Assalaamu alaykoum. I am a 20-year-old muslim. I live in an Islamic country. I have a project in school about music, but I cannot mention any religious content (because my school has a military system), so during the preparations, I searched Google for only the good aspects of music; nevertheless, I know that there is something wrong about music. Music and the Quran cannot be in the same heart, but I do not know how to transmit the message without talking about religion. Thank you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Musical instruments are prohibited as indicated by many religious texts, some of which have been cited in fataawa 81239 and 81545. The Islamic Sharee'ah prohibits whatever is purely evil as well as things whose evils outweigh their benefits.

The first thing that we advise you to do is to supplicate Allaah; verily, supplication is one of the most important means to attain aspirations and ward off undesirable ends. Allaah, The Exalted, has commanded us to supplicate Him and promised to answer our supplication; He says (what means): {And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell (rendered) contemptible.} [Quran 40:60]

You should also strive in utilizing the available means to carry on with your studies without hindrances; for instance, you may ask the concerned authority at school to change the topic of the project for you. You may seek the help and mediation of influential people if needed. You can also look for articles written by non-Muslim writers underlining the harms of music, which may make your project acceptable.

If you are able to overcome this ordeal, then praise be to Allaah. However, if there is no other way but to write this paper without underlining the religious ruling in this regard supported with evidence or that you would have to write about the benefits of music only, if any exist, without highlighting its evils and how they outweigh the benefits, then it is impermissible for you to write such a paper, even if it leads to quitting this school. You should, then, look for a different school. Indeed, one's religion is his most valued asset, and losing it is the greatest loss.

Allaah knows best.