Is it permissible to choose Islamic songs instead of singing at weddings?
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The Shaykh : Yes, please go ahead.
The questioner : There are customs now, meaning we want to know about this new method of repelling a greater harm with a lesser one, or a greater evil with a lesser one... Are Islamic celebrations permissible?
The Shaykh : What is the relationship between the greater and the lesser in Islamic celebrations?
The questioner : I mean, a person is compelled, or there are customs, for example, my brother is holding a wedding and he does not want a music concert, and I tell him, for example, to repel the greater evil with the lesser, that he should have an Islamic concert, or what they call an Islamic concert. Is that permissible?
The Shaykh : Do you believe that the Islamic concert...
The questioner : I mean what they call an Islamic concert.
The Shaykh : I know, but wait for me.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Do you believe that what they call the Islamic concert is actually Islamic?
The questioner : No, I know there is no music, it is a lesser harm.
The Shaykh : No, my brother, there is no such thing as a lesser harm. The one who says this is lesser than that is not just anyone; it is the scholar who knows the Book and the Sunnah.
The questioner : I am asking you.
The Shaykh : But you are saying to do such and such to repel the greater with the lesser. Who ruled that this is a lesser harm and that one is a greater harm? Here is a scholarly issue that requires extreme precision. There is something forbidden in the Shari'ah, forbidden, and there is something that is an innovation in Islam. Which is more dangerous in Islam: committing a forbidden act, or committing an innovation that one thinks is part of the religion and Islam? Here lies the precision. The scholars say that the harm of innovation is more severe for its practitioner than the harm of sin. Why? Because the sinner knows that he is sinning, so it is hoped that he will repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) one day, because he knows himself to be a sinner. As for the one who introduces an innovation and calls it a good innovation, he does not imagine that he will ever return from it and repent from it. Rather, his inner state says, "My Lord, increase me, My Lord, increase me." Because, as He said (Glorified and Exalted is He):[Al-Kahf 18:103-104]; therefore, some scholars interpret His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . This refusal is not a religious refusal, but a refusal by divine decree, meaning he does not repent because he does not imagine himself to be in error with his Lord so that he would repent to Him. Therefore, may Allah reward you, do not think this way that it is better if instead of bringing in music they bring in a choir and religious and Islamic songs. No, but the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). A good word from one of the Muslims who has some Islamic culture, and some good words on such an occasion, are learned by the student and the lover of the Sunnah. As came in the authentic hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) met Aisha one day as she was coming from a wedding of the Ansar, and he said to her: "Did you sing for the Ansar? For the Ansar love singing?" She said: "O Messenger of Allah, what were we saying?" He said: تقولون :
أتيناكم أتيناكم *** فحيُّونا نحيِّيكم
ولولا الحنطة السمراء *** لم تسمَنْ عذاريكم You say: We have come to you, we have come to you *** So greet us, we will greet you, and were it not for the brown wheat *** Your young camels would not have fattened..
The Shaykh: Poetry like this, smooth and easy, with a pleasant meaning, but without an ugly meaning like many of the songs that describe waists and cheeks and the like. Consequently, there is no contradiction with the Shari'ah in terms of exaggeration in praise or the like. This is the answer to your question.
The questioner : Thank you, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome, peace be upon you.
The questioner : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Another questioner : I said, Shaykh, once, meaning innocent singing according to the Sunnah, in three or four years, every family has a celebration once or twice. But these people of the choirs, every day there is amusement, every day there is amusement. And now...
The Shaykh : ...Yes.
Another questioner : They separate from poetry, meaning...
The Shaykh : A source of income.
The questioner : There are customs now, meaning we want to know about this new method of repelling a greater harm with a lesser one, or a greater evil with a lesser one... Are Islamic celebrations permissible?
The Shaykh : What is the relationship between the greater and the lesser in Islamic celebrations?
The questioner : I mean, a person is compelled, or there are customs, for example, my brother is holding a wedding and he does not want a music concert, and I tell him, for example, to repel the greater evil with the lesser, that he should have an Islamic concert, or what they call an Islamic concert. Is that permissible?
The Shaykh : Do you believe that the Islamic concert...
The questioner : I mean what they call an Islamic concert.
The Shaykh : I know, but wait for me.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Do you believe that what they call the Islamic concert is actually Islamic?
The questioner : No, I know there is no music, it is a lesser harm.
The Shaykh : No, my brother, there is no such thing as a lesser harm. The one who says this is lesser than that is not just anyone; it is the scholar who knows the Book and the Sunnah.
The questioner : I am asking you.
The Shaykh : But you are saying to do such and such to repel the greater with the lesser. Who ruled that this is a lesser harm and that one is a greater harm? Here is a scholarly issue that requires extreme precision. There is something forbidden in the Shari'ah, forbidden, and there is something that is an innovation in Islam. Which is more dangerous in Islam: committing a forbidden act, or committing an innovation that one thinks is part of the religion and Islam? Here lies the precision. The scholars say that the harm of innovation is more severe for its practitioner than the harm of sin. Why? Because the sinner knows that he is sinning, so it is hoped that he will repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) one day, because he knows himself to be a sinner. As for the one who introduces an innovation and calls it a good innovation, he does not imagine that he will ever return from it and repent from it. Rather, his inner state says, "My Lord, increase me, My Lord, increase me." Because, as He said (Glorified and Exalted is He):
(103) Say, [O Muhammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds? (104) [They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work."
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا * الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًاAllah refused to accept the repentance of the one who commits an innovation.
أبى الله أن يقبل من صاحب بدعة توبةأتيناكم أتيناكم *** فحيُّونا نحيِّيكم
ولولا الحنطة السمراء *** لم تسمَنْ عذاريكم You say: We have come to you, we have come to you *** So greet us, we will greet you, and were it not for the brown wheat *** Your young camels would not have fattened..
The Shaykh: Poetry like this, smooth and easy, with a pleasant meaning, but without an ugly meaning like many of the songs that describe waists and cheeks and the like. Consequently, there is no contradiction with the Shari'ah in terms of exaggeration in praise or the like. This is the answer to your question.
The questioner : Thank you, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome, peace be upon you.
The questioner : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Another questioner : I said, Shaykh, once, meaning innocent singing according to the Sunnah, in three or four years, every family has a celebration once or twice. But these people of the choirs, every day there is amusement, every day there is amusement. And now...
The Shaykh : ...Yes.
Another questioner : They separate from poetry, meaning...
The Shaykh : A source of income.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.