What is the ruling on sitting in restaurants or cafes that play music and songs, if the purpose of sitting there is not to listen to them?

The default ruling for listening to musical instruments is that it is impermissible, based on the hadith (definition): "I was forbidden from two foolish and wicked sounds: a sound at the tune of a devil's wind instrument, and a sound at a calamity, and a devil's wailing." A Muslim must search for a restaurant free of music, due to the prohibition in Islamic law of the means that lead to the forbidden. If a Muslim is compelled to sit in a restaurant with music, there is no sin upon him, provided he does not actively listen to it. Mere hearing without active listening carries no accountability.