What is the ruling on listening to religious songs?
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Eid Abbasi : What is the ruling on listening to religious songs in Islam? And are there any proofs supporting them from the Sunnah; as it is said, for example, that the Companions, led by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), recited some songs while digging the trench?
The Shaykh : It is sufficient for you that you do not find this name, "religious songs," in early Islam. I challenge anyone who likes these songs and considers them permissible, and who goes further by seeking nearness to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by reciting them; I challenge them to bring us the name "religious songs" in any of those three centuries attested as the best: the first, second, and third centuries. There are no "religious songs" in Islam at all. Yes, there were poems they recited in wars. Look how the issue has been turned around. The questioner says, for example, that they recited songs while digging the trench or otherwise. So what trench are we digging and reciting songs for? We are establishing societies. Instead of listening to entertainment, which we are convinced is forbidden (and praise be to Allah for its sanctity), and listening to beautiful voices but forbidden ones, we develop the matter by listening to beautiful voices with words we call "religious songs." There are absolutely no "religious songs" in Islam. But there were, for example, the Ansar who used to say, for example, if my memory is not deceiving me, by Allah, what was the phrase?
Another questioner : By Allah, were it not for Allah.
The Shaykh : "By Allah, were it not for Allah, we would not have been guided, nor would we have given charity, nor would we have prayed."
"So He sent down tranquility upon us, and He defeated the enemies if we met them."
And this poetry is among the "religious songs" that contain disbelief in Allah? It contains associating partners with Allah? It contains calling for aid from other than Allah? It contains calling upon those other than Allah who are dead and cannot do anything?! Do they respond to these requests while they are alive? How then can they do so while they are dead?! This is what is called "religious songs"!!
Then these songs we hear divert them from reciting the Qur'an, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke the truth:Riyad as-Salihin 1007, so instead of... the people, as he (may the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 2699a to the end of the hadith; so instead of gathering to recite the Qur'an, where one reads and the audience listens, and then one of their scholars takes over to explain what was recited, they gather for such songs which they call "religious songs." The Salaf did not know these songs, nor did the imams whom we claim to follow today.
The questioner : The benefit was presented, but it must be free from effects; because the children are listening to singing, so instead of listening to singing, we listen to songs, but on the condition that they are free from... Does this fall within this matter?
The Shaykh : My brother, will the one who makes the songs be from the people of knowledge? Or will he be from the people of knowledge in the way of the righteous Salaf so that he follows their example? We mentioned that the Salaf had something of this, but expanding on this and making it a religion is not from Islam.
Other than that?
The questioner : And it is authentic.
The Shaykh : It is sufficient for you that you do not find this name, "religious songs," in early Islam. I challenge anyone who likes these songs and considers them permissible, and who goes further by seeking nearness to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by reciting them; I challenge them to bring us the name "religious songs" in any of those three centuries attested as the best: the first, second, and third centuries. There are no "religious songs" in Islam at all. Yes, there were poems they recited in wars. Look how the issue has been turned around. The questioner says, for example, that they recited songs while digging the trench or otherwise. So what trench are we digging and reciting songs for? We are establishing societies. Instead of listening to entertainment, which we are convinced is forbidden (and praise be to Allah for its sanctity), and listening to beautiful voices but forbidden ones, we develop the matter by listening to beautiful voices with words we call "religious songs." There are absolutely no "religious songs" in Islam. But there were, for example, the Ansar who used to say, for example, if my memory is not deceiving me, by Allah, what was the phrase?
Another questioner : By Allah, were it not for Allah.
The Shaykh : "By Allah, were it not for Allah, we would not have been guided, nor would we have given charity, nor would we have prayed."
"So He sent down tranquility upon us, and He defeated the enemies if we met them."
And this poetry is among the "religious songs" that contain disbelief in Allah? It contains associating partners with Allah? It contains calling for aid from other than Allah? It contains calling upon those other than Allah who are dead and cannot do anything?! Do they respond to these requests while they are alive? How then can they do so while they are dead?! This is what is called "religious songs"!!
Then these songs we hear divert them from reciting the Qur'an, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke the truth:
He who does not recite the Qur'an in a pleasant tone is not of us.
من لم يتغنَّ بالقرآن فليس منَّاand those persons who assemble in the house among the houses of Allah (mosques) and recite the Book of Allah and they learn and teach the Qur'an (among themselves) there would descend upon them tranquility and mercy would cover them
وما اجتمعَ قومٌ في بيتٍ من بيوت الله يتلون كتاب الله ، ويتدارسونه بينهم ؛ إلا غَشِيَتْهم الرحمةThe questioner : The benefit was presented, but it must be free from effects; because the children are listening to singing, so instead of listening to singing, we listen to songs, but on the condition that they are free from... Does this fall within this matter?
The Shaykh : My brother, will the one who makes the songs be from the people of knowledge? Or will he be from the people of knowledge in the way of the righteous Salaf so that he follows their example? We mentioned that the Salaf had something of this, but expanding on this and making it a religion is not from Islam.
Other than that?
The questioner : And it is authentic.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.