Singing and Dancing at Celebrations
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What kind of music is permissible for woman to dance to (at marriages where no men are present)? Is it only Islamic music? With only a drum beat? What are permissible music topics?.
Published Date: 2003-06-17
(Abridged version: Original can be found at https://islamqa.info/en/9290).
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Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
With regard to music, the ruling is as we have explained in question no. 5011, where we stated that it is haraam to play musical instruments. Here we will explain some of the things that are permitted to women only.
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Secondly:
It is permissible for women to beat the daff and to sing permissible songs on permissible occasions such as Eid, celebrations and the like.
Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
It is permissible for him – the bridegroom – to allow women to announce the marriage by beating the daff only, and by singing permissible songs in which there is no description of beauty or mention of immoral phrases… then he mentioned the evidence for that.
Adaab al-Zafaaf, p. 93.
The evidence that the Shaykh mentioned is:
It was narrated that al-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon me on the day of my wedding and sat on my mattress as you are sitting now, and young girls were beating the daff and singing about their fathers who had been killed at the battle of Badr, until a girl said, “And among us is a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not say this, but say the other things that you were saying.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3700.
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Thirdly:
With regard to dancing, it is not permissible in front of men, non-mahrams, mahrams or women, because of the fitnah that may be caused by the movements of the body. It is well known that women may feel desire for one another, and even if that is not the case, there is no guarantee that one of them will not go back to her menfolk and describe to them what she has seen of the beauty of the dancer and her movement, so this may affect the men and may cause a great deal of mischief. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade such things.
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It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No woman should look at another woman then describe her to her husband so that it is as if he can see her.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4839.
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The alluring movements of a woman are part of her ‘awrah, and it is not permissible for her to show them to anyone but her husband.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Dancing is makrooh in principle, but if it is done in the western manner or in imitation of the kaafir women, then it becomes haraam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Moreover it sometimes leads to fitnah, because the dancer may be a young, beautiful woman, so the other women are tempted. Even if she is among other women, the other women may do things that indicate that they are temped by her. And whatever is a cause of fitnah is not allowed.
Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, q. 1085.
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And he said:
With regard to dancing on the part of women, it is an evil action and we cannot say that it is permissible, because we have heard of incidents that have occurred among women because of it. If it is done by men that is even worse, because that is men imitating women, and the evil involved is well known. If dancing is done among a mixed group of men and women, as some of the foolish do, that is even worse because of the mixing and great fitnah involved, especially when that is done at a wedding party.”
Fataawa Islamiyyah, 3/187.
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Fourthly:
With regard to permissible words in songs, they are those that do not contain any haraam descriptions, or provoke desire, or words that are forbidden in sharee’ah, or some innovated adhkaar, and other haraam things.
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The Standing Committee said:
You are correct in your ruling that songs of the modern type are haraam, because they include immoral words and things that are no good, and they include idle leisure and provocation of sexual desire, and promiscuity, and the voice has a quality that inspires evil thoughts in the mind of the listener. May Allaah help us and you to do that which pleases Him.
It is permissible for you to replace these songs with Islamic nasheeds which contain rulings, exhortation and teaching, which will increase people’s keenness and pride in their religion, and promote Islamic feelings and put people off evil and what leads to it.
Fatwa no. 3295, dated 13/10/1400 AH
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And Allaah knows best.
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