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Fatwa CenterRuling on singing lyrics containing disbelief without knowing their meaning
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. In India, we have songs that contain disbelief, like "Rab bhi deewana lage", which means, 'Allah is mad about a girl'; and "Tujhme rab dikhta hai sajde sar jhukta hai", which means, 'I see God in you, and I will prostate to you.' So what is the ruling on one who sings these songs without knowing its meaning?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that it is prohibited to sing these lyrics, because they contain explicit disbelief. Allah is far Exalted above madness and all aspects of imperfection. Glorified is He and High Exalted above what they say! Allah is far Exalted above dwelling in any of His creation. Whoever claims that is following the example of those who advocate the false beliefs of Hulool (incarnation) and Ittihaad (union with the divine).
If someone sings these lyrics while being ignorant of their meaning and does not understand them, he is not accused of disbelief and must be warned of the disbelief which they contain.
Al-ʻIzz ibn ʻAbd As-Salaam 
said:
"If a non-Arabic speaking person utters the words of disbelief, oath, divorce, freeing a slave, sale, purchase, peace agreement, or release from debt (while unable to understand their meaning or significance), then he is not liable for any of their legal effects and implications because he did not commit himself to their implications, nor did he intend any of them. The same ruling applies if an Arabic-speaking person utters such words in a different language (while unaware of their meaning or significance), he is not liable for any of them because he did not intend them. Verily, the exercise of the will requires something known or at least predominantly thought. If an Arabic-speaking person utters such words while knowing their significance, they bear the respective legal effects and implications and he is liable for them." [Qawaaʻid Al-Ahkaam]
Allah knows best.
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