skills/sistani-guidance/references/books/west/pages-253-264.md

# A Code of Practice for Muslims in the West

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## PDF PAGE 253

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Answer: If the glance does not entail lustful desire or
temptation [to commit sins], then there is no problem in it.
Question: Is it permissible to look at the picture of a well-
known muhajjaba woman who appears without hijab in that
picture? [Muhajjaba means a lady who observes hijab.]
Answer: Based on obligatory precaution, one must refrain
from looking at other than the face and the hands of that
woman; even in the case of these two, it is permissible without
lustful intent and temptation [for sin].
Question: Is it permissible to look at non-Muslim women who
are naked or half-naked in television and its like for the
purpose of fulfilling the inquisitive nature with no guarantee
whether or not sexual desire will be aroused?
Is it permissible to look at them in the streets not for the
purpose mentioned above but for arousing [the sexual desire
of] the husband towards his wife?
Answer: It is not permissible to look with lust at the naked live
scenes, on television, etc. Rather, based on compulsory
precaution, one must refrain from it at all times.
Question: Is it permissible to look at arousing scenes if one is
sure of not attaining arousal?
Answer: If it is a naked [indecent] scene, then based on
obligatory precaution, one should refrain from looking at it.
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## PDF PAGE 254

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Question: Is it permissible to view sex movies without lust?
Answer: It is not permissible at all based on obligatory
precaution.
Question: There are certain television stations that offer
monthly subscription for their programs that are not of immoral
nature; but after midnight, it relays sexual movies. Is it
permissible to subscribe in such programs?
Answer: It is not allowed, unless one is confident about
himself and others [in the house] that they would not view the
sexually explicit material.
Question: In some countries it is customary that the person
who arrives [at a meeting or an office] will shake hands with
all who are present including women, of course, without lustful
intention. And if he refuses to shake hands with the women, it
would be considered abnormal, and more often than not it
would be considered an act of contempt and insult towards the
woman. All this would reflect negatively on their view
concerning the person. Is it, therefore, permissible to shake
hands with women?
Answer: It is not permissible. And the problem should be
tackled by not shaking the hands of anyone or by wearing
gloves, for example. If this is not possible for the person and he
thinks that refusing to shake hands would cause great and
unbearable difficulty for him, then it is permissible at that time.
All this is based on the assumption that it is necessary for him
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## PDF PAGE 255

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..……………………………………………… ٥٥٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
to attend such a gathering; otherwise, if it is not possible for
him to refrain from haram, then it is not permissible for him to
attend such a gathering.
Question: In Western countries, shaking hands is considered
as a means of greeting and salutation. Refraining from it could
sometimes lead to losing job and education opportunities. So,
is it permissible for a Muslim man to shake hands with a
woman or for a Muslim woman to shake hands with a man in
circumstances of necessity?
Answer: When refraining from touching is not possible by
wearing gloves or such like, then it is permissible, especially if
not shaking hands would lead to considerable harm or great
difficulty that is normally unbearable.
Question: Is it permissible for a Muslim man who resides in
the West to marry a non-Muslim woman especially when
Muslim women are scarce. That is, in spite of the dangers that
exists in regard to children because of difference in language,
religion, ways of upbringing children, values, and social
customs — all this could lead to psychological problems for
the children?
Answer: It is not permissible for him to marry a woman from
Ahlul Kitab on permanent basis.
Although temporary marriage is permissible, we advise not to
have children by her. This applies, if he does not already have
a Muslim wife, who is away from him. In this case it would not
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## PDF PAGE 256

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be permissible without her consent—rather even with her
consent, based on obligatory precaution.
Question: Some companies have produced an item similar to
the woman’s vagina that some men would place over their
penis at bedtime for carnal desire. Is this classified as
masturbation that is forbidden?
Answer: It is haram if he seeks to ejaculate intentionally or
ejaculation is normal [in such a circumstance] for him. Rather,
based on obligatory precaution, he must refrain from it, even if
he is confident of not ejaculating.
Question: What is the view on a man embracing another man
with lust, and go about kissing one another with sexual desire?
What if they go even further and enter the domain of deviant
sexual behaviour?
Answer: All of this is haram even if there might be difference
in the degree of prohibition.
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## PDF PAGE 257

