The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E V I L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
Section One:
The $iijis position on Singing (al-ghind')
Scholars have discussed the issue of singing extensively. Some of
them considered it forbidden, others said it was permissible, and
others said it was permissible but disliked.
We should look into the nature of something before making judgments
regarding its rulings.
Many things are labeled as "Singing":
Some non-Arabs who go to Jf qj sing poems describing the Ka'bah,
zamzam and the maqdm. Listening to these songs is permissible because
they do not cause exhilaration.
This also applies to songs that warriors sing to entice each other to
fight, and songs sung by caravan singers to entice camels to walk
faster. None of these cause exhilaration
Allah's Messenger (;i) had a caravan singer by the name of
Anjashah. He (;i) told him once: "O Anjashah! Take it easy with
the 'pots'."
And Salamah Ibn al-Akwa' said: We went out with Allah's Messenger
(;i) in the war of Khay bar. One night, there was a man from
a nomadic tribe who told 'Amir: "O 'Amir, why do you not read
your poem to us within this short time." 'Amir was a master poet.
Then 'Amir came to read this poetry:
There was never any sadness,
If not for you, we would not have obtained guidance,
We would not have known charity and never have prayed,
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