Answer to a question about songs
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Q: We previously inquired with your eminence about listening to songs, and you answered us that listening to lewd songs is forbidden. Therefore, what is the ruling on listening to religious songs, national songs, children's songs, and birthday songs, knowing that they are always accompanied by musical instruments, whether on the radio or television?
A: Playing musical instruments is absolutely forbidden, and all songs, if accompanied by musical instruments, are forbidden. As for birthdays, they are a religious innovation, and it is forbidden to attend them or participate in them, due to the saying of Allah, the Exalted: [Surah Luqman: 6]. Most of the exegetes said: "Lewd talk" is singing, and the sounds of musical instruments are included with it. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Singing causes hypocrisy to grow in the heart, just as water causes plants to grow. In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5590 And "al-har" (the private parts): with a hamza and a ra, it is the forbidden private parts; "al-harir" (silk): is well known; "al-khamr" (intoxicants): is every intoxicating substance; and "al-ma'azif" (musical instruments): is singing and instruments of amusement.
And in the two Sahihs, it is narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 1718a.
Celebrating birthdays is among the newly invented matters: because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do so, nor did he order it, and he is the most advising of people to the Ummah and the most knowledgeable of them about the Shari'ah of Allah. And his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do it, and they are the most loving of people for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the most eager of them to follow the Sunnah. And if it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. The evidence in this matter is abundant, and Allah is the One to be sought for help, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah. And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
A: Playing musical instruments is absolutely forbidden, and all songs, if accompanied by musical instruments, are forbidden. As for birthdays, they are a religious innovation, and it is forbidden to attend them or participate in them, due to the saying of Allah, the Exalted:
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍFrom among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful.
ليكونن من أمتي أقوام يستحلون الحر والحرير والخمر والمعازفAnd in the two Sahihs, it is narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردCelebrating birthdays is among the newly invented matters: because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do so, nor did he order it, and he is the most advising of people to the Ummah and the most knowledgeable of them about the Shari'ah of Allah. And his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do it, and they are the most loving of people for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the most eager of them to follow the Sunnah. And if it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. The evidence in this matter is abundant, and Allah is the One to be sought for help, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah. And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.