Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

dear burhan

assalamu alikum

i am one of the singers in my school and we used to conduct programs and i also used to sing with female singers i am also keen lisener of music almost all types i have read that music is haram especially the one from lute(a type of blowing instument in india) this is one of the most used instument in indian music is there ny restriction for singing? is it haram to sing with female? is it haram to sing a song with flute as background?

pls help me

 

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Answer:

 

Singing music unlawful

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.494B       Narrated by Abu Amir

that he heard the Prophet (saws) saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful.”

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3153        Narrated by Muhammad ibn Hatib al-Jumahi

The Prophet (saws) said, "The distinction between what is lawful and what is unlawful is the song and the tambourine at a wedding."

 

Beloved brother in Islam, if one takes ‘music’ to mean the melodious sound of the Muaddin while calling to prayer,  or the beautiful sound of the ‘Qari’ when he recites the Holy Quran,  or the musical sound of the ‘daff’ (tambourine) that is played to celebrate one’s wedding or on the Day of Eid, or the tunes of chorus sung by the mujahideen, etc.;  these are not only permitted,  these types of music are absolutely encouraged in Islam.

 

Thus, ‘music’ per say is not forbidden in Islam; what is indeed forbidden in Islam is the illegal string music which is so rampant in movies, television, radios, etc. which encourage ‘fahisha’ and indecency.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 33:

33      Say: ‘The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: ‘faahisha’ (shameful deeds) whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.’

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 151:

151     Say: "Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from: join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents: kill not your children on a plea of want;  We provide sustenance for you and for them;  come not even near ‘faahisha’ (shameful deeds) whether open or secret; take not life which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law”: thus doth He command you that ye may learn wisdom.

 

If one looks around the society we live in today, one would notice that conventional ‘music’ is related to almost every place that encourages ‘fahisha’ or indecency; and it is this concept of ‘fahisha’ and indecency that Allah has strictly declared haraam for the believers.  The principle in Islam is that every road that leads to the forbidden is also forbidden; and as illegal conventional ‘music’ is an accomplice to and leads or encourages ‘fahisha’ and indecency, it too would be considered forbidden.

 

Your Question: is there ny restriction for singing?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.103         Narrated by Urwa on the authority of Aisha

On the days of Mina, (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah) Abu Bakr came to her while two young girls were beating the tambourine and the Prophet (saws) was lying covered with his clothes. Abu Bakr scolded them and the Prophet (saws) uncovered his face and said to Abu Bakr, "Leave them, for these days are the days of 'Id and the days of Mina."

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3154        Narrated by Aisha

I had a girl of the Ansar whom I gave in marriage, and Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Why do you not sing, Aisha, for this clan of the Ansar like singing."

 

Singing in its essence is neither prohibited nor unlawful in Islam.  Provided none of the commands and tenets of Islam are violated, it is permissible in Islam for one to sing, especially on joyous occasions like marriage, Eid, etc. if one wishes to do so.

 

What determines whether a song or singing is lawful or unlawful is what is said in the songs and whose ears access those songs.  The Muaddin (or caller to prayer) chanting the adhaan, or one reciting the Quran in a melodious voice, or the chanting of the ‘talbeeyah’ during pilgrimage, or the chanting of the mujahideen in battle, etc. are not only lawful but highly encouraged and meritorious in the Sight of Allah Subhanah. 

 

But if the songs being sung encourage indecency, ‘fahisha’, or glamorize elements of evil, or disbelief, or hypocrisy, or ‘shirk’, etc.; or songs which are sung by women when in the company or presence of non-mehram men; or songs being sung with illegal string music, etc.;  then all such songs and all such singing would be deemed prohibited in Islam.

 

Your Question: is it haram to sing with female?

Islam does not forbid one to sing lawful songs with mehram female relatives on joyous occasions like marriage, etc., if one wishes to do so; but to sing with non-mehram females would definitely not be permissible in Islam.

 

Your Question: is it haram to sing a song with flute as background?

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3153        Narrated by Muhammad ibn Hatib al-Jumahi

The Prophet (saws) said, "The distinction between what is lawful and what is unlawful is the song and the tambourine at a wedding."

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3654        Narrated by Abu Umamah

The Prophet (saws) said, "Allah has sent me as a mercy to the universe and as a guidance to the universe, and my Lord, Who is Great and Glorious, has commanded me to annihilate stringed musical instruments, wind musical instruments, idols, crosses, and pre-Islamic customs.”

 

Al-Bazzar has transmitted that the Prophet (saws) said: "Two sounds are accursed in this world and in the Hereafter: the sound of wind instruments, and of moaning aloud when afflicted with a misfortune."

 

Flute would constitute a wind musical instrument; and all wind musical instruments would be deemed absolutely impermissible in Islam.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan