What is the ruling on beating on the daff (a particular musical instrument)? حكم ضرب الدف للرجال

 All praise is due to Allah alone, and may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions. To answer your question, we say while seeking all the success from Allah: The scholars differed in opinion about the ruling on beating on the daff for men. There are two views: The first view is that it is permissible for men to beat the daff in wedding and similar (happy) occasions and events. This is the view of the Maliki and Shaf’i’e Madhab, and is concluded from the statements narrated from Imam Ahmad and his students. The second view is that it is disliked for men to beat the daff in wedding and any other similar events. This is the view of Hanafi Madhab and is one of the valid opinions within the Maliki, Shafi’e and Hanbali Madhab. The evidence that the majority relied on to conclude their ruling is the hadiths that encouraged playing the daff at weddings such as the hadith of ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) who narrated that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said: “Announce the marriage and play the daff  at it;” and the hadith of Muhammad ibn Khatib (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “The Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said: ‘That which separates the lawful [relation between couples] from the unlawful [relation between couples is [playing on] the daff” and many other reports that made no specification limiting it to women. The evidence of those who stated it is only permissible for women to play the daff is that playing it during the time of the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be  upon him) was only done by women. Ibn Hajar said: “The strong hadiths indicate that this is permissible for women, and that does not include men, because of the general prohibition on men imitating women.” Fathul Bari (9/226) It appears to me that knowing that these reports addressed women playing the daff does not mean it is not allowed for men; particularly that it is allowed for men to listen to the daff. It was narrated that Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) went out on one of his military campaigns, and when he came back, a black slave woman came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I vowed that if Allah brought you back safe and sound, I would play the daff in front of you and sing. The Messenger of Allah (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, “If you vowed that, then play the daff, otherwise do not do it,’” reported by al-Tirmidhi (3690) who ruled it as Hasan Sahih Ghareeb. In response to the argument that doing so is imitating women this argument is debatable because this matter is determined and differs based on the customs and norms in each place and era. And Allah knows best.

Your brother,

Khalid al-Muslih

  28/03/1425 A.H.