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Answering a Question about Songs
Original (Arabic): https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/34/الاجابة-عن-سوال-حول-الاغاني
Question: We previously asked Your Eminence about listening to songs, and you answered us that listening to indecent songs is haram. In light of this, what is the ruling on listening to religious and patriotic songs, children's songs, and birthday songs, given that they are always accompanied by musical instruments, whether on the radio or television?
Answer: Playing musical instruments is haram absolutely, and all songs, if accompanied by instrumental playing, are haram. As for birthday celebrations, they are an innovation, and it is haram to attend them or participate in them, due to the saying of Allah, Glorified is He: In the verse, most of the exegetes said: idle talk refers to singing, and to it are attached the sounds of musical instruments. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said (subhanahu wa ta'ala)The singing plants hypocrisy in the heart just as water makes plants grow, and in Sahih al-Bukhari, from the Prophet ﷺ He said: There will certainly be among my ummah peoples who deem lawful fornication, silk, wine, and musical instruments. And al-hirr: with the unpointed ha and the ra, meaning haram private parts (unlawful fornication); and al-harir: silk, well known; and al-khamr: every intoxicant; and al-ma'azif: singing and instruments of amusement.
and in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, from the Prophet ﷺ that he said: Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not part of it, it is rejected..
And celebrating the mawlids is one of the innovations, because the Messenger ﷺ did not do that nor command it, and he is the most sincere in advice to the ummah and the most knowledgeable of them of the sharia of Allah. And his Companions (subhanahu wa ta'ala) did not do it, even though they were the people most beloved to the Prophet ﷺ، and the most eager of them to follow the sunnah, and had it been good they would have preceded us to it. The proofs on this are many, and Allah is the One whose help is sought, and there is no power and no strength except by Allah. And may Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his family and companions.[1].
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشۡتَرِي لَهۡوَ ٱلۡحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًاۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ
And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah, the Verses of the Quran) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).
Qur'an 31:6 — trans. Hilali & Khan
and in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, from the Prophet ﷺ that he said: Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which is not part of it, it is rejected..
And celebrating the mawlids is one of the innovations, because the Messenger ﷺ did not do that nor command it, and he is the most sincere in advice to the ummah and the most knowledgeable of them of the sharia of Allah. And his Companions (subhanahu wa ta'ala) did not do it, even though they were the people most beloved to the Prophet ﷺ، and the most eager of them to follow the sunnah, and had it been good they would have preceded us to it. The proofs on this are many, and Allah is the One whose help is sought, and there is no power and no strength except by Allah. And may Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his family and companions.[1].
- Majmu' Fatawa wa Maqalat Mutanawwi'ah li al-Shaykh Ibn Baz (1/438)