Answered by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed
I have read that Imam al-Ghazali permitted listening to the woman’s voice if it does not stimulate one. Is this true? Does this apply to modern songs?
According to the relied-upon position in our school, the woman’s voice is not `Awrah. It is thus permissible to hear her voice in everyday conversation.
As for singing, scholars stated that hearing the singing of a woman is offensive, unless it fitna is feared from it, in which case it becomes unlawful. In fact, fitna happens frequently because of women’s singing and it is befitting of a Muslim to close this door completely and become busy with that which benefits him such as making Dhikr of Allah Most High, reciting the Koran, learning sacred knowledge and keeping the company of the righteous all of which makes one’s heart attached to Allah and protects one from destructive afflictions. The devil makes small sins look seemly and trivial until one falls in greater enormities and finds it too hard to repent.
This applies to singing which is not accompanied by an unlawful musical instrument. Otherwise, most of today’s singing is haram because it is conjoined with unlawful instruments.
– Amjad Rasheed
(Translated by Abu Muhammad al-Rahil)