The Permissibility of Women Playing the Hand Drum at Weddings

Question: What is the duff, and is it permissible to use it other than at weddings, and for women to sing other than at weddings? What is the drum, and is it permissible to use it at a wedding or otherwise?

Answer: The duff, as mentioned by the scholars, is the tar that has one face, while the other face is open. Women use it at weddings. This is permissible for them at weddings because it falls under the category of announcing the marriage. They sing with it using the customary singing that includes praising the husband and his family, the wife and her family, and the like. However, if the tar and singing are used in what Allah has forbidden, such as praising intoxicants or praising unlawful sexual intercourse, this is reprehensible, even if done by women. What is permissible is the customary singing of women, where they praise the woman’s family, saying they are such and such, and the husband’s family. There is nothing wrong with this. This is what was practiced during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so there is nothing wrong with it.
It is not permissible for there to be free mixing of men and women; rather, it should be among women only. There is no harm in young slave girls playing the tar for young slave girls on the festival, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted them to do so in the house of Aisha. As for the drum, it is not permissible because its harm is greater and its trial is larger, so it is not permissible to use the drum.