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Introduction
The residents of non-Muslim countries, as well those in some
Muslim countries, are used to be bombarded by music, songs,
and rhythms of dancers, be they indoors or outdoors. A
question arises in their minds: is it permissible for us to listen
to this tune or that song? Is it permissible for us to dance? I
shall answer these two questions and others like them in the
following rules.
```

## PDF PAGE 258

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General Rules
Music is an art that has spread far and wide during these days.
Some varieties of this art are permissible while others are
forbidden; therefore, it is permissible to listen to the first while
it is forbidden to listen to the latter.
Music that is permissible is the music that does not entail
entertainment in gatherings held for that purpose. Forbidden
music is the music that is suitable for entertainment and
amusement gatherings.
The expression “the music or the song that is suitable for
entertainment and amusement gatherings” does not mean that
the music or the song’s tune amuses the heart or changes the
mental state because there is nothing wrong in it. The
expression actually means that the person listening to the music
or the song’s tune —especially if he is an expert in these
matters— can distinguish that this tune is used in the
entertainment and amusement gatherings or that it is similar to
the tunes used therein. (See the question-answer section
below.)
It is permissible to visit places where halal music is being
played, and it is permissible to listen to it as long as it is halal.
It is permissible to visit public places where music is being
played, even if it is suitable for entertainment and amusement
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## PDF PAGE 259

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gatherings, provided that one does not intentionally listen to it:
for example, passengers on course, waiting areas for visitors,
public parks, restaurants and cafes, etc —even if the music
played there is suitable for entertainment and amusement
gatherings— because there is no problem in hearing forbidden
tunes without intending to listen to it.
It is permissible for adults as well as children to learn the art of
halal music in music schools or other places as long as their
visits to such places do not have any negative effect on their
proper upbringing.
Singing (al-ghina’) is haram: doing it, listening to it, or living
of it. By “singing — al-ghina’,” I mean an amusing statement
expressed in the tunes that are suitable for those who provide
entertainment and amusement.
It is not permissible to recite the Holy Qur’an, supplications
(du‘as), and words of praise in tunes that are commensurate to
entertainment and amusement gatherings.
Based on obligatory precaution, one must refrain from reciting
other non-amusing statements, in poetry or prose, in that tune.
(See the question-answer section below.)
The prohibition of intentionally listening and giving ear to
haram songs and music has beenmentioned in the holy
tradition. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said, “And the
person with the [sin of] singing (al-ghina’) will be raised [on
the day of resurrection] blind, deaf and dumb. The person with
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## PDF PAGE 260

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..……………………………………………… ٠٦٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
[the sin of] adultery, of wood-wind, and of drum will also be
raised in the same way.”   )١(١
He also said, “Whoever listens to the entertainment (song and
music), lead will be melted inside his ear on the day of
judgement.”  )٢(٢He also said, “Singing and music are
enchantment for adultery.” )٣( ٣That is, it is a stepping stone or
a way that leads to adultery.
It is permissible for a woman to dance in front of her husband
to please and arouse him. But it is not permissible for her to
dance in front of other men; based on obligatory precaution,
she must not dance in front of other women also. (See the
question-answer section below.)
It is permissible to applaud in a marriage ceremony, religious
gatherings, seminars, and other functions. This is equally
permissible for women and men.
 ١As-Sayyid al-Khu'I, al-Masa'ilu 'sh-Shar'iyya, vol.  ,٢p.  .٢٢
 ٢Ibid.
 ٣Ibid, p.  .٣٢
```

