And this report attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is weak. It is transmitted through ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muhriz, who is weak and whose reports cannot serve as evidence under any circumstances.

He said: “This report establishes the merit of the voice.”

I say: It establishes the merit of a beautiful voice when reciting Allah’s Book, not its merit in singing. Whoever likens the latter to the former has likened falsehood to the greatest truth.

Allah Most High says:

“We have not taught him poetry, nor is it fitting for him. This is nothing but a reminder and a clear Quran.”
[Surah Yā-Sīn 69]

How, then, can we liken what Allah has commanded—reciting His Book and beautifying its recitation with the voice—to something He has not commanded us to beautify with the voice?

This is like someone saying: “Since Allah has commanded fighting in His cause with swords, spears and arrows, this establishes the merit of striking and thrusting,” and then using this to justify striking, thrusting and shooting arrows outside Allah’s cause.

Or like someone saying: “Since Allah has commanded spending wealth in His cause, this establishes the merit of wealth,” and then using this to justify spending wealth outside His cause.

Or saying: “Since Allah has commanded maintaining chastity through marriage, this establishes the merit of women,” then using this to argue for the merit of women, using it to argue for the merit of marriage, and using it to argue for the merit of marriages Allah has not permitted.