Is it alright for Muslims to sing songs of love to Allah? Is it halal?

I know that singing is not a traditional part of Islamic worship. In December, I had the privilege of going with a group of Christians to sing Christmas carols in a predominately Muslim neighborhood. Almost all the families were very friendly and welcoming to us as we sang outside their homes and businesses (some would invite us in – I love Arab hospitality!). But I remember the response of one Muslim man quite clearly. He said while smoking his hookah, “You can’t sing here. Singing like that is against my religion.”

Singing songs of adoration, affection, and worship to God has always been part of most Judeo-Christian worship traditions. It goes back all the way to the time of the prophet Musa (Moses in the Tawrat, Exodus 15:1-2):

“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

King Dawud (David) loved to sing to God:
Zabur, Psalm 51:14 – by King Dawud
“my tongue will sing of your righteousness.”

Zabur, Psalm 33:1-3 – by King Dawud
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Zabur, Psalm 95:1,2 – by King Dawud
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

Finally, in the first century, Jesus and his followers sang to the Lord and encouraged us to do the same:

Injeel, Matthew 26:30 – “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
Ephesians 5:19,20 – “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God. . .”
Colossians 3:16 – “. . .sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. “

Below is an example of an older song I like to sing to God for all He has done for me. I cannot thank Him enough for sending Isa – Jesus – to rescue me, and singing songs of love is one way to express that appreciation, affection, and adoration:

Is it halal for Muslims to sing songs of love to Allah?

For me as a follower of Jesus, it is not only permissible, it is glorious.