## PDF PAGE 261

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Question and Answers
Question: Many questions are asked concerning permissible
and forbidden music.
Is it correct to say that the music that arouses sexual, lustful
urges and promotes unstable and degrading behaviour is the
forbidden one?
And is it correct to say that the music that soothes the nerves or
causes relaxation, the music that forms the background of a
scene in a movie to increase the effect of the scene on the
viewers, the music that is used for physical exercise during
workouts, the music that dramatizes a particular scene by its
tune, or the one that arouses the zeal [in soldiers] is the
permissible one?
Answer: Forbidden music is the music that is suitable for
entertainment and amusement gatherings, even if it does not
arouse sexual temptations.
Permissible music is the music that is not suitable for such
gatherings, even if it does not soothe the nerves like the martial
music and that played at funerals.
Question: Just as many questions are asked about halal and
haram music, many questions are asked about halal and haram
songs.
Is it correct to say that haram songs are those that arouse
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## PDF PAGE 262

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sexual, lustful urges and promote unstable and degrading
behaviour?
Is it correct to say that songs that do not arouse lustful desires,
but elevate the souls and thoughts to lofty levels like religious
songs of praise dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)
and the Imams (a.s.), or the songs that lift the spirits and
morale [of the fighters] and the like are halal songs?
Answer: All songs (al-ghina’) are haram. Based on the
definition that we accept, al-ghina’ is the entertaining
expression by way of tunes that are common to those who
provide entertainment and amusement.
In this prohibition, we should include the recitation of the Holy
Qur’an, supplications (du‘as), and songs of praise of Ahlul
Bayt (a.s.) uttered to the accompaniment of those tunes [that
are used by the entertainers]. The prohibition of reciting other
non-entertaining expressions —like songs intended to lift the
morale [of fighters]— is based on compulsory precaution.
However, the tune that cannot be described as such is not
haram by itself.
Question: Is it permissible to listen to religious songs in praise
of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) that are accompanied with music?
Answer: Songs (al-ghina’) are haram absolutely. However,
singing praise [of the Prophet or the Ahlul Bayt] that is sung
with a good tune but is not in ghina’ form is without problem.
As for the music, it would be allowed, if it is not suitable for
entertainment and amusement gatherings.
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## PDF PAGE 263

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Question: Is it permissible to soothe the senses by listening to
the reciter of the Qur’an who recites in a vibrant, quavering
tone?
Answer: If the tune used in its recitation is not ghina’, there is
no problem in listening to it.
Question: Some of the reciters, singers or chanters adopt the
tunes of sinful people [i.e., haram entertainers] and then sing or
chant with their tunes poems in praise of the Prophet (s.a.w.)
and his family—the result is that the context is different from
that of the sinful people, yet the tune is suitable to theirs. Is it
forbidden to sing in this way? Is it forbidden to listen [in this
case]?
Answer: Yes, based on obligatory precaution it is forbidden.
Question: Is it permissible for women to sing in the a wedding
party in whatever tune, even if it is suitable for the gatherings
of sinful people? Is it permissible for them to use musical
instruments while singing that night? Is it permissible for them
to sing, wearing henna [on the bride’s hand and feet], or on the
eve of the seventh night [after the marriage]? Or is the
permission restricted to the marriage eve?
Answer: Based on compulsory precaution, they should refrain
from it, even on the marriage eve, let alone other occasions. As
for the issue of music, its rules have already been mentioned
earlier.
```

## PDF PAGE 264

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..……………………………………………… ٤٦٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Question: Is it permissible to listen to revolutionary songs
accompanied by sounds of piano, lute, drum, wind-pipe, and
electronic piano?
Answer: If the music accompanying it is that which is suitable
for entertainment and amusement gatherings, it is not
permissible to listen to it.
Question: What is the meaning of the phrase: “common
among sinful people”?
Answer: This expression is not mentioned in our fatwas
(religious edicts). What we have mentioned in defining al-
ghina’ is “the tunes that are common for those who provide
entertainment and amusement;” whose meaning is clear.
Question: A non-practicing Muslim has recently become more
committed [to Islam]. Is it permissible for him to softly hum
what he remembers from the past songs by himself or in front
of his friends?
Answer: If it falls in the category of al-ghina’, then it is not
allowed.
Question: There are certain songs in foreign languages that the
teachers of linguistics recommend listening to in order to
expedite the learning process of that language. Is it permissible
to listen to such songs for that purpose?
```