Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Asadullah Anwar Adam
Question:
As Salaamu Alaikum,
I would like to enquire as to what the term nasheed means. Having understood that musical instruments and singing are impermissible apart from the exception given to women to sing (to females only or Maharam) on occasions such as Eid and Weddings. I would like to ask if nasheed is technically ‘singing’? I have yet to fully understand if the term nasheed means to sing songs of good content or recite poetry rather than ‘sing’ and so I would like to enquire as to what is meant by the term nasheed and also understand the evidence behind this?
الرَّحِيْم الرَّحْمنِ اللهِ بِسْمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
In Arabic, nasheed means raising the voice when reciting and making the voice sound beautiful and gentle.
There are clear narrations which support the fact that to recite poetry and to listen to it is permissible as long as the reciter is not a woman, the subject of the poetry is not vulgar or indecent, and there are no musical instruments involved. [1]
Allah in the Holy Qur’an has said
“And there are among men, those that purchase idle tales, to mislead (men) from the path of Allah and through ridicule. For such there will be a humiliating punishment. “[2]
Most of the scholars have interpreted “idle talk” (Lahwe-hadith) as meaning singing, musical instruments, and every voice that diverts people from the truth. [3]
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Muhammad Asadullah Anwar Adam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1][Maariful Quran p.35 – 36 v.7]
[2][Surah Luqman v.6]
[3][Maariful Quran p.33 – 34 v.7]