Part 20

the bride to beat upon the daff and sing?" Aaishah replied, "What should she say in her song?" He replied, "Let her say, 'To you we have come, to you we have come! So welcome us, as we welcome you!'" (*187) This was also the practice of the noble companions as indicated in the following narration: Aamir bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I entered into the presence of Qaradha bin Ka'b and Abi Mas'ood Al-Ansaari during a wedding celebration, where some girls were singing. (*188) I said, 'Oh companions of Allah's Messenger and warriors of Badr, is this done in your presence?' They said, 'Sit and listen with us if you like, and if not, then leave. For verily, entertainment has been permitted for us during the wedding feast." (*189) It should be stressed that the aforementioned singing and playing upon the daff is restricted to women and young girls and is not meant for men. Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalaani said, "An attempt has been made to prove the view that singing and beating upon the daff is not restricted to women, by quoting the command of the Prophet, 'Beat the daff upon its occasion.' (*190) This is weak, where as the strongest narrations indicate that permission has been given to women; so men are not to be included in this category, for there is general prohibition of men resembling women." (*191) Shaykh Muhammad al-Mubaarakfoori added, "Such is the case with the permissible form of singing at the wedding feast; it is specifically for women and not for men." (*192) Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah confrims this in his celebrated Fataawa where he says, "The Prophet (upon whom be peace and blessings) allowed certain forms of amusement at the wedding festivity and similar celebrations. During the Prophet's era, none of the men used to beat upon the daff or slap his hands [in rhythm]. Rather, it has been authentically related that the Prophet said, 'Clapping is for women and tasbeeh (*193) is for men,' (*194) and he cursed 'women who resemble men, and men who resemble women.' (*195) Since singing and the beating of the daff are the practices of women, the predecessors (*196) used to call a man who did them effeminate. In addition, male singer were also termed effeminate." (*197) THE ARRIVAL OF A RESPECTED PERSONALITY: Celebrating may be done at the arrival of a respected guest, relative or personality, such as a pious scholar, or at the return of Muslim warriors (mujaahideen) or a long-estranged loved one. In these cases, innocent poems and songs may be sung to the accompaniment of the simple daff. (*198) This point is proven in a number of traditions such as the following one, wherein a woman had made a vow to beat upon the daff in the Prophet's presence if he arrived safely from one of his military expeditions: Amru bun Shu'ayb related from his grandfather that a woman said, "Oh Messenger of Allah, verily, I have vowed to strike upon the daff (*199) in your very presence." He replied to her, "Fulfill your vow." (*200) The following narration of Al-Tirmidhi clarifies who the woman was and why he permitted her to do so: Buraydah said, "Allah's Messenger left for one of his expeditions and upon his return, a black slave-girl came to him saying, 'Oh Messenger of Allah, verily, I vowed that if Allah returned you safely I would beat the daff and sing (*201) in your presence.' (*202) Allah's Messenger said to her,' If you made a vow, (*203) then fulfill it by beating the daff, otherwise don't.' (*204) Upon this she began to beat the hand drum, during which Abu Bakr entered, then Ali, followed by Uthmaan. Upon Umar's entering, she threw the daff under her backside and sat on it, whereupon Allah's Messenger said, 'Verily, Satan fears you, Oh Umar!'" (*205) On other occasions such as the Prophet's arrival at Madeenah and upon his return from the Battle of Tabook, (*206) joy was expressed in the singing of poetical songs. It is mentioned in the biographies of the Prophet, (*207) that at his arrival from Makkah, the Ansaar of Madeenah came out to greet him (even women, along with children and infants), chanting these verses: The full moon (*208) has risen upon us Over the hills of Wadaa' (*209) Gratitude is incumbent upon us (*210) Each time a petitioner calls upon Allah. Additionally, the people of Madeenah welcomed Allah's Messenger in a similar fashion upon his safe return from his expedition to Tabook during the ninth year of the Hijrah. (*211) OTHER OCCASIONS AGREED UPON BY THE SCHOLARS Other occasions during which innocent singing is permissible have been mentioned by the scholars of Islam. For example, in order to give one strength in carrying heavy loads or doing laborious, monotonous work, pure songs with clean lyrics may be resorted to individually or in chorus, as was done by the Prophet and his companions in digging the trench around Madeenah. During long travels by horse, camel or other riding animals, one may sing or chant rhythmically to relieve boredom and to quicken the animal's pace, as was done by the Arabs during their travels by caravan. The Prophet's camel driver, Anjashah, was known to do this as a way of getting the beasts to move at faster pace.