Ruling on reciting poetry accompanied by drums at weddings?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Some people hold wedding parties where they gather and have some poets who recite some poetry, but it contains no foolishness, no indecency, and no corruption. Is this permissible, even though it is sometimes accompanied by clapping, and sometimes by drums or hand drums?
The Shaykh : As for mere recitation, if it does not contain slander in the invective or exaggeration in the praise, there is nothing wrong with it. The people used to recite poetry in the mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), passed by while Hassan ibn Thabit was reciting poetry in the Prophet's Mosque, he glanced at him. Hassan said to him:Sunan Abi Dawud 5013Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). However, if it is followed by dancing or drums, this is not permissible, because dancing is for women, and it is not permissible for men to imitate women. Drums are musical instruments, and a musical instrument is forbidden except for what is specified by evidence, such as the hand drum in specific occasions.
The questioner : The hand drum, O Shaykh, is specific to women in occasions?
The Shaykh : No, it is for women and not for men. But in the matter of the wedding, we do not issue a ruling permitting it, out of fear of the prohibited. However, for example, if a person of value arrives in the town, there is nothing wrong with people playing the hand drum for his arrival, and likewise for the festival.
The questioner : Clapping?
The Shaykh : Clapping, by Allah, I do not like it, but it is not forbidden if it is just clapping like this. I do not see it as forbidden.
The questioner : And the dance called the war dance?
The Shaykh : The war? The warriors dance? With swords above them, they sit and dance? How is this talk?The questioner : A display, they call it the war display?
The Shaykh : The war display is fine, but there is no dancing in it.
The questioner : Dancing, but it does not resemble the dancing of women.
The Shaykh : I do not know; I have not yet entered this into my mind. Yes.
The Shaykh : As for mere recitation, if it does not contain slander in the invective or exaggeration in the praise, there is nothing wrong with it. The people used to recite poetry in the mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), passed by while Hassan ibn Thabit was reciting poetry in the Prophet's Mosque, he glanced at him. Hassan said to him:
I used to recite verses when there was present in it the one who was better than you
قد كنت أنشد وفيه من هو خير منكThe questioner : The hand drum, O Shaykh, is specific to women in occasions?
The Shaykh : No, it is for women and not for men. But in the matter of the wedding, we do not issue a ruling permitting it, out of fear of the prohibited. However, for example, if a person of value arrives in the town, there is nothing wrong with people playing the hand drum for his arrival, and likewise for the festival.
The questioner : Clapping?
The Shaykh : Clapping, by Allah, I do not like it, but it is not forbidden if it is just clapping like this. I do not see it as forbidden.
The questioner : And the dance called the war dance?
The Shaykh : The war? The warriors dance? With swords above them, they sit and dance? How is this talk?The questioner : A display, they call it the war display?
The Shaykh : The war display is fine, but there is no dancing in it.
The questioner : Dancing, but it does not resemble the dancing of women.
The Shaykh : I do not know; I have not yet entered this into my mind. Yes.