10 Hadith On Music

10 Hadiths on Music, Singing & Dancing – الموسيقى والغناء والرقص

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1- The Prophet said:

فَصْلُ مَا بَيْنَ الْحَلاَلِ وَالْحَرَامِ الدُّفُّ وَالصَّوْتُ فِي النِّكَاحِ
“What differentiates between the lawful and the unlawful (seret marriage) is (beating) the tambourine (musical instrument) and raising the voices (in song) at the time of marriage.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Al-Nasai”, 3369 – https://sunnah.com/nasai/26/174
“Tirmidhi”, 1088 – http://sunnah.mv/tirmidhi/11/9
“Ibn Majah”, 1896 – https://sunnah.com/urn/1262150
Tirmidhi said this Hadith is Good – حديث حسن
Ibn Hajar said its Good – حسن
Ibn Mulqin sait it meets the criteria of authentic – على شرط الصحيح
Al-Hakim said its chain is authentic – صحيح الإسناد
Dhahabi agreed – ووافقه الذهبي]

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2- The Prophet said:

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ ‏:‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ أَنْ أَضْرِبَ عَلَى رَأْسِكَ بِالدُّفِّ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏:‏ ‏”‏ أَوْفِي بِنَذْرِكِ ‏”‏
“A woman came to the prophet and said: “O messenger of God, I have taken a vow to play the tambourine (musical instrument) over you.”
The Prophet said to her: “Fulfil your vow.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Abu Dawud”, 3312 – https://sunnah.com/abudawud/22/71
Dhahabi said the Chain is STRONG – إسناده قوي
Ibn Mulqin said the men in the chain are reliable – رجال إسناده ثقات
Ibn al-Qayyim said its authentic – صحيح
Ibn Hajar said its Good – حسن
Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih – أخرجه في صحيحه].

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3- The Prophet said:

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مَرَّ بِبَعْضِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِجَوَارٍ يَضْرِبْنَ بِدُفِّهِنَّ وَيَتَغَنَّيْنَ وَيَقُلْنَ نَحْنُ جَوَارٍ مِنْ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ يَا حَبَّذَا مُحَمَّدٌ مِنْ جَارِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ إِنِّي لأُحِبُّكُنَّ ‏”
“The Prophet passed by some part of Madinah and saw some girls beating their tambourines (musical instrument) and singing, saying: “We are girls from banu najjar, what an excellent neighbour is Mohammad”.
The Prophet said to them: “Allah knows that you are dear to me.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Ibn Majah”, 1899 – https://sunnah.com/urn/1262180
Al-Busiri said the chain is authentic and the narrators are reliable – هذا إسناد صحيح رجاله ثقات
Al-Shawkani said the narrators are reliable – رجال سنده ثقات
Al-Iraqi said its authentic – صحيح].

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4- Ar-Rabi’ said:

جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَخَلَ حِينَ بُنِيَ عَلَىَّ، فَجَلَسَ عَلَى فِرَاشِي كَمَجْلِسِكَ مِنِّي، فَجَعَلَتْ جُوَيْرِيَاتٌ لَنَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِالدُّفِّ وَيَنْدُبْنَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مِنْ آبَائِي يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ، إِذْ قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُنَّ وَفِينَا نَبِيٌّ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي غَدٍ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ دَعِي هَذِهِ، وَقُولِي بِالَّذِي كُنْتِ تَقُولِينَ ‏”‏‏.‏
“After the consummation of my marriage, the Prophet came and sat on my bed as far from me as you [sub narrator] are sitting now.
Our little girls started beating the tambourines (musical instrument) and reciting elegiac verses mourning my father who had been killed in the battle of Badr.
One of them said: “Among us is a prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow”.
On that the Prophet said to them: “Leave this part and keep on saying the verses which you had been saying before.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Sahih Bukhari”, 5147 – https://sunnah.com/bukhari/67/82
“Tirmidhi”, 1090 – http://sunnah.mv/tirmidhi/11/11
Tirmidhi said this narration is authentic – هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih – أخرجه في صحيحه].

