Islamic Nashid

Question :

We know that songs are unlawful, at least as it is known today, because of the base and senseless language and instruments that accompany most of today's songs. But as Muslim youth whom Allâh Almighty has made to love the truth, we need an alternative, so we have chosen Islamic Nashid, poetry that is spoken in rhythmic form, such as the famous poem "My Brother," by Sa'id Qutb.

Answer:

What is the Islamic ruling on Nashid, considering, however, that most of them contain inspirational words and enlighten- ing Islamic messages, written by authors of this generation and of earlier generations? Some Nashid are accompanied by a Duff or a drum, is this permissible? With my limited knowledge, I do know that the Messenger of Allah permitted the use of the drum for the wedding night, and a drum is the most innocent of musical instruments, is like any other object that is struck with the hand to make a sound. Please advise us, may Allah Almighty guide you to what He loves and is pleased with.

The Council answered the following:
You were correct when you said that singing is unlawful for a number of reasons for the coarse words and messages, for its incitement to evil and to licentiousness. May Allah guide us to what He is pleased with.

You are permitted, then, to resort to the alternative you mentioned - Islamic Nashid, poems that awaken your desire to practice Islam, that call you to righteousness, to Jihad, and to the obedience of Allah Almighty. You should not, however, make it a habit to listen to Nashid daily at a certain time, for example, or to be excessive in listening to it. You should listen to Nashid when there is occasion to do so when there is a wedding, when traveling for Jihad, when you feel spiritually weak and you feel that you need to be inspired to do good. Better than resorting to Nashid is to read portions of the Qur'an daily or to read prophetic invocations daily, for these are purer for your soul; Allah Almighty said:
"Allâh has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Qur'an).

its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated.

The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide."

And:
"Those who believe, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.

Those who believe and work righteousness, Tuba (all kinds of happiness, or the name of a tree in Paradise) is for them a beautiful place of (final) return."

The Companions of the Messenger of Allah would concentrate on Allah's Book and His Messenger's Sunnah, studying and applying what they found in those two sources. Nevertheless, they still had Nashid that they would recite when they were digging the trenches, when they were building the Masjid, and when they were on their way to Jihad. They didn't deem Nashid to be of paramount importance; rather, they would resort to it in order to help calm their souls. It is not, however, permitted to use a drum or the like to accompany Nashid, because neither the Prophet nor his Companions did so. It is Allâh Who guides to the straight path. May Allah send peace and blessings upon Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

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