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Fatwa CenterWorking as part-time singer without music
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I am a singer, and I want to take singing as a hobby and part-time profession. Of course, I will not use music, but some people tell me that singing and vocal melody in itself, even without music, is haram, and they cite proof that the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with him, criticised singing. However, in all your fatwas, I read that singing permissible lyrics and using vocal harmony is allowed. Please give a clarification regarding the permissibility of singing with evidence. Thank you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Singing is chanting and making a clear, resonant sound with melody.
The Fiqh Encyclopedia reads:
“The jurists differed in opinion about the ruling on singing: some of them said that it is disliked, some of them said that it is forbidden, and some of them said that it is permissible. Some others differentiated between a little singing and much singing; and some made a differentiation according to the gender of the singer, so they distinguished between the singing of men and that of women. Also, some of them distinguished between the singing that is very simple and the singing that is accompanied with musical instruments.”
The view that we adopt here at Islamweb is that if the singing is devoid of music, then it is of two kinds:
1- If the singing is from a woman to men, it is not permissible to listen to it, because it is forbidden for a woman to give the athaan for men or to raise her voice with recitation of the Quran in their presence, so her singing in their presence is forbidden with greater reason. If a woman sings for women with good words, on an occasion that requires that, such as a wedding, etc., then this is permissible.
2- If the singing is from a man, we have to look at the lyrics; if it is with good words, then it is permissible. If it is with bad words that call to vice and incite evil, then it is forbidden, as is known. The ruling of listening to songs depends on the ruling on the lyrics. If the lyrics are forbidden, then it is forbidden to listen to the songs. If the lyrics are permissible, then it is permissible to listen to the songs, but it is dispraised to indulge by listening too much.
In principle, this is permissible and not forbidden.
Ibn ‘Uthaymeen 
said, “As for the singing that is devoid of music and musical instruments, such as the Rabaabah (type of fiddle) and the like, it is permissible to listen to it provided that it does not include lyrics that incite temptation and provided that it does not prevent the person from performing his obligations, such as praying with the congregation and the like.”
We advise you, dear brother, to stay away from working as a singer or taking singing as a profession – as you mentioned – because many people delved into this and were soon engaged in forbidden singing.
Allah knows best.
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