Thank you once again for the clarification it is quite helpful. Another question I have heard Muslims are forbidden from dancing, music, and the like. That seems rather odd and I don't think it is true but I have heard it from a few different people so I figured I would ask here.
I do want to thank you again eselam you have been quite helpful.
Dancing in Islam:
Wa `alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for showing keenness on learning the teachings of Islam, and we appreciate the great confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations.
Islam is a religion of moderation and does not approve of either extremism or negligence. It does not prevent people from having entertainment; however, it provides the rules that regulate this entertainment. At the same time, Islam does not tolerate any kind of entertainment that contains haram (unlawful) or even leads to haram behavior.
Dancing can be either between women, between men, or mixed between both sexes. It is allowed for women to dance together unless it involves revealing any of the womans `awrah that is, the parts of the body between the navel and the knee in front of other women. It is also allowed unless the dancing means that mandatory obligations will not be carried out or if it coincides with unlawful acts.
In this regard, Dr. Suad Salih, professor of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) at Al-Azhar University , states:
Islam is a religion of moderation; it does not prevent singing and dancing, but it forbids anything that stimulates peoples desires, whether it be among men or women. Women are supposed to observe good manners if they dance in front of other women. They should not exceed the limits by doing anything that stimulates desires and incites evil. There are many cases where women are tempted by other women.
However, if a woman dances in front of her husband, then there is no restriction, as it is a way of cementing relations between spouses and this a key pillar of establishing the Muslim family.
Moreover, Dr. Salim Ahmad Salamah, Dean of the Faculty of Usul Ad-Deen at the Islamic University, Gaza , adds:
It is permissible for women to dance and sing as long as there are no males around. In addition, the words of the song should be free from any foul words or vulgarity. Thus, as long as the words of the song are pure and clean and there are no males, there is nothing wrong in dancing.
By analogy, men are allowed to dance together as long as they cover their `awrah (the parts of the body between the navel and the knee) and there is no fear of temptation.
Men and women dancing together is absolutely haram in all cases, except when a wife dances in front of her husband. The reason behind this prohibition is that with mixed dancing bodily contact is close and improper sexual desires are aroused. This has been strictly forbidden by Islam in an attempt to block the way against evil. If men and women were permitted to dance together, a lot of haram acts could occur. That is why mixed dancing is not allowed.
Dancing: What Is Allowed and What Is Not - Singing & Music - counsels - OnIslam.net
Music in Islam:
Music is forbidden in Islam. All musical instruments are unlawful and thus so is the music that they make. The only 2 instruments that are permissible are a single drum and a duff. However, even they are used for specific purposes and situations.
Singing in Islam:
Singing is permissible so long as the words which you say are in line with Islamic teachings. For example, you may not attack the honor of another person by means of singing, you may not speak ill of the death through singing, you may not sing a song which promotes adultery or drinking illicit substances etc.
If you prefer links for the latter two then I can post links.