There is a great dispute over the ruling on listening to music and songs (I mean songs that are not Islamic and that are performed by artists and singers such as Fairouz and Amro Diab). So, would listening to these songs for relaxation after fulfilling all obligatory Islamic acts of worship and without the accompaniment of any sin such as dancing and drinking alcohol be lawful or prohibited? Also, what is the ruling on listening to soft musical instruments without any lyrics such as guitar and piano, is it lawful or prohibited? Thank you very much.

In the name of Allaah, the Benevolent, the Merciful. All praise is due to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah, his family, companions, and those loyal to him.The music and songs that you mentioned in your question are actually the psalms of the Devil that develop hypocrisy in the heart, cast away the remembrance of Allaah, harden the heart and distract one from listening to the words of Allaah, Most High. For indeed music is a channel to fornication, the homeland of hypocrisy, the trap of devil and deception for the mind. For songs distance people from listening to Quran more than any other vain words because souls tend to desire and like songs. There are many verses in the Quran condemning replacing Quran with vain words in order to keep people away from the Path of Allaah without being aware of that. And if Quranic verses are recited you find a person, who listens to vain words, running away as if he had not heard the Quran, as if he is deaf, and if he knows some of the Quran, he mocks it. All these acts together come only from people who have the greatest disbelief but some of them may occur with those who sing or listen to songs, who will surely at least have their share of condemnation. So, abstain from it, May Allah reward you. From the proofs that singing is prohibited, Allaah says in Sura Luqman: {And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allaah}. Ibn Abbas  said: “Amusement of speech is singings and wrongful talk”, while Mujahid said: “Amusement of speech is drums” and al-Hasan al-Basri said: “This Ayah was revealed about singing and psalms”. Allaah says: {And incite [to senselessness] whoever you can among them with your voice and assault them with your horses and foot soldiers and become a partner in their wealth and their children and promise them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion} -= Sura al-Israa: Ayah Number 64. Mujahid said: “And incite [to senselessness] whoever you can” and his voice that is mentioned in the Ayah is singing and unlawful speech.” We ask Allaah to grant you success and guidance. And Allaah, Most High, knows best.