Music not haram but singing is, claims Saudi imam

'The nation is in need of novelty and modernization.'

Saudi preacher and imam claims music is not haram or forbidden, however singing is haram.
Imams and religious scholars in Saudi Arabia have been making headlines all over the world for their recent fatwas (edicts) and statements, including where one imam said taking selfies with cats was haram while another issued a fatwa saying using certain emojis in chat applications were haram.
Recently, the imam of the Quba Mosque in Madinah, Shaikh Saleh Al-Maghamsi, sparked a debate when he said that music was not forbidden but singing was.
"The nation is in need of novelty and modernisation, and I strongly believe in this, whether people accept my views or not," he said during a talk show on MBC channel hosted by Yasser Amr and reported by local media.
Al-Maghamsi addressed a number of issues, including music, during the show.
Reinforcing his argument, the imam said: "I am not obliged to respond to any criticism on this issue. As for music, three Muslim scholars have said different things, although most of them agreed it is singing, not music, that is mentioned in the Holy Quran. Music is not talk, it is instruments, which is not specifically mentioned in the Holy Quran."
Commenting on why singing was forbidden, he said that since singing nowadays mostly involve men and women together, which is forbidden.
Apparently, the imam was replying to a question on music in mobile phones.
"I was asked about music in mobile phones and the main issue here is criminalising people and making the issue of music as if it is our main or primary cause."

• Saudi Arabia