Question:

Who were the inventors of the lute and why did they construct it?

Answer:

Sama’ah Ibn Mihran reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “When Adam (a.) died, the devil and Cain took pleasure in it and held a meeting on earth. Out of joy at what had happened to Adam (a.), the devil and Cain then made the lutes and means of distraction (lahw). Everything on earth that is of this blow, by which people rejoice, comes from this.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 6 Page 431 Hadith 3]

عنه، عن سليمان بن سماعة، عن عبد الله بن القاسم، عن سماعة قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: لما مات آدم عليه السلام وشمت به إبليس وقابيل فاجتمعا في الأرض فجعل إبليس وقابيل المعازف والملاهي شماتة بآدم عليه السلام فكل ما كان في الأرض من هذا الضرب الذي يتلذذ به الناس فإنما هو من ذاك

Sulaiman Ibn Mihran reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “The means of distraction (lahw) that distract from the remembrance of God are frowned upon (makruh), like singing and playing the strings.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, Volume 10 Page 229 Hadith 1]

عن سليمان بن مهران عن الإمام الصادق عليه السلام قال: والملاهي التي تصد عن ذكر الله تبارك وتعالى مكروهة، كالغناء وضرب الأوتار

Ali Ibn Ja’far (a.) reported that he asked Imam Al-Kazim (a.): “What is the matter about singing? Is it allowed when breaking the fast and the feast for sacrifice and for joy?” He said: “There is no problem in that, as long as there is no transgression in it.” [Al-Hada’iq-un-Nadirah of Al-Bahrani, Volume 18 page 110]

عبد الله بن الحسن، عن جده علي بن جعفر، عن أخيه موسى ابن جعفر عليه السلام، قال: وسألته عن الغناء، هل يصلح في الفطر والأضحى والفرح؟ قال: لا بأس به ما لم يعص به

Comment:

The “lute” is a musical instrument.