Ruling on singing (Fatwa)

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

There are many types of singing. Each kind has a different rule. 1- If the singing contains any musical instrument, then it is Haram for both men and women. 2- Many scholars have sanctioned prohibition of listening to the musical instruments. Among them are IMAM QURTUBI, AL-TABARI, IBN AS-SALAH, IBN RAJAB, IBN AL QAYYIM and IBN HAJAR AL-HAYTAMI. IMAM QURTUBI said: Listening to reeds, strings, drums etc. is Haram. I do not know a jurist in the past or the present permitted it. How would it not be Haram? This is the motto of drinkers, dissolutes and shameless people. If the matter is as stated here, then nobody doubts its prohibition and nobody denies that whoever uses these things is a disobedient". This is narrated by IBN HAJAR AL-HAITAMI in his famous book “AL ZAWAJIR MIN IQTIRAFIL KABAIR”. As regards (DUFF) Tambourine, it is permitted for women in the occasions of EID & marriage. 2 – If the singing is not accompanied by a musical instrument, it is of two kinds: A. Singing of women for men. This is absolutely Haram. Islam forbids women from calling for the AZAN and reciting the Qur'an in the presence of men. If a woman sings for ladies saying something containing good words, then it is permitted. B. Singing of a man. If he is singing good poetry that involves good subjects, then many jurists have permitted it. If it contains bad things like calling to depravity, abomination or describing a woman's body, etc. then it is prohibited.

Allah knows best.

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