I love you for Allâh.

Ibn ‘Umar replied:

Then bear witness that I hate you for Allâh!

The man asked, “Why?”

He replied, “Because you sing in your adhân (call to prayer), and you take a wage [for calling it]!”

Al-Tabarânî, Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabîr, article 13059; from Shaykh Al-Albânî, Al-Sahîhah 1:104, where he grades it authentic.

More:

1. The Call of Bilâl and the Tears of Al-Shâm
2. The Assassination of ‘Umar – Part 2
3. Umar’s Instructions on the First Night of Ramadan
4. You haven’t prayed for 40 years!
5. The Assassination of ‘Umar – Part 1

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

Allâh the Mighty and Sublime laughs at two men [being pleased with them]: a man who stands in the middle of the night while his family sleeps; he purifies himself and stands in prayer, so Allâh laughs at him. And a man who meets the enemy [in battle] and his comrades are defeated; but he stands his ground until Allâh the Mighty and Sublime gives him martyrdom.

Abû Bakr Al-Âjurrî, Fadl Qiyâm Al-Layl, article 9.

Note: A longer version of this narration is reported from Allâh’s Messenger himself – praise and peace be upon him – in the Musnad of Ahmad and other collections. Shaykh Al-Albânî grades it good based on other corroboratory reports (hasan lighayrihi). See Sahîh Al-Targhîb wa Al-Tarhîb article 630.

More:

1. What to intend in Prayer
2. Weapons of Mass Distinction
3. Reciting the Quran like a Song
4. Umar b. Abd Al-Aziz on the Way of the Believers
5. The Hated Muezzin

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

A man once recited in front of Anas [ibn Mâlik – Allâh be pleased with him] in this manner and he detested it.

Abû Bakr Al-Khallâl, Al-Amr bil-Ma’rûf wa Al-Nahî ‘an Al-Munkar, p110.

It is reported that Sâlim [b. 'Abdillâh b. 'Umar b. Al-Khattâb] – Allâh have mercy on him – was asked to listen to someone leading the prayer. When he heard the recitation he turned back exclaiming:

Singing! Singing!

Ibn Al-Jawzî, Al-Qussâs wa Al-Mudhakkirîn article 183.

It is reported that there was a man who used to lead the prayer in Al-Madînah. One night, he became euphoric (got carried away by emotion). ^[2] Al-Qâsim b. Muhammad recited:

Verily it is a mighty and noble Book. Falsehood does not approach it, neither before it nor behind. It is a revelation from the Most Wise, Most Praiseworthy. [Al-Quran, Fussilat: 41, 42]

And he detested [the behavior of the reciter].

Ibid. article 184.

It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – was asked about reciting the Qurân with melodies,
^[1] to which he replied:

This is something they took from singing.

Ibid. article 182

Ibn Dâwûd ['Abdullâh b. Dâwûd b. 'Âmir Al-Khuraybî] – Allâh have mercy on him – was once asked by Bishr b. Al-Hârith:

If I pass by a man reciting, should I sit and listen? He asked, “Does he become euphoric ^[2] (because of emotional recitation)?” Bishr replied, “Yes.” Ibn Dâwûd said, “He has shown his bid’ah, do not sit with him.”

Ibid article 186.

Hanbal reports:

Abû ‘Abdillâh (Imâm Ahmad) used to detest this innovated recitation which is called Al-Alhân (melodious, musical recitation).

Ibid. article 187.

And it is reported that Imâm Ahmad said:

“This innovated recitation which is called Al-Alhân, I detest it.” He was very strict against it. He said, “I believe it resembles singing, and the Qurân is to be preserved from this.”

Ibid. article 188.

There are numerous narrations from Imâm Ahmad about this, amongst them:

When asked about it once he said:

It is something innovated. But [to recite in a beautiful voice is fine] if it is naturally his voice, as was Abû Mûsâ [Al-Ash'arî – Allâh be pleased with him].

When asked about reciting with alhân another time, he replied:

No. [It is allowed] if that is his natural voice, like the voice of Abû Mûsâ. As for learning how to recite like this, then no.

He was asked about recitation with melodies and harmonies, to which he replied:

“It is a bid’ah.” It was said to him, ‘They gather to listen to it.” He said, “Allâhul-musta’ân (‘Allâh is the one whose aid is sought’; a statement of sorrow and disapproval.)”

