women, used to sing during the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions on joyful occasions, such as weddings, the return of someone who had been away, and the like. This is unlike those who listen to singing by beardless youths and non-mahram women and gather with them to commit indecencies. That is among the gravest prohibitions. What, then, if it is made an act of worship? Elsewhere, we have written on this subject at greater length than space here permits.

The sixth point: Raising one’s voice in prescribed remembrance is not permissible except where the Sunnah provides for it, as with the call to prayer, the talbiyah, and the like. The Sunnah for those remembering Allah and supplicating to Him is not to raise their voices excessively. It is established in the Sahīh that Abū Mūsā said:

“We were with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Whenever we ascended a height, we proclaimed Allah’s greatness, raising our voices. He said: ‘O people, take it easy! You are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent. You are calling upon One who hears and is near. The One upon whom you call is nearer to any one of you than the neck of his mount.’”

Allah Most High has said:

“Call upon your Lord humbly and privately. Indeed, He does not love transgressors.”
[Surah al-A‘rāf 55]

And He said of Zechariah:

“When he called upon his Lord in a quiet supplication.”
[Surah Maryam 3]

And Allah Most High has said:

“Remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and privately, without raising your voice, in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the heedless.”
[Surah al-A‘rāf 205]