Ruling on listening to emotional songs

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Fatwas of Ibn Baz>Volume 21>Continuation of the Book on marriage>Chapter on Walimah>the ruling on listening to music Ruling on listening to emotional songs A Female from Iraq asks: "I perform religious duties such as Salah (Prayer), Sawm (Fasting) and reciting the Qur'an sincerely yet I listen to emotional and imaginary songs that do not mention wine or other similar prohibitions, is this permissible? May Allah benefit us and you!  (Part No. 21; Page No. 171) A: We advise you not to listen to songs at all as they are evil and greatly spoil the hearts. We advise you to listen to the Qur'an radio station as it is a source of great goodness. This station broadcasts also "Nour `Ala-Addarb" program and other useful programs. Regarding listening to songs, you have to guard yourself against listening to them as they are a great source of evil. Allah (Glorified be He) says: And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh Most scholars were of the view that idle talk is singing. `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Listening to songs spreads the seeds of hypocrisy in hearts as water makes vegetables grow." `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) is one of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) and one of their scholars. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Verily, among my Ummah (nation) there will be people who will deem as lawful: Hir (illegal sexual intercourse), silk, Khamr (alcohol) and musical instruments. He (peace be upon him) informs us that at the end of the time there will be some people who deem as lawful musical instruments and songs. May Allah protect us, you and all Muslims from its evil and keep all Muslims firm on guidance! He is All-Hearer, Ever Near (to all things). (Part No. 21; Page No. 172) Ruling on unlawful matters that happen on wedding days Q: You have mentioned that making clothes long is prohibited for men and that the same rulingwould be for women if they do that out of boasting. What is The ruling on a wedding dress that extends for 3 meters behind a bride What is the ruling on the money paid to female singers in weddings?  A: Regarding women, the Sunnah is to let their clothes down their feet with one span long, but not more than a cubit for the sake of covering themselves and their feet. It is not permissible for the bride to trail clothes more one cubit as this is considered wasting money in expensive prices. They should buy moderate priced clothes and there is no need to stud it with things that waste great money that better be used in things that benefit the Ummah (nation based on one creed) in worldly and religiously matters. Regarding the female singers, it is not permissible to bring them and pay much money except for a female singer who sings simple normal songs at (Part No. 21; Page No. 173) night to show happiness and pleasure at the presence of women only. Singing and beating the Duff (a tambourine-like instrument without bells) at weddings is permissible or might be desirable if it does not lead to some thing evil but to be done among women especially in some part of the night and ends without staying up and not using microphones. It should be done by singing usual songs that praise the bride, bridegroom and their families in truth or using words that contain no evil and that should be done among women only without the presence of men and without microphones. That was done at the age of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Sahabah. Boasting with bringing female singers, spending much money on them and using microphones is Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect). Doing that causes harm to people and makes them stay up most of the night, and thus, miss Fajr (Dawn) Prayer which is a great Munkar that should be removed. Advice for women who listen to songs Q: Some women listen to singing, would Your Eminence advise us about that?  (Part No. 21; Page No. 174) A: I advise all men and women not to listen to singing. Songs spread great evil. People were afflicted by that through radio, television and many other means as tapes. Muslim men and women should guard themselves against that evil. They should, instead of songs, listen to Qur'an, the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the speeches of scholars in religious forums and programs in order to get benefit in this world and the Hereafter. Songs lead to great evils and may cause Muslim men and women to be lead astray from their religion and might plant the seeds of hypocrisy in their hearts and make them hate what is good and love what is bad. Hypocrisy leads to hating the good, loving the bad and being Muslim apparently while there is no Islam in heart. Hypocrisy is very dangerous and it is called for by songs. The one used to listen to songs might hate the Qur'an, useful advice and the Prophet's Hadiths. Listening to songs might lead a person to love obscenity and corruption and increase in him the desire for obscenity and a longing to talk to obscene people. Believing men and women should take care of this evil. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says in His Great Book: And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allâh, or the Verses of the Qur’ân) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire). And when Our Verses (of the Qur’ân) are recited to such a one, he turns away in pride, as if he heard them not - as if there were deafness in his ear. So announce to him a painful torment. (Part No. 21; Page No. 175) Most Mufassirs (exegetes of the Qur'an) are of the view that "idle talk" means singing and every prohibited sound such as musical instruments and pipes. `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) swore that idle talk is singing. He said: "Singing plants the seeds of hypocrisy in hearts as water nurtures plants." Singing makes one hate what is good, love what is bad, hate to listen to Qur'an, Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) and the like. Loving songs and musical instruments is a kind of hypocrisy. Hypocrites declare apparently they are Muslims and that they hate falsehood, but in fact they are not. They also pretend to love the Qur'an but in fact they do not. Songs calls to hate the Qur'an and hate listening to it. They require hating listening to sermons and hating inviting to Allah. They incite people to love impudence, falsehood, obscenity, dissolution and the like that are caused by singing. It makes also hearts deviate from the truth and love what Allah forbids and hate what Allah (Glorified be He) commands. Anyone who does that or knows those who listen to songs and their status will inevitably come to know their deviation and corruption because of their love to singing. There is neither might nor power except with Allah! (Part No. 21; Page No. 176) Prohibition of free intermixing (of men and women) in parties and treatment through music Q 64: What is the ruling on holding farewell parties where free intermixing takes place? What is theruling on treatment using music?  A: Parties should be free from any intermixing of men and women. There should be separate parties for men and separate parties for women. Free intermixing is an evil thing and was one of the habits of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance). May Allah safeguard us against all these things! Regarding therapy by music, there is no ground for that act. It is the act of foolish people. Music is not a type of therapy; on the contrary it is a disease and is considered as a tool of idle talk. It makes hearts sick and leads them astray. It is only useful to be treated by listening to the Holy Qur'an, good sermons and Hadiths that comfort people. Treatment through music and musical instruments makes people get used to falsehood, increase their illness and make them burdened by listening to the Qur'an, Sunnah and good sermons. There is neither might nor power except with Allah!