The Ruling on Striking the Zayr
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On the occasion of the festivals, there are people who celebrate by striking the zayr, and they bring songs, swords, and rifles. We rebuked them regarding the zayr, and they said: We want a fatwa from the Shaykh to clarify this, and what is the authenticity of the hadith that says about the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): That his uncle Hamzah was cut apart at Uhud, so he struck the zayr, for the flesh of my uncle gathers with this thing.So the common people said: We want an answer from the Shaykh regarding the zayr, and we are ready to leave it?
What we understand is that the zayr is among the forbidden instruments of amusement, because it is not like the duff. The duff is what the Sunnah brought in days of weddings, and what was permitted for men and women in days of festivals, and in the matter of the wedding for women only.And some of the scholars said: For women and men, but we do not open the door in this matter.
As for the zayr, it is not so, because the zayr has a louder sound than the duff, and its melody is more pleasing to the human being, so it is not compared to it. It is forbidden; because the original ruling on musical instruments is that they are forbidden, so nothing from them is permitted except what came in the Sunnah and was excepted.
What we understand is that the zayr is among the forbidden instruments of amusement, because it is not like the duff. The duff is what the Sunnah brought in days of weddings, and what was permitted for men and women in days of festivals, and in the matter of the wedding for women only.And some of the scholars said: For women and men, but we do not open the door in this matter.
As for the zayr, it is not so, because the zayr has a louder sound than the duff, and its melody is more pleasing to the human being, so it is not compared to it. It is forbidden; because the original ruling on musical instruments is that they are forbidden, so nothing from them is permitted except what came in the Sunnah and was excepted.