Using the Zar, in which a jinn possesses a person
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Fatwa number ( 18524 )
Q: In the southern part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia there are old customs, and we seek a ruling on them: are they lawful or forbidden? They are: that in weddings and celebrations, instruments are used called: the zayr, and an instrument called: the zalfah, the zayr is made from a large clay pot, with the skin of a donkey stretched over it, and when struck, it is heated over a fire until it becomes taut, and it is struck with two sticks while it is on the ground, as for the zalfah, it is: a large wooden plate, with an opening made in the back the size of a shibr or more, and the opening is on the side of the striker's belly, so that he can control its sounds, and it has small pegs on its edges, which are hung on the striker's belly, and tied with a belt. And when it is struck in occasions and its number is two or more, and when the striking continues on it, there are people who are possessed by the jinn, they are afflicted with what is called zār, and it is in
men and women, and it happens on specific beats. This person being possessed continues to be struck on these instruments until he regains consciousness, and he performs movements; he either kneels on his knees and does what resembles bowing and prostration in front of this striker on these instruments. Then this striker sometimes places this heavy Zair on the head of the possessed person, knowing that due to its weight it is placed on the ground, and the striker does not strike on these instruments until he is paid money. Among their actions, O Shaykh: this possessed person throws himself into the fire, and holds the fire in his hand as people see, and climbs on thorny branches, and strikes himself with a thick stick, and some of them take a handful of dirt in his hand and throw it on the fire, so it becomes incense. Knowing that many of the sheikhs in the region do not deny this, but rather their elders issue rulings on its permissibility, ignoring what is in it. We request your excellence to kindly issue a ruling to us: is it forbidden or permissible? Do they suffice with the hand drum in weddings? And what is obligatory upon students of knowledge and the Committee for Promoting Virtue and Forbidding Vice? Note: there are those who make playing these instruments a condition in weddings; is that permissible for them? And do we have the right to attend these weddings? Rule for us, may you be rewarded.
A: These actions mentioned in the question are reprehensible; it is not permissible to do them or to approve of them; because of the forbidden musical instruments they contain, and the ugly satanic states. Based on this, it is not permissible to attend such occasions and parties in which these reprehensible things exist; rather, it is obligatory to deny them, advise one another to abandon them, and restrict occasions of marriage and others to what the pure Shari'ah has permitted. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: In the southern part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia there are old customs, and we seek a ruling on them: are they lawful or forbidden? They are: that in weddings and celebrations, instruments are used called: the zayr, and an instrument called: the zalfah, the zayr is made from a large clay pot, with the skin of a donkey stretched over it, and when struck, it is heated over a fire until it becomes taut, and it is struck with two sticks while it is on the ground, as for the zalfah, it is: a large wooden plate, with an opening made in the back the size of a shibr or more, and the opening is on the side of the striker's belly, so that he can control its sounds, and it has small pegs on its edges, which are hung on the striker's belly, and tied with a belt. And when it is struck in occasions and its number is two or more, and when the striking continues on it, there are people who are possessed by the jinn, they are afflicted with what is called zār, and it is in
men and women, and it happens on specific beats. This person being possessed continues to be struck on these instruments until he regains consciousness, and he performs movements; he either kneels on his knees and does what resembles bowing and prostration in front of this striker on these instruments. Then this striker sometimes places this heavy Zair on the head of the possessed person, knowing that due to its weight it is placed on the ground, and the striker does not strike on these instruments until he is paid money. Among their actions, O Shaykh: this possessed person throws himself into the fire, and holds the fire in his hand as people see, and climbs on thorny branches, and strikes himself with a thick stick, and some of them take a handful of dirt in his hand and throw it on the fire, so it becomes incense. Knowing that many of the sheikhs in the region do not deny this, but rather their elders issue rulings on its permissibility, ignoring what is in it. We request your excellence to kindly issue a ruling to us: is it forbidden or permissible? Do they suffice with the hand drum in weddings? And what is obligatory upon students of knowledge and the Committee for Promoting Virtue and Forbidding Vice? Note: there are those who make playing these instruments a condition in weddings; is that permissible for them? And do we have the right to attend these weddings? Rule for us, may you be rewarded.
A: These actions mentioned in the question are reprehensible; it is not permissible to do them or to approve of them; because of the forbidden musical instruments they contain, and the ugly satanic states. Based on this, it is not permissible to attend such occasions and parties in which these reprehensible things exist; rather, it is obligatory to deny them, advise one another to abandon them, and restrict occasions of marriage and others to what the pure Shari'ah has permitted. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.