Islamic music encompasses a vast and diverse range of traditions, from religious devotion to secular folk styles, reflecting the multi-ethnic nature of Islam across regions like the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and South Asia. Despite historical debates about its permissibility, Islamic art and music flourished during the Islamic Golden Age, known for its subtle organization of melody and rhythm, and the encouragement of vocal improvisation. Figures such as Abu Nasr Muhammad al-Farabi, with his seminal work Kitabu l'musiqi al-kabir from the Abbasid Caliphate, are even credited with influencing European music.

Classical Islamic music developed through a significant fusion of pre-Islamic Arabian, Persian, Byzantine, and other regional styles, primarily in the heartland stretching from the Nile Valley to Persia. However, many parts of the Muslim world retained their indigenous musical forms, demonstrating a rich tapestry of localized traditions alongside broader Islamic influences. Trade routes and Sufi brotherhoods also played a crucial role in spreading these diverse musical expressions across vast distances.