The Sixteenth Greater Sin: Singing
The sixteenth Greater sin is singing songs. It is absolutely clear from the traditions that it is a mortal sin. This fact is also apparent from the narration of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) as quoted by Amash. Muhammad Ibne Muslim says that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said,
“Singing is that sin which has been promised a penalty of fire (Hell) by Allah.”
Since it is evident from numerous reports that whichever sin has been promised Hell as its punishment, is a Greater Sin it could be derived from the above tradition that singing is a sin of the same category.
What is Singing?
Sayyed Murtuza, in his book,“Waseela”
says,
“Singing is haraam. It is also haraam to listen to a song or to sing for money. However every melodious sound is not ‘song’. Singing denotes a special way of prolonging the voice and rotating it in the throat. These features are common in sensuous parties. Such type of singing is usually accompanied by music.”
Most of the Shia Mujtahids and the experts of Arabic language hold the opinion that “singing” means turning and rotating of one’s voice in the throat. These types of strains are invariably found in classical music andQawwalis
. A prolonged tune of a-a-a is produced. In the dictionary,“Sihah”
it is mentioned that Singing is a sound which produces a strange type of sorrow or pleasure in the listener. The other dictionaries are more or less unanimous upon this point. In brief, singing or song is a sound that makes a man unusually sad or joyful.
The book “Zakheeratul Ebad” says:
“Every sound that is produced for entertainment and is capable of exciting passion is known as “singing.” It could be produced by making it emanate from the throat like in classical music or by any other means. In brief whatever is understood by common sense as a song is haraam. Then it is sinful even to recite couplets, the Holy Quran or Nauha or Marsiya in the tune of songs. In fact this is more sinful than singing ordinary songs. For this tantamount to insulting and degrading the Quran and Nauha or Marsiya. It is for the very reason that this type of sin is deserving of double the punishment.
About Singing
1. Singing is A Greater Sin.
When Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said,
“Singing is that Sin which has been promised the penalty of fire (Hell) by Allah” he (a.s.) had also recited the following verse of the Holy Quran.
“And of men is he who takes instead frivolous discourse to lead astray it for a mockery; these shall have an abasing chastisement.”
(Surah Luqman 31:6)
2. “Frivolous discourse” implies Singing.
According to the above Verse and also the tradition of Imam Baqir (a.s.), singing is one of the “frivolous” and “evil” acts. Other useless acts are aimless talk or action, or the poetry which is of no benefit to people; all these deprive man of some benefit.
In other words anything that restrain from following the truth and the Holy Quran is a “Frivolous discourse.” Anything that leads one astray is “Frivolous discourse.” All those things that create passion and sensuality, Sin and transgression are “Frivolous discourse.” It is the same whether one sings or listens to a song. The Quranic verse quoted above is followed by:
“And when our communications are recited to him, he turns back proud, as if he had not heard them, as though in his ears were a heavens, therefore announce to him a painful chastisement.”
3. The exegesis (Tafseer) of the term “False Words.”
In addition to the phrase “frivolous discourse,” the Holy Quran also refers to singing by the term, “False words.” Abu Basir inquired from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.), the Tafseer of the following ayat:
“... and avoid false words.”
(Surah Hajj 22:30)
The Imam (a.s.) replied,
“ (It denotes) singing.”
Similarly the following verse was recited in the presence of Imam Muhammad at-Taqi (a.s.),
“And they who do not bear witness to what is false, and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly.”
(Surah Furqan 25:72)
Then, Imam (a.s.) was requested to explain this ayat.
Imam (a.s.) remarked,
“ (Vain means) singing.”
(Refer “Amali” of Shaykh Tusi and also the book “Al Kafi.”)
In another tradition, when Muhammad Ibne Uthman asked the meaning of this ayat, Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) said,
“It includes the evil words of one who is singing.”
4. “False words” denote singing
The later portion of the same verse says,
“... and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly.”
(Surah Furqan 25:72)
Thus according to Quran when the righteous people pass by when songs are being played, they avoid being influenced by them and continue on their way in a dignified manner.
A similar kind of Verse is present in Surah Mominoon:
(Surah Mominoon 23:3)
Both the above verses describe the qualities of a believer and this fact was pointed out to Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) and later to Imam Reza (a.s.), both of them explained the term “vain words” as follows:
“Vain words, imply music and singing and the true worshipers of Allah refrain from these.”
(Al Kafi).
5. Singing and hypocrisy.
The sixth Holy Imam, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said,
“Listening to music, songs and useless words cultivate hypocrisy in the heart, in the same way as algae grows in water.”
(Al Kafi)
The same book,“Al Kafi”
contains a tradition of Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) that,
“Singing and music is a nest for the bird called hypocrisy.”
Singing programme
The venue of a singing programme is the place of the descent of divine retribution. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says:
“Do not even enter houses, the inhabitants of which are deprived of divine mercy.”
The same Imam (a.s.) is reported to have said,
“The house where music is played is not safe from sudden disasters. Supplications at such a place are not answered. Angels do not enter this place.”
(Al Kafi and Mustadrakul Wasael)
It has been established in the preceding chapter that when the divine punishment descends, it does not discriminate. The excuse is not valid if one says, “Though we go to places where there is music and song, but we dislike it by our heart.” Dislike should be expressed by ones action. Songs and music must be discouraged.
7. Singing causes poverty
Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) says,
“Singing creates hypocrisy and causes poverty.”
(Mustadrakul Wasael, chapter 78)
8: Punishment for Singing
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said,
“When the singer shall emerge from his grave on the day of the Judgement, he shall be blind, deaf and mute.”
(Jameal-Akhbaar)
The traditions also state that the singer shall be recognised by these very signs, i.e., blindness, deafness etc.
