Shaykh al-Islām was asked:

About a man who loves listening sessions and dancing. Another man advised him, reciting these verses:

“They denounced dancing and declared it forbidden;
So for that, I bid them farewell.
Worship Allah, O jurist, and pray;
Adhere to the Sacred Law, for listening sessions are forbidden.
Rather, forbidden to you, yet lawful
For people whose spiritual states incur no blame—
Like those who became pure, to whom there appeared,
From the side of the Mount, a burning brand and speech.
But when listening is coupled with amusement,
It is forbidden to everyone—forbidden.”

The Answer

He replied:

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. This poetry contains reprehensible speech and falsehood. Indeed, its beginning entails opposition to the Sacred Law, while its ending opens the door to heresy, unbelief, and opposition to divine, religious, and prophetic truth.

For the poet’s words:

“Like those who became pure, to whom there appeared,
From the side of the Mount, a burning brand and speech”