is the opposite of poverty; whereas ghināʾ (singing), with the extended vowel, is the chanting of odes, poetry, and the like.

Singing is of various types: some of it is permissible, some disliked, and some prohibited. What is meant here is prohibited singing, which revolves around two matters: either the content of the song is corrupt, or it is accompanied by a prohibited instrument of amusement. This is prohibited singing: either its content is corrupt, such as descriptions of women, beardless youths, wine, and the like. This is prohibited on account of the poem itself, because its subject matter is corrupt and forbidden.

Or the content may not be prohibited in itself. In that case, if it is accompanied by an instrument of amusement, it becomes prohibited because of what accompanies it; but if it is not accompanied by an instrument of amusement, then it is not prohibited. If the song praises the deities of the polytheists, however, then it is prohibited and unlawful, for this is graver than describing fornication, sodomy, and the like.

As for permissible singing, it includes the camel-driver’s chant, or singing while engaged in permissible work as an aid in bearing fatigue. When the Prophet ﷺ was building the mosque with the Companions, they would chant while working, and he approved of this (1).

Thus, we say: there is nothing wrong with work-chants used to assist one in a religious benefit or a sound purpose. As for laborers who are not building the mosque, nor