Is singing permissible in Islam?

Question

Is singing allowed in islam?

Is there any difference if the singer is a man or a woman?

What about if there is no music in the song?

Answer 1

It was narrated that Abu Balj said: "I heard Muhammad bin Hatib say: 'What differentiates between the lawful and the unlawful is the voice (singing).'"

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بَلْجٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ حَاطِبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ فَصْلَ مَا بَيْنَ الْحَلاَلِ وَالْحَرَامِ الصَّوْتُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It is disliked almost haram for men to listen to women who sing.
Source one:1

Source two:2

Salam ibn Miskin, quoting an old man who witnessed AbuWa'il in a wedding feast, said: They began to play, amuse and sing. He united the support of his hand round his knees that were drawn up, and said: I heard Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud) say: I heard the apostle of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) say: Singing produces hypocrisy in the heart.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَلاَّمُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ، عَنْ شَيْخٍ، شَهِدَ أَبَا وَائِلٍ فِي وَلِيمَةٍ فَجَعَلُوا يَلْعَبُونَ يَتَلَعَّبُونَ يُغَنُّونَ فَحَلَّ أَبُو وَائِلٍ حَبْوَتَهُ وَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ الْغِنَاءُ يُنْبِتُ النِّفَاقَ فِي الْقَلْبِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Songs sung by men or females under puberty, with a hand drum is permissible.

It was narrated from 'Urwah that he narrated from Aishah that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq :

Entered upon her and there were two girls with her beating the duff and singing, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was covered with his garment. He uncovered his face and said: "Let them be there, O Abu Bakr, for these are the days of 'Eid." Those were the days of Mina and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was in Al-Madinah on that day." (Sahih)

أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ طَهْمَانَ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا وَعِنْدَهَا جَارِيَتَانِ تَضْرِبَانِ بِالدُّفِّ وَتُغَنِّيَانِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُسَجًّى بِثَوْبِهِ - وَقَالَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى مُتَسَجٍّ ثَوْبَهُ - فَكَشَفَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ دَعْهُمَا يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِنَّهَا أَيَّامُ عِيدٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَهُنَّ أَيَّامُ مِنًى وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَئِذٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ ‏.‏

Sources: Islamic Online University

Answer 2

Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari:

that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments....

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ليكونن من امتي أقوام يستحلون الحر والحرير والخمر والمعازف ..." رواه البخاري

As for the singing to the women is forbidden in Islam, as a woman's voice is a rugged (awrah)