Organizing
      singing parties and soirees
Question

                In
      some cities and regions it is very common to people to organize singing
      parties and soirees where they listen to songs and trilling songs or
      verses from the local area and elsewhere, or to stage series of plays in
      some literary clubs, to which they invite singers and actors from all
      over. Sometimes entrance to these events is by tickets which are sold, and
      sometimes these events are free.
      My question, O Shaykh, is: what
      is the ruling on organizing these parties and soirees, and what is the
      ruling on attending them for the purpose of relaxation and leisure? Is it
      permissible for me to join in with them in singing these songs etc.?
      Please give us a fatwaa, may Allaah reward you, because this is a
      confusing matter. Some people say that there is nothing wrong with this
      because it is only entertainment, and others say that it is haraam and is
      not permitted. May Allaah bless you and benefit Islam through you.
      Wa’l-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah wa barakaatuhu.
Praise be to Allah.Everyone must fear Allaah and realize that He is
      watching them in private and in public. They should know that He can see
      them and that nothing at all is hidden from Him on the earth or in the
      heavens. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And
      take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is
      At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness). So fear Me, O men of understanding!”
      [al-Baqarah 2:197] –
      i.e., O you whose minds are aware and whose hearts are alive, strive to
      please Allaah by doing that which will bring you benefits in this world
      and in the Hereafter. Those who are not “men of understanding” are
      those who waste their efforts and their minds in things that earn the
      wrath of Allaah.
What
      the questioner has asked about, organizing singing parties and soirees to
      which singers and actors from all over are invited, to which entrance is
      free or there is a charge, and attending or watching these events, or
      taking part in them or supporting them – all of that is haraam and is
      not permitted, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And
      of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead
      (men) from the path of Allaah without knowledge, and takes it (the path of
      Allaah, or the Verses of the Qur’aan) by way of mockery. For such there
      will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).” [Luqmaan 31:6]
Ibn Mas’ood
      – may Allaah be pleased with him – used to swear that what this
      referred to was singing, because undoubtedly singing misleads people far
      away from the path of Allaah by wasting their time. It was reported from
      Abu ‘Aamir and Ibn Maalik al-Ash’ari (may Allaah be pleased with them)
      that the Messenger of Allaah 
 (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
      him) said: “There will be among my ummah people who will permit illegal
      sexual activity (zinaa), silk, alcohol and musical instruments…”
      (narrated by al-Bukhaari). The meaning of the phrase “[they] will permit
      illegal sexual activity (zinaa), silk, alcohol and musical
      instruments…” is that these things are basically haraam. The word
      translated as “there will be” refers to something which will happen in
      the future. What this means is that there will be people who regard as
      halaal and allow themselves things that are haraam, such as zinaa, silk
      and musical instruments.  
It was
      reported from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) in a marfoo’ report:
      “In this ummah there will be landslides, stones falling from heaven and
      transformation (of humans into monkeys, etc.). This will happen when
      alcohol is drunk, when people bring in female singers and play musical
      instruments.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi).
No doubt the
      things that bring about these punishments are haraam, and are in fact
      major sins – laa hawla wa laa quwwata
      illa Billaah (there is no strength and no power except with
      Allaah). The earlier scholars, such as Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy
      on him) stated that musical instruments – such as the ‘ood (lute),
      tanboor (long-necked stringed instrument similar to a mandolin), shabbaab
      (reed flute) and rabaab (stringed instrument resembling a fiddle) – are
      haraam, so the instruments that are known nowadays, which cause far more
      fitnah (temptation) are even more haraam than those which were known to
      the earlier scholars. Therefore: it is haraam to organize singing
      parties such as these. Let those who organize them fear Allaah, and let
      those who are in positions of authority fear Allaah and not take their
      children and families to these places. Let them realize that they are
      sinning by doing so, and tomorrow they will be asked about what they have
      done. Let them know that they can find relaxation in obeying Allaah and
      adhering to His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger 
 (peace and
      blessings of Allaah be upon him), by fasting, visiting the Haramayn
      (Makkah and Madeenah), and by striving in jihaad for the sake of Allaah,
      spreading the religion of Allaah and calling others to Islam, and other
      kinds of good and righteous deeds. They can also find relaxation in other
      permissible activities, such as learning to swim, shoot and ride horses,
      as well as sailing, going to gardens and parks, etc., so long as they
      observe Islamic etiquette and good manners. May Allaah help us all to do
      what is good and right, and keep us away from the things that will earn
      His wrath and painful punishment. And Allaah knows best.