Ruling on treating patients with music
Question

                What is the ruling on listening music without singing? How have some scientists excelled in music and used it for treating patients?.
Praise be to Allah.
    It is haraam to play music or listen to it, whether it is 
    with or without singing, but with singing it is worse and more corrupting to 
    sound human nature and morals. What is said about some scholars having 
    excelled in it, that is true, but they are of the type of al-Faraabi, who 
    had no deep knowledge of Islamic religion and were not examples for the 
    Muslims to follow and their actions do not carry any weight. They are not 
    among the leaders of the Muslims in knowledge, ‘aqeedah or good deeds, such 
    as the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (may Allaah be pleased with them) and the 
    imams of the righteous salaf such as Sa’eed ibn Jubayr, al-Hasan al-Basri, 
    al-Shaafa’i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Awzaa’i and others like them who had 
    Islamic knowledge and acted upon it. They are examples for those who came 
    after them (may Allaah have mercy on them). 

    As for using music to treat patients, it is not permissible, 
    and the Muslim has no need for that because he has other things such as 
    Islamic nasheeds and recitation of Qur’aan in a beautiful voice, and other 
    things that calm the nerves and bring joy to the heart, and increase the 
    Muslim’s faith in Allaah and belief in the divine will and decree (al-qada’ 
    wa’l-qadar). 

    And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah send 
    blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. 
    End quote. 

    Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas