The Ruling on 'Nasheeds'
by Shaykh Muhammad Naasir Ud-Deen Al-Albaanee

Translated by Abu 'Abdis-Salam

Question:
What is the ruling on 'nasheeds' commonly [found] amongst many of the
youth, which they call 'Islaamic Nasheeds'?

Answer:
If these nasheeds have 'Islaamic' meanings whilst not having in them
any musical instruments such as duffs, other drums, or the like, then
there is no problem in this.

However, it is necessary to explain an important prerequisite for their
permissibility, and that is that they should be free of anything
contradicting the sharee'ah such as excessiveness [1] and the like.

Then another condition is that it should not become a habit because
that diverts listeners [of the nasheeds] from the recitation of the
Qur`aan, which is encouraged in the prophetic, purified, sunnah. Likewise,
it diverts them from seeking beneficial knowledge and calling to Allaah
subhaanahu.

As for the use of duffs in nasheeds, then this is permissible for women
when amongst themselves, and not for men, and on 'Eed and on weddings
only.

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Footnotes:

[1] [Translator's Note]: Such as going to extremes in praising the
Prophet SAW.

http://www.islaam.net/display/display.php?id=118&category=40

THE ruling on Islamic nasheeds

Question:

What is the ruling on Islamic nasheeds that are free of music?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The clear saheeh texts indicate in a number of ways that it is
permissible to recite poetry and listen to it. It was narrated in saheeh
reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and
his
noble Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) listened to verse,
recited it (as nasheed) and asked others to recite it, both when they
were travelling and when they stayed at home, in their gatherings and
whilst they were working, individually, as in the case of Hassaan ibn
Thaabit, ?Aamir ibn al-Akwa? and Anjashah (may Allaah be pleased with
them), and in unison, as in the hadeeth of Anas (may Allaah be pleased with
him) which describes the digging of the ditch (al-khandaq). Anas said:

When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) saw how exhausted and hungry we were, he said (in verse):

?O Allaah, there is no life except the life of the Hereafter, so
forgive the Ansaar and the Muhaajireen.?

And they said in response:

?We are the ones who have pledged allegiance to Muhammad, to make
jihaad for as long as we live.?

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3/1043)

And in gatherings too: Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated with a hasan isnaad
that Abu Salamah ibn ?Abd al-Rahmaan said: ?The Companions of the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not
speak in devious tones or in a soft manner. They used to recite verses in
their gatherings, denouncing the affairs of their jaahiliyyah, but if it
was the matter of their religion, they would become very serious and
cautious (8/711).

This evidence indicates that nasheeds are permissible, whether recited
individually or in unison. The word nasheed in Arabic means raising the
voice when reciting verse and making the voice sound beautiful and
gentle.

There are conditions to which attention must be paid with regard to
this matter:

Not using forbidden musical instruments in nasheed.

Not doing it too much or making it the focus of the Muslim?s mind,
occupying all his time, or neglecting obligatory duties because of it.

Nasheed should not be recited by women, or include haraam or obscene
speech.

They should not resemble the tunes of the people of immorality and
promiscuity.

They should be free of vocal effects that produce sounds like those
of musical instruments.

They should not have moving tunes which make the listener feel ?high?
as happens to those who listen to songs. This is the case with many of
the nasheeds which appear nowadays, so that the listeners no longer pay
any attention to the good meaning of the words, because they are so
entranced by the tunes. And Allaah is the Source of strength.

References:

Fath al-Baari, 10/553-554-562-563
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 8/711
Al-Qaamoos al-Muheet, 411

Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)

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