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Fatwa CenterRuling on singing permissible lyrics without music
Question
Salam. I used to listen to music before but know I have left it. But at times I sing the old songs. Since there is no music involved when I sing and the wording of the songs are not shirk or dirty...will it be allowed in the light of ismLam?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
If the language you use in your singing is permissible, it is not accompanied with music, and non-Mahram men do not hear you when you sing, then there is nothing wrong with that if these conditions are met.
An-Nawawi 
said in his commentary on Muslim: “The Arabs call reciting poetry in a high voice (Inshaad) singing, but it is not included in the singing about which there is a difference of opinion. It is in fact permissible. The Companions considered the singing of the Arabs, which is nothing more than reciting and chanting, to be permissible, and they permitted driving camels by chanting, and did so in the presence of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. All this is evidence that this kind of singing and anything that is relevantly similar to it is permissible, and (that) the like of it is not forbidden.” [End of quote]
However, we advise you to leave this chanting and singing, even though it is permissible, because it could cause you to return to listening to those forbidden songs which contain music.
We advise you to make your tongue accustomed to the mention of Allaah and the recitation of the Quran, as this is more beneficial for the heart. Allaah says (what means): {Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allaah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allaah hearts are assured.} [Quran 13:28]
Allaah Knows best.
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