Also, he said:

It is a bid’ah, not to be listened to.

‘Abdullâh b. Yazîd Al-’Anbarî reports:

A man once asked Ahmad b. Hanbal:

“What do you say about reciting with alhân?” Abu ‘Abdillâh said, “What is your name?” The man replied, “Muhammad.” Imâm Ahmad said, “So would you like to be called Moohammad?”

Al-Khallâl, op. cit., p99+.

Imâm Mâlik – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

I do not like reciting in melodies, neither in Ramadan nor at other times, because it resembles singing, and it causes the Qurân to be laughed at. It is said ‘this person is a better reciter than that person (the Quran becomes the subject of rivalry and entertainment).

It has reached me that the slave-girls are taught to recite like this as they are taught how to sing. Do you think this was the way Allâh’s Messenger – peace and blessings be upon him – used to recite?

Al-Qayrawânî, Kitâb Al-Jâmi’ p166.

[1] Arabic: Alhân. This refers to reciting in a melodious, song-like tone. See notes.

[2] Arabic: Al-tarb. This refers to a state of emotional intensity which may bring about physical expression. See notes.

Notes

After relating some of these traditions, Ibn Al-Jawzî states:

Know that melodious musical recitation (Al-Alhân) is detested for a number of reasons, amongst others: [its reciters] merge letters that are not supposed to be merged, they extend vowels (madd) where there should be no extension, and they omit the hamzah and the doubling of consonants (tashdîd) just in order to preserve the melody. Also, this kind of recitation causes people to get emotionally carried away (al-tarb) and it distracts people from pondering the Quran. ^[3]

Explaining the type of recitation that is praiseworthy and the type that is detestable, Ibn Kathîr states:

What is sought in the Sharî’ah (teachings of Islam) is the type of beautification of the voice that leads to pondering the Quran and seeking to understand it, to submission, humility and compliance with the obedience [of Allah].

As for using voices with novel melodies, composed on distracting and entertaining rhythms and musical rules, then the Quran is far removed from this and is too respected and esteemed to have this approach taken in its delivery.^[4]

[3] Ibn Al-Jawzî, Al-Qussâs wa Al-Mudhakkirîn p335.

[4] Ibn Kathîr, Fadâ`il Al-Qurân p198.

More:

1. The Salaf and the Quran in Ramadan
2. What to intend in Prayer
3. More than Recitation
4. How the Salaf were (and weren’t) when hearing the Quran and Dhikr
5. Won’t you collect your Share?

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

The Companions of Allâh’s Messenger – Allah’s praise and peace be upon him – did not consider the leaving of any action to be kufr (unbelief), except the prayer (salâh).

Al-Tirmidhî, Al-Sunan hadîth 2622. Graded sahîh by Al-Albânî in his edition of Sunan Al-Tirmidhî.

More:

1. Greetings of the Companions [a little known Sunnah]
2. You haven’t prayed for 40 years!
3. The Hated Muezzin
4. The Weight of the Quran
5. Weapons of Mass Distinction

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

The enemy was never able to stand up to the Companions of Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s praise and peace be upon him, so when the news of the defeat of the Romans came to Heraclius at Antioch he asked [his people], “Woe to you, tell me about these people who fight you, are they not humans like you?” They replied, “Indeed, they are.” He asked, “So are you more in number or them?” They replied, “We outnumber them greatly in all places.” He said, “So how is it that you are defeated whenever you meet them [in battle].” A senior and esteemed elder amongst them replied, “Because they stand in prayer at night, fast during the day, fulfill their agreements and promises, enjoin what is right and forbid what is evil, they are fair and just amongst themselves; and because we drink wine, fornicate, commit sin, break our agreements, steal, oppress and do injustice, enjoin the committing of what angers Allâh and forbid what pleases Allâh the Mighty and Majestic, and we cause evil and corruption in the land.” Heraclius said, “You are the one who has told me the truth.”

Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-‘Ilm 4:91.

More:

1. Umar’s Instructions on the First Night of Ramadan
2. The Assassination of ‘Umar – Part 1
3. An advice at death about direction in Life
4. From the Benefits of Winter
5. The Assassination of ‘Umar – Part 2

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi