The Questioner: May Allah reward you with goodness, O Shaykh. I wish to ask about the ruling of ululation (a long, high-trilling vocal cry with the mouth and tongue that changes between two or three notes) and mahāhah (a type of singing) among the women, and the ruling of women singing at wedding celebrations. How should the voice be — low or raised? Is it to be done collectively or individually? And what about dancing among women? May Allah bless you.
The Imām, Shaykh Muhammad Nāsir ad-Deen al-Albānī (rahimahullāh):
In answer to the question, we say: The singing of women at a wedding is permissible in the Sharīʿah. However, it must be understood as an exception similar to the exception of the duff (drum) from the general prohibition of musical instruments.
The origin of instruments is prohibition, but the duff was exempted. Likewise, the raising of a woman’s voice, which in origin she is not to do, particularly in singing, but she has been exempted at the time of marriage.
This exception is established by two evidences as follows:
Firstly: The practice of the Salaf, and that which was inherited from them by those who came after them.
Secondly: Certain statements of the Messenger of Allah (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam). Some of them are general, such as his saying, ‘Publicise the marriage.’ Publicising of the nikāh is done by raising the voice—and from that is the beating of the duff and the singing of the women.
Likewise, his saying: ‘The difference between marriage and fornication is the beating of the duff and voice.’ Meaning: the raising of the voice — indicating the singing of women.
Furthermore, we have a clear, explicit narration that clarifies these general texts. It is reported in the Sunan and in the Musnad of Imām Aḥmad that the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) met ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) as she was returning from a wedding of the Ansār. He (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) said to her: ‘Did you sing? For indeed the Ansār love singing.’ She said: ‘What should we say [in the song], O Messenger of Allah?’ He (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) replied:
‘You should sing: We have come to you, we have come to you—So greet us and we shall greet you—And were it not for brown wheat—Your young maidens would not have grown plump.’
This hadīth is explicit that the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) permitted women to sing — but singing that is free from descriptions that are prohibited in the Sharīʿah to utter, let alone to sing.
As you have heard, it was clean and noble speech — no description of cheeks or waists, no mention of wine, nor the corrupt themes commonly found in the songs of professional entertainers. Thus, this establishes the origin of the matter that the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) allowed women to raise their voices with permissible, wholesome singing.
Now we come to the issue mentioned in the question — the ululation (zaghāreed). Is it permissible? (This is a long, high-trilling vocal cry with the mouth and tongue that changes between two or three notes.)
We say: If the Messenger of Allah (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) permitted women to sing phrases that carry meaning — which are pure and clean — and such words may possibly affect the soul, then ululation would have even less impact, since it carries no meaning that is understood. Its purpose is simply to announce the marriage, as is commanded in the ḥadīth: ‘Publicise the marriage, beat the drum along with the voice.’
For this reason, we do not see any harm in women raising their voices with permissible singing. This is further supported by what is reported in the Mustadrak of al-Hākim: ‘That a Tābiʿī saw one of the Companions sitting at a wedding while women were singing. He objected because their voices were heard.’ The Companion (Allāh be pleased with him) replied: ‘If you wish, then sit, and if you wish, then leave — for indeed the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) permitted us to sit at nikāhs (weddings).’
So this — inshā’Allāh — answers the question.
Question: And about singing collectively, is it allowed?
Answer: Yes — collectively [is allowed].
Question: And the mahāhāh (a type of singing in Shām)?
Answer: The same ruling applies. However, it is not befitting for a man to imitate women in that.
Question: Even if men hear the women’s voices? We have already clarified the principle.
Question: As for dancing (raqas)?
Answer: Dancing among women has various forms. Firstly, it must be observed that much of what is called dancing today does not occur while women are wearing the Shariah clothing that a woman is permitted to wear in front of her Muslim sister, let alone in front of men!
Tight garments and short dresses are not permissible for a Muslim woman to appear in, even in front of another Muslim sister.
If we were to assume that the dancing occurred while wearing proper Shariah dress, then we say: If it is not a dance that arouses desires, no shaking of the hips, no provocative movements, but rather simple hand gestures without suggestiveness, then there is no harm in that [among women], with the previously mentioned condition regarding dress.
However, swaying the hips, shaking the chest, and displaying oneself in an enticing manner are not befitting. It stirs desires, possibly even among women themselves.
End.
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