Assalaamu alaykum. There is a certain Nasheed (chant) on YouTube in which two Indonesian sisters wearing the hijab sing a Nasheed about the names of Allaah, The Exalted. The video received nearly two million views. Is it permissible to post a video of a Nasheed in which a female singer is visible to millions of people?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

It is not permissible to circulate the video which you referred to because it involves listening to the singing of a non-Mahram (marriageable) woman, even if the singing is without musical instruments. In general, singing involves softening the voice, while Allah says (what means): {…then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.} [Quran 33:32]

Al-Qurtubi said about the interpretation of the previous verse:

“Meaning, do not speak softly with (non-Mahram) men. Allah ordered them to speak with a strong, clear voice as opposed to speaking in a tempting, soft manner that might imply (to the listener) a tendency to immorality, as was the custom of the Arab women in addressing men in a soft, attractive manner like immoral women. So Allah forbade them from doing so. Regarding the saying of Allah {but speak with appropriate speech..}, Ibn Abbaas, said, ‘Allah commanded them to enjoin good and forbid evil. The woman is recommended, when addressing non-Mahram men as well as the men who are forbidden to her due to a relationship of marriage [such as in-laws], to speak to them in a strong voice without raising it, as the woman is commanded to lower her voice.’”

The fatwa of the Standing Committee reads, “A woman's voice is not an ‘Awrah (something that must be concealed from non-Mahram men) in itself, it is not forbidden to listen to it unless she is speaking in a soft voice and in an attractive way, as she is forbidden to speak in this manner except with her husband, and it is forbidden to men to listen to it with the exception of her husband; as Allah says (what means): {O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.} [Quran 33:32]”

There is no doubt that the singing of a woman is believed to be an enjoyment of listening to her voice, and the scholars stated that this is forbidden.

Ar-Ruhaybaani said in Mataalib uli An-Nuha, “The voice of a non-Mahram woman is not an ‘Awrah, but it is forbidden to enjoy listening to her with the exception of a wife or female slave (whom one right hand possesses), even if it is her voice when reciting, because this leads to being tempted by her, and we have already mentioned in the prayer that she recites silently if she can be heard by a non-Mahram man.”

We also remind you of the saying of Allah (which means): {And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.} [Quran 24:31]

So would it be reasonable that the Sharia forbids a woman from stamping her feet so that the sound of the anklet on her feet would not be heard so that it would not attract the attention of men and meanwhile [the Sharia] allow the man to listen to the woman when she is singing and softening her voice?

Listening is one of the incitements that lead to grave, major sins. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said, “The child of Adam has to have his share of Zina (adultery or fornication), no matter how well one endeavors to avoid it. The Zina of the eyes is by gazing, the Zina of the ears is by listening, the Zina of the tongue is by talking, the Zina of the hands is by touching, the Zina of the foot is by walking [to forbidden places], and the heart desires and wishes. Then the private parts either submit to this or deny it.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim. This is the wording of Muslim]

For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 246091 and 79549.

Allah knows best.