Assalaamu alaykum. May the peace and blessings of Allaah, the Exalted, be on all of of you. I wanted to ask about an issue that has been bothering me. I used to listen to music due to some problems related to depression. I had some OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) problem and a faith crisis. I am doing a lot better now, Maa Shaa Allaah (as Allaah willed). My question is: given that many kinds of Naat (form of poetry) and songs contain Shirk (polytheism) wordings, I came across a problem, like saying 'O Prophet' is wrong if it is used in this context. Now, only Allaah is Present at all times and you can only call Him, so does that also apply to all songs in which almost everybody is talking to their lover or partner, singing, while that person is not present? Does it fall in the category of Shirk? If yes, is it really so widespread in the Muslim world too?

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.

We ask Allah to relieve you from this Waswaas (OCD) and completely heal you from it and bless you with tranquility and reassurance.

We advise you to supplicate Allah as much as is possible, as He answers the supplication of the person in distress and He removes the harm; Allah says (what means): {Is He [not best] Who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember.} [Quran 27:62]

You should be keen on performing Ruqyah (healing through Quranic recitation and supplication), as this is the cure, Allah willing. As regards music, it is an illness and not a cure. Allah did not put a cure for this nation in what He has forbidden for them; for more benefit, please refer to fatwa 120956.

Regarding your question, calling a person can have several meanings, which are understood from the context, and it does not necessarily include supplicating and seeking the help of the creature.

Perhaps what is meant by it is recalling the image of the person who is called to mind; this is what is predominant in regard to what you mentioned that is said in poetry (and song lyrics).

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah said in his book Iqtidhaa’ As-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem, “The saying 'O Muhammad, O Prophet of Allah,' and the like, is a call by which one thinks in his heart about the one who is called, so he is addressed because he is witnessed in the heart, like the praying person saying (in the Tashahhud), 'Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.' A person does such a thing a lot to address the one whom he imagines in himself if there is no one outside who hears the speech.”

Allah knows best.