Another tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is as follows:
“Molten lead shall be poured into the ears of one who listens to songs intently.”
(Mustadrakul Wasael)
Deprived of the Divine Mercy
Qutub Rawandi has recorded from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that he said,
“The singer is among that group of people which would not be looked upon with mercy by Allah on the day of judgement.”
Being a fan of a singer
Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says:
“One who respects a speaker, becomes his slave. If the speaker calls towards Allah the listener worships Allah, but if he calls towards shaitan, the listener has worshipped shaitan.”
(Furu Al Kafi)
It is also narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) that he said,
“Whenever a person begins singing, two satans alight upon his shoulders and continue to hit their heels upon his chest, till the time he continues the song.”
Thus how can the one who is kicked by satans deserve to be loved and admired.
Melodious sounds of Paradise
Hazrat Imam Ali Ibn Musa ar-Reza (a.s.) said,
“One who avoids songs shall be provided by Allah with a tree which will produce such a melodious sound as has never been heard by anyone. But one who has not kept himself aloof from songs will not be able to hear this sound.
(Al Kafi)
Beautiful songs in Heaven
The following tradition of Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) is recorded in the bookTafseer Majmaul Bayan,
“One who has listened to too many songs will not be able to hear the “Ruhaanis” on the day of Qiyamat.”
“Who are the Ruhaanis, O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.)?,”
someone asked.
The Prophet (s.a.) replied,
“They are the melodious singers of Heaven.”
Similarly, Hazrat Ali (a.s.) says in Nahjul Balagha,
“Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) shall be the chief of the singers of Paradise.”
(Nahjul Balagha).
The people will listen to such melodious songs from Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) in Heaven, the like of these is never heard by anyone. However only those who have refrained from listening to songs in this world would be able to hear them.
Strict prohibition
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) says:
“Calamities will befall my Ummat as sinking of the earth and rain of stones.”
The people asked, “When would it happen?”
“When the instruments of music become common, singing girls are in great number and the use of intoxicants is widespread. By Allah, many people of my Ummat will be such that they shall spend the night in merry-making and sensuality and in the daytime become like monkeys and pigs. It shall be the consequence of considering prohibited things as permissible, they will be engrossed in singing girls, and make frequent use of intoxicants, they will devour interest and shall be wearing silk clothes.”
Singing and fornication
Singing instigates one to commit fornication. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said:
“Singing is the step-stone to fornication.”
(Al Mustadrakul Wasael)
Songs are responsible for awakening the latent sensual desires of man, which soon become apparent. It is same whether one sings a song or just listens to it. The afflicted person forgets Allah and is prepared to commit any kind of indecency.
Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says,
“And all those wasteful pastimes are haraam that make one forgetful of Allah. For example, songs and playing musical instruments.”
Yes! Music not only destroys shame and self-respect but it also annihilates feelings of love, humanness and mercy. As a result the society is converted into a kind of Hell.
Prohibition regarding songs and singing
There is no difference of opinion among the Shia jurists concerning the illegality of singing. It can be said that there is ‘ijma’ (unanimity) upon this point. The writer of the book, titled“Mustanad”
says, “To consider singing and music ‘haraam’ is one of the necessities of faith. That is, if a Muslim says that singing is not haraam then he becomes a kafir.” According to the author ofIzah
, “the traditions that state that music and singing is haraam, are “mutawatir” (very numerous).”
However a slight difference of opinion exists, as to the meaning and connotation of the word ‘song’. The majority of the Mujtahids believe that any kind of sound that is capable of creating a desire for joyful mirth and sexual feelings is a song; and it is haraam.
Reciting Quran in tune of songs
As we have stated earlier it is haraam to recite Quran in a style of singing songs. Similarly it is also haraam to recite navhas, Marsiya or Azaan in this way. In this matter, there is no difference whether it is poetry or prose that is being recited. Rather, rendering
of the sacred compositions into songs carries double punishment. One for the sin of singing songs and the other for causing disrespect to a hallowed text.
Reciting Quran in a melodious voice
Every melodious sound is not a song. If Quran or nauha is recited in a pleasant voice without unduly turning it in the throat it is not haraam, rather it is desirable to do so. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said,
“Recite the Quran in a pleasant voice, in the style of Arabs. You are ordered to avoid the transgressors and doers of greater sins. Certainly, such people will appear in the world that will recite the Quran in a singing manner to make the listeners emotional. It is not allowed to go near these people or to call them near you. The hearts of these people have deviated and those who are influenced by them shall also have their hearts deviated.”
(Wasaelush Shia).
Pleasant voice and singing
While describing the signs of the arrival of the Day of Judgement, the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said:
“Such kind of people shall appear in the world that they would learn the Quran for worldly benefits and will recite it in a singing tune.”
However there are many traditions to the effect that reciting the Quran in a pleasant voice is Mustahab (recommended). However we must be sure that it is not in a singing tune.
Singing and music in the daughter’s wedding
Subject to the following three conditions some of the Mujtahids have allowed women to sing on the occasion of marriages.
The first condition is that no grown-up men should be able to hear the singing. Not even those who are mehram (under the prohibited degree).
Secondly, the songs must not be loud and also must not be based on false statements.
The singing must not be accompanied by any kind of music.
A few scholars have permitted playing of the small tambourine (tambourine is a drum with skin on only one of its sides). Shaheed-e-Sani and Muhaqqiq-e-Sani say that tambourine could be played in wedding if it does not have tinkles around it.
However, precaution is much desirable and hence on the occasion of weddings too women must not sing, nor should the tambourine be played. Shaykh Ansari (r.a.) quotes Shaheed-e-Sani in the book,Makasib
and Sayyid Murtuza says in his bookWaseela
that “Precaution is the way to salvation.”
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Author: Ayatullah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Dastghaib Shirazi
