And likewise, everything that assists in obedience to Allah—whether thought, voice, movement, strength, wealth, helpers or anything else—is praiseworthy insofar as it assists in obeying Allah and doing what He loves and what pleases Him. This does not establish that it is intrinsically praiseworthy without qualification. It may be cited as evidence that it is praiseworthy when used to assist in obedience to Allah, but not when used for something that does not constitute obedience to Him, but rather religious innovation or worldly wickedness.

Similar to this is the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “Allah listens more intently to a man with a beautiful voice reciting the Quran than the owner of a singing girl listens to his singing girl.” He also said: “Allah has never listened to anything as He listens to a prophet with a beautiful voice reciting the Quran melodiously and aloud.” Indeed, his statement, peace and blessings be upon him, “He is not one of us who does not recite the Quran melodiously,” implies that the prescribed melodious recitation is that of the Quran, and that whoever sings something else is blameworthy. It cannot be said that this indicates that beautiful singing is recommended.

His statement, “He is not one of us who does not recite the Quran melodiously,” may be intended either to encourage the act itself—that is, reciting the Quran melodiously—or to refer to singing in general