsoever is in the Quran and Sunnah and abandoning prohibited behavior is obligatory upon the Muslim during Ramadan (and outside it) as they are emphasized (at this time) due to the virtues of this month, and in other months.
Translated by Najeeb Al Anjelesi
Source: المنظار في بيان كثير من الأخطاء الشائعة