Update (7 years later): How leaving music has continued to change my life, Alhamdulillah

Assalamu alaykum - thought I’d share a follow-up since it’s been 7 years since I made that post. TL;DR: I gave up music over seven years ago and replaced it with Qur’an. My Imaan has steadily improved. Still praying regularly, still choosing halal, still studying the Qur’an, and I appreciate the wisdom behind the change much more now. You really are shaped by what you listen to. People still ask me about that decision, so here’s what’s new. First off: life has moved on. Career, kids, ups and downs, tests to the faith - all of it. My Imaan has had its fluctuations (as happens), but Alhamdulillah a lot of the positive habits from back then have stuck. What’s stayed the same and what’s different: 1. I’m still not actively listening to music. Qur’an remains the replacement. I play Qur’an and beneficial lectures a lot and still take weekly classes. Full honesty: it’s not perfect. At work (I’m a surgeon), OR staff sometimes have music playing for morale and I don’t always stop it. My wife listens to music occasionally while driving us, so I’m around it sometimes. But I don’t put music on for myself. 2. I still only eat halal meat. That’s been consistent, Alhamdulillah. 3. I still make the fard prayers a priority, even at work - squeezing them between surgeries when needed. I’m very grateful for that because I’ve seen many Muslim doctors drift, but Alhamdulillah I’ve managed to keep up my salah. 4. My Qur’an reading has improved dramatically. Back then one ayah could take forever; now I can read much faster and recite comfortably (not fully memorized, but much more fluent). 5. Over the years, regular classes and weekly recitation have taken me through most of the Qur’an - not in one go, of course, but bit by bit it got done. That used to feel impossible. 6. I understand the WHY behind avoiding music a lot better now. It used to feel like just a time-waster, but it’s deeper: our hearts and minds form patterns based on what we consume. Music influences thoughts, emotions, and what we normalize. Replace empty listening time with Qur’an, dhikr, or lectures and over years the effect compounds in a powerful way. Quick note: I’m not here to debate whether music is haram or halal or to give rulings - I’m not a scholar. I’m only sharing my personal experience: leaving music and replacing it with Qur’an helped my faith a lot, and seven years later I’m still reaping the benefits. If you’re feeling spiritually stuck, consider trying it as an experiment: one month without music. Keep an open mind, listen to Qur’an (even passively) and see how your heart responds. Jazakum Allah khair for reading.