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5- Aishah said:

أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا وَعِنْدَهَا جَارِيَتَانِ فِي أَيَّامِ مِنًى تُدَفِّفَانِ وَتَضْرِبَانِ، وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُتَغَشٍّ بِثَوْبِهِ، فَانْتَهَرَهُمَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَشَفَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ دَعْهُمَا يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَإِنَّهَا أَيَّامُ عِيدٍ ‏”‏‏.‏ وَتِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ أَيَّامُ مِنًى‏
“On the days of mina, (11th, 12th, and 13th of dhul-hijjah), Abu Bakr came to me while two young girls were beating the tambourine (musical instrument) and the Prophet was lying covered with his clothes.
Abu Bakr scolded them and the prophet uncovered his face and said to abu bakr: “Leave them, for these days are the days of eid and the days of mina.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Sahih Bukhari”, 987 – https://sunnah.com/bukhari/13/36
“Sahih Muslim”, 892 – https://sunnah.com/muslim/8/18
Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih – أخرجه في صحيحه].

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6- The Prophet said:

لَيَكُونَنَّ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ الْحِرَ وَالْحَرِيرَ وَالْخَمْرَ وَالْمَعَازِفَ
“From my Ummah there will be a group of people who will legalise illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk (for men), the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Sahih Bukhari”, 5590 – https://sunnah.com/urn/52420
Ibn Salah said its established – ثابت
Ibn al-Qayyim said its authentic – صحيح
Ibn Rajab said its authentic – صحيح].

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7- It has been narrated:

عنه أن امرأة جاءت إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: “يا عائشة، أتعرفين هذه؟ قالت: لا يا نبي الله، فقال: “هذه قينة بني فلان تُحبين أن تغنيك؟”، قالت: نعم، قال: فأعطاها طبقاً، فغنتها، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: “قد نفخ الشيطان في منخريها
“A woman came to the Prophet and he said: “O Aisha, do you know this person?”
Aisha said: “No, O Messenger of God.”
The Prophet said: “This is songstress of such and such tribe, would you like her to sing for you?”
Aisha said: “Yes.”
Then she was given a plate (to beat on) and she began to sing.
The Prophet said: “Satan has blown into her nostrils.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Musnad Ahmad”, 3/449,
“Tabarani”, 7/187,
“Silsilah as-Sahihah”, 3282.
Al-Haythami said the narrators in Musnad Ahmad are reliable – رجال أحمد رجال الصحيح‏
Al-Shawkani said the chain is authentic – سنده صحيح].

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8- It has been narrated:

كَانَتِ الْحَبَشَةُ يَزْفِنُونَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، وَيَرْقُصُونَ ، وَيَقُولُونَ: مُحَمَّدٌ عَبْدٌ صَالِحٌ ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( مَا يَقُولُونَ؟ ) قَالُوا: يَقُولُونَ: مُحَمَّدٌ عَبْدٌ صَالِحٌ
“The Abyssinians gave a display with their weapons in front of the prophet and dancing, saying [in their own language]:
“Muhammad is a righteous slave (of allah).”
The Prophet asked: “what are they saying?”
They said: “They are saying: Muhammad is a righteous slave (of God).”

[This narration is authentic and meets the criteria of Sahih Muslim:
“Musnad Ahmad”, 12540.
“Ibn Hibban”, 5870.
Ibn Muflih says the chain is good – إسناده جيد ].

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9- It has been narrated:

خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي بَعْضِ مَغَازِيهِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ جَاءَتْ جَارِيَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ نَذَرْتُ إِنْ رَدَّكَ اللَّهُ سَالِمًا أَنْ أَضْرِبَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ بِالدُّفِّ وَأَتَغَنَّى ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنْ كُنْتِ نَذَرْتِ فَاضْرِبِي وَإِلاَّ فَلاَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَجَعَلَتْ تَضْرِبُ فَدَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَهِيَ تَضْرِبُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلِيٌّ وَهِيَ تَضْرِبُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عُثْمَانُ وَهِيَ تَضْرِبُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عُمَرُ فَأَلْقَتِ الدُّفَّ تَحْتَ اسْتِهَا ثُمَّ قَعَدَتْ عَلَيْهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَخَافُ مِنْكَ يَا عُمَرُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ جَالِسًا وَهِيَ تَضْرِبُ فَدَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَهِيَ تَضْرِبُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلِيٌّ وَهِيَ تَضْرِبُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عُثْمَانُ وَهِيَ تَضْرِبُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتَ أَنْتَ يَا عُمَرُ أَلْقَتِ الدُّفَّ
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out for one of his expeditions, then when he came back, a black slave girl came to him and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! I took an oath that if Allah returned you safely, I would beat the tambourine before you and sing.”
So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to her: “If you have taken an oath, then beat it, and if you have not then do not.”
So she started to beat the tambourine.
And Abu Bakr entered while she was beating it.
Then ‘Ali entered while she was beating it.
Then ‘Uthman entered while she was beating it.
Then ‘Umar entered, so she put the tambourine under her, and sat upon it.
So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Indeed Shaitan is afraid of you o ‘Omar! I was sitting while she beat it, and then Abu Bakr entered while she was beating it, then ‘Ali entered while she was beating it, then ‘Uthman entered while she was beating it, then when you entered o ‘Omar and she put away the tambourine.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Tirmidhi”, 3690 – https://sunnah.com/urn/735680 ]
Tirmidhi says the chain is authentic – هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ
Ibn al-Qattan says the chain is good and authentic – حسن صحيح
Al-Shawkani says the chain is authentic – إسناده صحيح ].

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10- ‘Amir bin Sa’d said:

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى قَرَظَةَ بْنِ كَعْبٍ وَأَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ فِي عُرْسٍ وَإِذَا جَوَارٍ يُغَنِّينَ فَقُلْتُ أَنْتُمَا صَاحِبَا رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ يُفْعَلُ هَذَا عِنْدَكُمْ ‏.‏ فَقَالاَ اجْلِسْ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَاسْمَعْ مَعَنَا وَإِنْ شِئْتَ اذْهَبْ قَدْ رُخِّصَ لَنَا فِي اللَّهْوِ عِنْدَ الْعُرْسِ ‏.
“I entered upon Qurazah bin Ka’b and Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari during a wedding and there were some young girls singing.
I said: “You are two of the companions of the messenger of god who were present at the battle of Badr! And this is done in your presence?!”
They said: “Sit down if you want and listen with us, or if you want you can go. We were granted a concession allowing entertainment at weddings.”

[This narration is authentic:
“Al-Nasai”, 3383 – https://sunnah.com/nasai/26/188
Authenticated by Al-Hakim also – أخرجه النسائي والحاكم وصححه].

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CONCLUSION:

We believe in all of these narrations, we don’t pick and choose.
We just contextualise them all.
There are more than 100 narrations on this topic – but most of them are weak and unreliable.
The scholars have been debating the details of this topic for more than 1,000 years.

They scholars agreed on the following two points:

1- Ibn Battal says “Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari”, (7/279):
اتفق العلماء على جواز اللهو في وليمة النكاح ، مثل ضرب الدف وشبهه ما لم يكن محرمًا
“ALL SCHOLARS UNANIMOUSLY AGREE on the permissibility of entertainment during the Walimah and Nikah (wedding ceremonies), such as the Tambourine and the likes, as long as it does not involve anything forbidden.”

In this context it is allowed – by agreement.
The Tambourine is: A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.
It’s music.
The Prophet himself allowed and encouraged using this musical instrument on happy occasions – as you can see in the authentic Ahadith mentioned above.

Our WEDDINGS should not be like our FUNERALS.

2- The scholars also agree that:

If musical instruments are accompanied with nudity (عري), alcohol (خمور), fornication (الزنا), immorality (فَحْشاء), swearing, vulgar speech which arouses and leads to temptations (فتنة) – that it is forbidden.
In this context it is forbidden – by agreement.
This is the context of the Hadith of Sahih Bukhari (5590).
Most music that is out there on TV contains these evils.
The Islamic stance is balanced – between the two extremes of absolute prohibition and absolute permissibility.

Allaahu A’alam