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What is the ruling on singing in Islam, and is it true that there is no explicit text prohibiting it?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

A sincere Muslim abandons what he desires if it incurs Allah's wrath. Calling to Allah with wisdom and gentleness does not alienate people; rather, it unites hearts. One must beware of harshness and severity, and of complacency regarding the rulings of Islamic law. Musical instruments (ma'azif) are forbidden according to the four Imams and the majority of scholars. It has been reported in a hadith that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, informed of the existence of those who would consider musical instruments lawful, and calling them "amusements" (malahi) confirms their prohibition. Adopting the view of the majority, which is supported by texts, is more appropriate than unusual opinions. Abandoning singing is obligatory in compliance with Allah's command, even if one does not perceive its harms.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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