It is narrated from Buraidah that: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) left
Medina on one of the battles and when he returned a black slave-girl came to him
and said:
“O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) I made a vow that if Allah sends you back
safe and sound, I would play tambourine and sing before you.”
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said: “If you had really made a vow, you
may play the tambourine, otherwise not.”
So, she began to play tambourine and Abu Bakr entered and she continued
to play at her instrument. Then Ali entered and she continued to play. After that
Uthman arrived, and she did not pause. At last, Umar entered. The slave-girl kept
the tambourine below her feet and sat upon it.
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said: “Umar, indeed Shaitan is terrified of you.
I was present and she played the tambourine. Abu Bakr arrived, but she
continued. Then Ali came and she did not pause. After that Uthman entered, but
she went on playing. At last, when you entered she threw down the tambourine.”
It is mentioned in the words of Ahmad that:
“Umar, indeed the Shaitan flees from you.”1
2. It is narrated from Ayesha that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) was
present (with me). Thus, I heard the shouts of children. Then Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.) arose and saw a black slave-girl dancing surrounded by children.
The Prophet said: Ayesha, come and see. I went and placed by chin on the
shoulder of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and watched that slave-girl from
between the Prophet’s head and shoulder.
The Prophet said: Are you not satiated? Are you not satiated? I continued to
say: No, so that I may know my value in view of Prophet. Suddenly Umar arrived
and people dispersed from the slave-girl. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)
remarked:
“Indeed, I saw Shaitans from Jinns and humans that they fled from Umar.”
Ayesha says: “I returned to the house at that point.”2
3. Abu Nasr Tusi has mentioned in Al-Luma that:3
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) entered Ayesha’s chamber and saw two
slave-girls singing and playing tambourine and Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) did not
refrain her. When Umar bin Khattab was infuriated, he said:
“Should the instruments of Satan remain in the house of Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.)?”
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: “Leave them alone. There is a festival for all
groups.”
Allamah Amini says: We do not need to discuss about the chains of
narrators of these traditional reports, because in their texts, there are so many
profane terms that it makes us needless to discuss about chains of narrators.
So, leave Tirmidhi, who considered chains of narrators of traditional reports
to be good and correct and also leave the Hafiz scholars who filled vessels of
their knowledge through defects like these reports.
It remained concealed for these poor individuals that to prove excellence of
second Caliph they have demeaned the Prophet, whereas His Eminence is remote
from such a thing.
What kind of a Prophet was he that he liked to watch dancing girls, hear
singing and attend gatherings of music? He was not satisfied with this, till he
even brought his wife, Ayesha, till people saw them from near. He also says to
his wife: “Are you satiated? Are you satiated?” And she replies: “No,” so that she
may know about her rank in view of Prophet!
The prophetic dignity was not an obstacle for him to watch music and dance
in company of children, like ordinary shameless folks of that time, whereas his
sanctified religion had prohibited such things:
1. It is the statement of Allah, the Mighty and the High that:
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِى لَهْوَ ٱلْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ (٦)
“And of men is he who takes instead frivolous discourse to lead
astray from Allah’s path without knowledge, and to take it for a
mockery; these shall have an abasing chastisement.”4
Ibne Abi Dunya and Ibne Marduya have narrated on the authority of
Ayesha, without intervening chains of narrators that:
“Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and High has prohibited singing slave-girls,
selling her, receiving her cost, teaching her and listening to her.”
Then, she recited the following verse:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ
“And of men is he who takes instead frivolous discourse…”5
It is narrated from Ibne Masud that Prophet was asked regarding the verse:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ
“And of men is he who takes instead frivolous discourse…”6
He said: “By God, it implies music.”7
Allah, the Mighty and High warned the Ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.)
through the verse of:
وَأَنْتُمْ سَمِدُونَ
“While you are indulging in varieties.”8
Akrama has narrated from Ibne Abbas that ‘samad’ in the language of
Himyar tribe is music and ‘samadul lana’ means ‘sing for us’ and it is said to the
slave-girl: ‘Asmadina’, that is: entertain us through music.9
3. Holy Quran contains the statement of Almighty Allah that He said to Iblees:
وَاسْتَفْزِزُ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُمْ بِصَوْتِكَ
“And beguile whomsoever of them you can with your voice.”10
Ibne Abbas and Mujahid have said that: “The voice of Shaitan implies, singing and music.”11