The Ruling on Playing with Swords Accompanied by Drums and Hand Drums

Question:
Regarding the report that one of you conveyed about this popular display held in the Kingdom, where someone has a book and mentioned in it that you approved of this?

Answer:
If there is no wrong in it, playing with weapons is like the play of the Abyssinians.
Q: But there are hand drums and drums in it?
The Shaykh: No, not with hand drums, only with weapons, with the sword and the rifle. As for hand drums, no, and not with drums either; but it is the same as the play of the Abyssinians.
Q: Even if it is accompanied by dancing?
The Shaykh: Dancing has no place. This movement of the players is not called dancing.
Q: And they sit for long hours, meaning they sit from after the Maghrib prayer until late at night while they are playing?
The Shaykh: Prevent them if you have the ability to prevent them until they pray. As for you wanting to prevent what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did and he approved of, no, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not approve of it with his eye and head; he is the Legislator, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.
As for what exceeds that, it is prevented. It is said: Pray. They are prevented from leaving the prayer, they are prevented from the mixing of women with men, and they are prevented from what Allah has forbidden.
As for if they play with the play that aids in jihad and serves as equipment for jihad; there is no harm, with the sword, the spear, the lances, just as the Abyssinians did, the same.