What is the ruling on religious songs and selling them?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, and may prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah:
I hope you will elaborate on the issue of songs, as well as the ruling on selling them?
The Shaykh : Which songs? The school songs that...?
The questioner : No, the Islamic songs that are sold.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : The ones sold on recordings.
The Shaykh : I cannot issue a ruling on them because they vary, but I will give you a general rule: if the songs are accompanied by a hand drum, they are forbidden, because the hand drum is not permissible except in a specific situation, not at all times, and a fortiori if they are accompanied by music or a drum.
If they are free of that, we look at this: were they sung in the manner of lewd songs? These are also not permissible, because the soul becomes accustomed to this type of singing and takes pleasure in it, and it may go on to forbidden songs. That is two.
Thirdly: if these songs are by young men whose voices are enticing, meaning: they may stir desire, or a person may take pleasure in the voice without regard for the content of the poem, then these are also not permissible.
As for songs that are spirited and not in the manner I mentioned to you, there is nothing wrong with them, but better than that is to listen to the Qur'an, or to listen to a good, beneficial lecture, or to listen to a lesson from the lessons of the scholars. This is better; one benefits religiously, and it also, for example, makes the journey easier for a person, because a person might be traveling, for example, from Makkah to Madinah and needs things, for example, to keep him awake.
The questioner : The ruling on selling...
The Shaykh : Look, I will give you a rule: whatever is forbidden to use is forbidden to sell, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Ibn Hibban 26:35.
I hope you will elaborate on the issue of songs, as well as the ruling on selling them?
The Shaykh : Which songs? The school songs that...?
The questioner : No, the Islamic songs that are sold.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : The ones sold on recordings.
The Shaykh : I cannot issue a ruling on them because they vary, but I will give you a general rule: if the songs are accompanied by a hand drum, they are forbidden, because the hand drum is not permissible except in a specific situation, not at all times, and a fortiori if they are accompanied by music or a drum.
If they are free of that, we look at this: were they sung in the manner of lewd songs? These are also not permissible, because the soul becomes accustomed to this type of singing and takes pleasure in it, and it may go on to forbidden songs. That is two.
Thirdly: if these songs are by young men whose voices are enticing, meaning: they may stir desire, or a person may take pleasure in the voice without regard for the content of the poem, then these are also not permissible.
As for songs that are spirited and not in the manner I mentioned to you, there is nothing wrong with them, but better than that is to listen to the Qur'an, or to listen to a good, beneficial lecture, or to listen to a lesson from the lessons of the scholars. This is better; one benefits religiously, and it also, for example, makes the journey easier for a person, because a person might be traveling, for example, from Makkah to Madinah and needs things, for example, to keep him awake.
The questioner : The ruling on selling...
The Shaykh : Look, I will give you a rule: whatever is forbidden to use is forbidden to sell, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):