Why Singing in the Shower is Permissible in Islam
C.J Ahmed-02.04.2023
It is not haram to sing in the shower because Islam is silent on this topic. Some misquote the below hadith arguing that talking or emgaging in other activities in the bathroom is haram. The hadith is s follows,
Jaabir ibn Abd-Allaah reported that a man passed by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) whilst he was urinating, and greeted him. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: If you see me in this state, do not greet me, because if you do, I will not respond (Ibn Mjah authenticated by Albani)
In this hadith the prophet (sal) did not forbid other from saying salaam but only said that if someone greets him in the privy, he will not repond. The below hadith further clarifies this,
Narrated Muhajir ibn Qunfudh:
Muhajir came to the Prophet (sal) while he was urinating. He saluted him. The Prophet (sal) did not return the salutation to him until he performed ablution. He then apologised to him, saying: I disliked remembering Allah except in the state of purification.(Abu Dawud- Graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
It was onlya personal dislike of the prophet (sal) and not a general prohibition. There is another wek hadith which is quoted by some to argue that talking while relieving oneself is haram.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri (rali):
I heard the Messenger of Allah (sl) say: When two persons go together for relieving themselves uncovering their private parts and talking together, Allah, the Great and Majestic, becomes wrathful at this (action)-This hadith was narrated by Abu Dawud who said that it was narrated by oly Ikrimah bin Ammar and it was graded weak (Daif) by Sheik Naseeruddin al Albani.
For something to be haram there needs to be clear proofs.
The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” (Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122).
Some will try to cling to the fatwa of sheikh salih al uthaymin who said,
“The bathroom is a place for relieving oneself only and one should not stay there longer than is necessary. Eating or doing other things there requires staying there for a length of time that is not appropriate." (Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 11/110)
The above fatwa is the personal opinion of Sheikh Salih al Uthaymin and making Taqlid (blind following) of scholars is forbidden in Islam. There is nothing wrong in singing while in the shower. Singing is also not haram in Islam. Aisha (Rali) said:
“Abu Bakr (Rali) entered upon me and there were two of the young girls of the Ansar with me who were singing the verses that the Ansar had recited on the day of Bu’ath.”She said: “But they were known to be singers. “Abu Bakr (RA) said: “Wind instruments of the shaitan in the house of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)? That was the day of Eid. Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “O Abu Bakr! Every people have their Eid and this is our Eid. “In another narration it is said that Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “Let them be O’ Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.”
(Narrated in Sahih Muslim)
It is not haram to sing in the shower because Islam is silent on this topic. Some misquote the below hadith arguing that talking or emgaging in other activities in the bathroom is haram. The hadith is s follows,
Jaabir ibn Abd-Allaah reported that a man passed by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) whilst he was urinating, and greeted him. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: If you see me in this state, do not greet me, because if you do, I will not respond (Ibn Mjah authenticated by Albani)
In this hadith the prophet (sal) did not forbid other from saying salaam but only said that if someone greets him in the privy, he will not repond. The below hadith further clarifies this,
Narrated Muhajir ibn Qunfudh:
Muhajir came to the Prophet (sal) while he was urinating. He saluted him. The Prophet (sal) did not return the salutation to him until he performed ablution. He then apologised to him, saying: I disliked remembering Allah except in the state of purification.(Abu Dawud- Graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
It was onlya personal dislike of the prophet (sal) and not a general prohibition. There is another wek hadith which is quoted by some to argue that talking while relieving oneself is haram.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri (rali):
I heard the Messenger of Allah (sl) say: When two persons go together for relieving themselves uncovering their private parts and talking together, Allah, the Great and Majestic, becomes wrathful at this (action)-This hadith was narrated by Abu Dawud who said that it was narrated by oly Ikrimah bin Ammar and it was graded weak (Daif) by Sheik Naseeruddin al Albani.
For something to be haram there needs to be clear proofs.
The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” (Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122).
Some will try to cling to the fatwa of sheikh salih al uthaymin who said,
“The bathroom is a place for relieving oneself only and one should not stay there longer than is necessary. Eating or doing other things there requires staying there for a length of time that is not appropriate." (Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 11/110)
The above fatwa is the personal opinion of Sheikh Salih al Uthaymin and making Taqlid (blind following) of scholars is forbidden in Islam. There is nothing wrong in singing while in the shower. Singing is also not haram in Islam. Aisha (Rali) said:
“Abu Bakr (Rali) entered upon me and there were two of the young girls of the Ansar with me who were singing the verses that the Ansar had recited on the day of Bu’ath.”She said: “But they were known to be singers. “Abu Bakr (RA) said: “Wind instruments of the shaitan in the house of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)? That was the day of Eid. Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “O Abu Bakr! Every people have their Eid and this is our Eid. “In another narration it is said that Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said: “Let them be O’ Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.”
(Narrated in Sahih Muslim)