Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

my question was that recently there is a movie that came out in pakistand its called in the name of god... and in it they mention a few things which are not true about our religion. they had said that Allah gave prophet Dawud a very good voice and he use to sing and it goes on about how if a prophet was given such a good voice and he use to sing with surs and stuff then how can we not be allowed to listen to music or sing. can you verify this as in what is the whole story behind this? Also it had said that women are also allowed to marry people by the book. it said that its prefered that you dont but you can? can you tell me the detail behind prophet Dawud ( A.S). thank you . 

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Answer:

The singing of Prophet Dawood (a.s.)

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …..they had said that Allah gave prophet Dawud a very good voice and he use to sing and it goes on about how if a prophet was given such a good voice and he use to sing with surs and stuff then how can we not be allowed to listen to music or sing. can you verify this as in what is the whole story behind this? 

Respected sister in Islam, we have neither heard of nor seen the movie which you have mentioned, thus we are obviously unable to give you our opinion on the movie…..what we can do for you here is quote you what the Glorious Quran and the authentic and established Sunnah says about the worship of the Noble Prophet Dawood (a.s.).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 38 Surah Saad verses 17-20:

17 Have patience at what they say and remember Our Servant Dawood, the man of strength: for he ever turned (to Allah).

18 It was We that made the hills declare in unison with him Our Praises at eventide and at break of day.

19 And the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with him did turn (to Allah).

20 We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 34 Surah Saba verse 10:

10 We bestowed grace aforetime on Dawood from Ourselves: "O ye Mountains! sing ye back the Praises of Allah with him! And ye birds (also)! And We made the iron soft for Him.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiyaa verses 78-79:

78 And remember Dawood and Sulaimaan when they gave judgment in the matter of the field into which the sheep of certain people had strayed by night: We did witness their judgment.

79 To Sulaimaan We inspired the (right) understanding of the matter: to each (of them, Dawood and Sulaimaan) We gave Judgment and Knowledge; it was Our power that made the hills and the birds celebrate Our praises with Dawood: it was We Who did (these things).

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1734 Narrated by Buraydah ibn al-Hasib

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Abdullah ibn Qays has been gifted with a sweet melodious voice out of the voices of the family of (the Noble Prophet of Allah) Dawood (a.s.).’

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1735 Narrated by Abu Musa

The Messenger of Allah (saws) had said to Abu Musa: ‘If you were to see me as I was listening to your recitation (of the Qur'an) last night (you would have felt delighted). You are in fact endowed with a sweet voice like that of (the Noble Prophet of Allah) Dawood (a.s.) himself!’

Allah Subhanah has indeed bestowed His Noble Prophet Dawood (a.s.) with a beautiful and melodious voice, and the singing of Prophet Dawood (a.s.) (and I seek refuge in Allah from even saying this) was not the conventional or commercial ‘singing’ that we unfortunately are accustomed to…..but the ‘singing’ of the Noble Dawood (a.s.) was the melodious chanting of the ‘Zuboor’ (Psalms) and the Praises and Glorifications of the Lord Most Exalted. Such was the piety and the melody in these chants of Praises and Glorifications of the Lord from the tongue of the Noble Prophet Dawood (a.s.), that the mountains and the birds were Commanded by the Lord to chant the Praises along with Prophet Dawood (a.s.).

Your Question: Also it had said that women are also allowed to marry people by the book.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 221:

221 Do not marry idolatrous women until they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman even though she allure you. Nor marry (your girls) to idolatrous men until they believe: a man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever even though he allure you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the fire. But Allah beckons by His grace to the Garden (of Bliss) and forgiveness and makes His Signs clear to mankind: that they may celebrate His praise.

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Glorious Quran, it is absolutely and categorically forbidden in Shariah Law for a believing woman to marry any disbeliever, unless and until they believe.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 5 (part):

(Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers but chaste women among the People of the Book revealed before your time when ye give them their due dowers and desire chastity not lewdness nor secret intrigues.

To marry chaste women from amongst the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) is an option only for the believing men, not the believing women.

The marriage of a believing woman to any but a believing man would be absolutely unlawful, null and void in the Sight of Shariah Law and of Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan