What is the ruling on the use of the hand drum by men, and what is the ruling on giving sermons at weddings?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Your Eminence, you mentioned in the program *Nur 'ala al-Darb* on the *Nida' al-Islam* radio station, when asked about speaking at weddings, that these weddings are celebrations, and that speaking at them is a matter of consideration. You mentioned that the hand drum is used at weddings without being restricted to women. Some people of weak character took advantage of this to claim that it is general for both women and men. Then, Your Eminence, speaking at a long, tedious wedding, if it is kept brief, can be an opportunity. If many people are present who might not attend the congregational prayer, and who may be weak in faith, they can derive benefit and good from it. As you mentioned regarding many people, I attended some weddings, as the person says, meaning one person says to another, and a volunteer with a beard stood up. I did not want to see the volunteering. When this man spoke, it entered my heart, I loved him, and because of him I began to pray with the congregation. What is your opinion? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : My opinion in this matter is what I mentioned in *Nur 'ala al-Darb*: that some people impose themselves on wedding days to speak, to be verbose, to prolong the speech, and to bore people. Many people may dislike the talk of good because of this man's behavior. People are of two types and a middle ground: some people enjoy the reminder even if it is long, some people do not enjoy it at all, some people enjoy it if it is short and are bored by it if it is long, and some people enjoy it from one person but not from another. People differ.
It is known that people come to weddings to display joy and happiness, to bring happiness to the newlyweds, and to see one another. Perhaps some of them do not see each other except on this occasion, and they have matters they wish to discuss with one another. So, the one who speaks and prolongs it becomes a bore to the people.
Then, we know that we are not more eager to convey the message to people and guide them than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. Yet, we have not learned that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions would stand to preach to people on such occasions. Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the one who got married:, and this indicates that the matter is one of joy, not one of preaching. Yes, if a person sees a wrong, then it is obligatory for him to stand up, forbid it, and speak about what benefits the attendees regarding this wrong. Or if it is a well-known, famous person whose words people look forward to and love to hear, and a man from the people stands up and says, "O so-and-so! Tell us a story," or asks him a question, and they open the door to questions and discussion, then that is good. But to make these occasions a place for sermons without the people seeking this, and contrary to the guidance of the righteous predecessors, this is something to be considered. You know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would alternate his preaching to his Companions so as not to bore them. Yes.
The questioner : And the hand drum, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : As for the matter of the hand drum, we do not issue a fatwa for men to use it, even though some scholars hold that it is permissible for men to use it, just as women do. Even Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) explicitly stated that it is for men and women, as transmitted from him by the author of *al-Furu'.* However, despite that, we do not issue a fatwa that men should use it, because of the fear of dire consequences. Rather, we forbid this, because it leads to undesirable gatherings.
As for women, they are in the middle of the courtyards, and inside the palace. Generally, no harm occurs from it. Then, we strongly disapprove of photographing this gathering with a camera or on video, and we disapprove of this most strongly. Yes.
The questioner : And singing, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Singing must be welcoming singing, as it came in the hadith:Sunan Ibn Majah 1900Da'if (Darussalam) and the like.
The Shaykh : My opinion in this matter is what I mentioned in *Nur 'ala al-Darb*: that some people impose themselves on wedding days to speak, to be verbose, to prolong the speech, and to bore people. Many people may dislike the talk of good because of this man's behavior. People are of two types and a middle ground: some people enjoy the reminder even if it is long, some people do not enjoy it at all, some people enjoy it if it is short and are bored by it if it is long, and some people enjoy it from one person but not from another. People differ.
It is known that people come to weddings to display joy and happiness, to bring happiness to the newlyweds, and to see one another. Perhaps some of them do not see each other except on this occasion, and they have matters they wish to discuss with one another. So, the one who speaks and prolongs it becomes a bore to the people.
Then, we know that we are not more eager to convey the message to people and guide them than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. Yet, we have not learned that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions would stand to preach to people on such occasions. Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the one who got married:
Why don't you send with her someone who sings, for the Ansar are a people who like amusement.
هلا بعثتم معها من يغني، فإن الأنصار قوم يعجبهم اللهوThe questioner : And the hand drum, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : As for the matter of the hand drum, we do not issue a fatwa for men to use it, even though some scholars hold that it is permissible for men to use it, just as women do. Even Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) explicitly stated that it is for men and women, as transmitted from him by the author of *al-Furu'.* However, despite that, we do not issue a fatwa that men should use it, because of the fear of dire consequences. Rather, we forbid this, because it leads to undesirable gatherings.
As for women, they are in the middle of the courtyards, and inside the palace. Generally, no harm occurs from it. Then, we strongly disapprove of photographing this gathering with a camera or on video, and we disapprove of this most strongly. Yes.
The questioner : And singing, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Singing must be welcoming singing, as it came in the hadith: