Husband sings romantic songs to wife
Fatwa No: 339523

Question

Assalaamu alaykum. Can a man sing a romantic song to his wife if he had heard the song before and the song was accompanied by music? He would sing to his wife without music.

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.

Songs are made of words; good words are good, and bad words are evil.

There is nothing wrong with a husband singing to his wife - even if the song is erotic - provided that it is devoid of violations of the Sharia. Singing violates the Sharia if it is accompanied by musical instruments, describes the physical beauty of a specific woman, or transgresses the honor of some people and so forth.

We said that this is permissible between the two spouses, even if it is erotic, because the Sharia permitted what is much more than this between the spouses, which is sexual intercourse. Allah says (what means): {It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to approach your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them.} [Quran 2:187]

Sayyid Qutb said in Thilaal Al-Quran:

Approaching the wife (in the verse) either means foreplay or sexual intercourse itself. In fact, both are intended here and have been made lawful. But the Quran does not mention this without adding a soft, gentle touch that gives the marital relationship transparency and compassion and distances it from the harshness of the carnal meaning... {They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them.} Clothing screens and protects, and so does this relationship between the spouses; it covers them and protects them. Islam completely takes man’s natural drives, instincts, and desires into account. It elevates man, treating him as one integral entity, while responding to the needs of the flesh, incorporating them into a decent and virtuous context… the verse tells the Muslims that they are allowed to enjoy the intimacy of their spouses to satisfy their craving and to seek offspring, both of which are legitimate aspects of the relationship. Thus, marriage is given a much wider dimension and higher objectives, over and above the mere satisfaction of the carnal sexual desire. It assumes an honorable status that must be cherished, treasured, and protected... and it reveals the mercy of Allah in responding to the calls of their natural instinct...” [Abridged]

It is through such matters that the objectives of the Sharia are achieved from marriage, the affection between the spouses becomes stronger, and the family bonds become firmer.

Allah knows best.

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