As-salam Alaykum Wa-rahmatullahi Wa-barakatuh
When is it permissible to beat the daff?
Question:
This question is about the instrument called "the duff". This is, I believe the only instrument that was made halal for muslims to listen to. Recently I have read that there are restrictions to listening to it, such as, only women can liten to it, it should only be played at weddings and 'Eid and that in all other circumstances it is Haram. The places where I read this didn't really have any proofs or evidences. Are these true restructions and are there any more?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Al-Bukhaari narrated that the Prophet
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
This hadeeth indicates that all musical instruments are haraam, including the daff.
‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The daff is haraam, stringed instruments are haraam, drums are haraam and flutes are haraam. Narrated by al-Bayhaqi, 10/222
But there are some ahaadeeth which indicate that it is permissible to beat the daff in some circumstances, which are:
Eid, weddings, and when one who has been away returns.
The evidence is given below.
1 – It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) entered upon her and there were two girls with her during the days of Mina beating the daff, and the Prophet
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 944; Muslim, 892
2 – It was narrated that al-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh ibn ‘Afra’ said: “After the consummation of my marriage, the Prophet
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4852).
3 – It was narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allaah
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
The Messenger of Allaah
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
The Messenger of Allaah
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3690; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2913.
These ahaadeeth indicate that it is permissible to beat the daff in these three situations. Apart from that, the principle remains that it is haraam. Some scholars made the matter broader and said that it is permissible to beat the daff when a child is born and when he is circumcised; others take the matter further and say that it is permissible on all occasions that are a cause for expressing joy, such as the recovery of a sick person and the like.
See al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 38/169
But it is better to limit ourselves to what was narrated in the text. And Allaah knows best.
Secondly:
The correct view is that it is not permissible to beat the daff except for women. If a man does that, he is imitating women, which is a major sin.
Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah – may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
In general, it is a well known principle of the Islamic religion that the Prophet
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
Because singing, beating the daff and clapping the hands are actions of women, the salaf used to call a man who did that mukhannath (effeminate), and they used to call male singers makhaaneeth (pl. of mukhannath). This is well known.
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 11/565, 566
Ibn Hajar said:
The strong (qawiy) ahaadeeth indicate that this is permissible for women, but that does not include men, because of the general meaning of the prohibition on men imitating women.
Fath al-Baari, 9/226
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Rather the concession allowing women to use the daff is for them only. With regard to men, it is not permissible for them to do any of that, whether on weddings or on other occasions. Rather Allaah has prescribed for men to train in the instruments of war and skills needed for battle, such as shooting and horse riding, and competing in that.
Majallat al-Jaami’ah al-Islamiyyah (Magazine of the Islamic University in al-Madeenah al-Munawwarah), 3rd edition, 2nd year, Muharram, 1390 AH, p. 185, 186
And he also said:
With regard to weddings, it is prescribed to beat the daff and sing regular songs which do not call for or praise anything that is haraam. This is to be done at night, by women only, to announce the wedding and to emphasize the difference between this legitimate marriage and zina (adultery) which is done in secret, as was narrated in the saheeh Sunnah from the Prophet
![saws :saw: :saw:](/community/styles/default/smilies1/saws.gif)
Al-Tabarruj wa Khataruhu (Wanton display and its dangers)
And Allaah knows best.
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