Support IslamQA

Please contribute generously in order to ensure the continuity of our website InshaAllah.

Is it correct to sing some songs without musical accompaniment?

22-05-2007

Question 23351

I know, it is prohibitted to listen to music. But what, if this music is about Allah? Is it possible to sing such kind of songs(about Allah) myself without any musical instrument in my house or along the way to University, so that nobody can listen.Please note that this singing is not loud .
Sometimes, I like songs which are devoted to people, but what if I sing this song, as if I'm singing this to my Lord?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

We have previously explained – in question no. 5000 and 5011 – the ruling on musical instruments, and that they are haraam according to the evidence of the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and according to the actions of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) and the words of the imams after them. This ruling applies to all kinds of music, even if it is accompanied by singing some words that have good meanings. Please review the answers to the questions mentioned. 

As for singing or humming a few (poetic) verses in which there is praise of Allaah or commending some good characteristics and other good meanings, the basic principle is that poetry is words; if the words are good it is good and if they are bad it is bad.  So if the words are free of any bid’ah or exaggeration that is condemned by sharee’ah, and it is free of any bad or ugly words that are inappropriate and should not be said of Allaah, then it is acceptable to sing such things occasionally, on condition that it is not done in the manner of singers and promiscuous people, because that is imitating people of immorality and sin (“and whoever imitates a people is one of them”). Hating those singers for the sake of Allaah implies that we should not resemble them or imitate their style of singing.

 With regard to some words or poems which were originally said about people, it is not correct to repeat them and devote them to Allaah. Rather the believer should glorify and venerate Allaah by reciting aayahs from the Qur’aan and dhikr as prescribed in sharee’ah, and du’aa’s narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), focusing on the greatness, majesty and glory of Allaah. If he occasionally recites some verses of poetry which praise Allaah and mention His blessings and bounty, there is nothing wrong with that so long as they meet the conditions mentioned above. 

And Allaah knows best.

Condemnation of Singing and Musical Instruments
Show on Islam Q&A website.