Ruling on religious songs; and is it a sin to listen to songs in stores and on public transport?
Question

                What is the ruling on singing? What is the ruling on listening to songs? If it is haraam, what is the ruling on religious songs? What is the ruling on listening to songs unintentionally (such as on the bus or in stores)?.
Praise be to Allah.
      If singing is accompanied by musical instruments then it is 
      haraam to do it or to listen to it, whether it is done by a man or a 
      woman. The only exception that is made is singing that is accompanied by 
      the daff, done by women at weddings or on Eid, and when one who has been 
      absent returns. We have already discussed this in detail in the answer to 
      question no. 5000 and
      20406. 

    With regard to religious songs, if they are accompanied by 
    music (with instruments) or if they are sung by a woman to men, then they 
    are haraam, and calling them religious songs in this case is calling 
    something by a name other than its real name in order to confuse and deceive 
    people so that they will accept it. How can they be religious songs when 
    Allaah and His Messenger  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 
    have forbidden them? 

    If they are free of musical accompaniment, and are done by a 
    man and contain good and beneficial meanings, then they are permissible, but 
    one should not listen to them too much. 

    The Standing Committee issued a detailed fatwa on the topic 
    of Islamic nasheeds, which says the following: 

    You are correct in saying that songs in the current form are 
    haraam because they include bad words and things in which there is no good; 
    indeed they comprise idle speech, provocation of desires, indecent meanings 
    and tempting voices. May Allaah help us and you to do all that is good. 

    It is permissible for you to replace these songs with Islamic 
    nasheeds which contain words of wisdom and exhortation and lessons, which 
    promote keenness to follow Islam and invoke Islamic feelings, which put one 
    off evil and the things that promote it, and which motivate the one who 
    “sings” them and the one who hears them to obey Allaah and discourage them 
    to disobey Him or transgress His limits; they make one keen to protect His 
    sharee’ah and strive in jihad for His sake. But you should not take that as 
    a habit which one persists in, rather that should be something that is done 
    only sometimes, on special occasions such as weddings or when travelling for 
    jihad and so on, and when one feels low, in order to revive the spirit and 
    motivate oneself to do good, or when one feels inclined towards evil, so 
    listening to such nasheeds may ward that off. 
What is better than that 
    is to take a portion of Qur’aan to recite, and a wird of saheeh dhikrs, for 
    that is more purifying for the soul and is better for bringing peace of 
    mind. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Allaah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book (this 
    Qur’aan), its parts resembling each other (in goodness and truth) (and) 
    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 Allaah. That is the Guidance of Allaah. He guides therewith 
    whom He wills; and whomever Allaah sends astray, for him there is no guide”

    [al-Zumar 39:23]

    “Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic 
    Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah verily, 
    in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest.

    29. Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic 
    Monotheism), and work righteousness, Tooba (all kinds of happiness or name 
    of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return”

    [al-Ra’d 13:28, 29]
It was the habit of the 
    Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) to focus on the Qur'aan, 
    memorizing it, studying it and acting upon it. However they also had 
    nasheeds and chants that they would “sing”, such as when they were digging 
    the Ditch (al-khandaq) and when building mosques, when travelling for jihad 
    and on other such occasions, without making that their symbol or paying too 
    much attention to it. Rather it was something in which they would 
    occasionally find relaxation and stir up positive feelings. With regard to 
    the drum (tabl) and other kinds of musical instruments, it is not 
    permissible to use them with these nasheeds, because the Prophet  (peace 
    and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be 
    pleased with them) did not do that. And Allaah is the Guide to the Straight 
    Path; may Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his 
    family and companions. 

    Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/532. 
With regard to hearing 
    songs and music without intending to and without listening attentively to 
    them, such as when a person hears them in a store and so on, there is no sin 
    on him. What is forbidden is listening, not just hearing. But he must also 
    try to advise others against doing evil actions. 

    Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: As for 
    simply hearing without intending to or listening attentively to them, such 
    as when a person who is walking down the street hears the sound of songs 
    coming from shops or passing cars, or when he is in his own house and hears 
    songs coming from his neighbours’ houses without wanting to hear it, in such 
    cases he has no control over the situation and there is no sin on him. But 
    he should advise others and speak out against this evil with wisdom and 
    beautiful preaching, and he should strive to avoid it as much as possible. 
    And Allaah does not burden any person beyond his scope.  

    Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/389 

    And Allaah knows best.