Identifying the Subject Matter of Ghina’

Literally ghina’ has been sometimes used in a general meaning referring to any sound which is produced in human’s throat by rewinding and extending and sometimes in a particular meaning i.e. singing. In hadiths, where ghina’ is the subject matter of shar’i rulings, it is used in its second meaning. In this sense, ghina’ is a commonsensical concept whose identification is exclusive to common sense. Based on the specifiers which has appeared in arguments, there is no reason for absolute unlawfulness of ghinain its second meaning. However, unlawfulness of ghina’ comes from the aspects of diversion and falsehood. Therefore, ghina’ will become unlawful if it contains a type of diversion which causes the listener to forget God because of the content or the way it is performed. The criterion for unlawfulness of this type of ghina’ is that it is inherently divertive and misguiding even if it is not practically misguiding some individuals. The ruling of instruction and learning of ghina’ follows the general rulings of ghina’ and is not unlawful itself.