Ramadan is a month-long period where Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours.

It leads up to the celebration Eid al-Fitr, and is designed to purify followers spiritually, bringing them closer to God and making them more aware of those living in poverty.

The period is defined by prayer as well as donations to charity, and there are many rules and customs surrounding it. But are Muslims allowed to listen to music during Ramadan, or is music haram (forbidden)?

The subject of music in Islam is a complicated one, as some interpret the Qu’ran as saying music ‘misleads [men] from the path of Allah’.

This has led parents to pull their children out of music classes at school in the path. But then again, other Muslims do not interpret the Qu’ran as making statements against music. Indeed, music isn’t ever mentioned as haram in the text, reports the Metro.

Equally, some Muslims have advised that during Ramadan it’s okay to listen to music on your iPod, through headphones or in a private space.

Playing loud music is not advised, nor is driving and playing loud music at the same time. However, an interview with a Muslim published by the BBC in 2005 explicitly states that you should avoid music, films and board games during Ramadan.

It seems the issue of music is not clear-cut by any means and whether you listen to it really depends on how you interpret the Qu’ran and the meaning of Ramadan itself.