If you are amazed you should be amazed at these funny statements, which
show that Umar detested music, while the fact is that Aini in Umdatul Qari Sharh
Sahih Bukhari1 quoting from Tamheed by Abu Umar, author of Al-Istiab, regards
Umar to be among those, who regarded music lawful; along with Uthman, Abdur
Rahman bin Auf, Saad bin Abi Waqqas, Abdullah bin Umar, Muawiyah, Amr
Aas, Noman bin Bashir and Hassan bin Thabit.
Shaukani in Neelul Autar2 has written that: [Justification] of music and
listening to it is narrated from a group of companions and companions of
companions, including Umar, as Ibne Abde Barr3 and others have narrated.
As mentioned in Neelul Autar,4 Mubarrad and Baihaqi have written with
regard to Umar in Al-Marifah that when Umar entered his house, he was singing
one or two couplets.
Through this traditional report Shaukani has concluded that on some
occasions music is lawful and this shows that implication of singing is music.
Ibne Manzur has written in Lisanul Arab that:5 “Umar permitted Arab folk music.”
The tradition of Khawat bin Jubair, the companion clarifies the matter when he says:
We set out for Hajj in the company of Umar and were traveling with riders
among whom was Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah and Abdur Rahman bin Auf. They
said: “Sing the couplets of Zirar for us.” Umar said: “Leave Abu Abdullah alone
to sing his couplets.”
So they continued to sing till it was dawn. At that point, Umar said: “O
Khawat, restrain your tongue, as we have passed the night and it is morning.”6
It is narrated from Saib bin Yazid that: When I was with Abdur Rahman bin
Auf on way to Mecca, he said to Rabah: “Sing songs for us.” Umar said: “If you
want, you can sing the couplets of Zirar bin Khattab.”7
In the report of Ibne Asakir in his Tarikh,8 it is mentioned that Umar said:
“What is this?” Abdur Rahman replied: “There is no problem in this music, it
would make our journey easy?” So Umar said: “If you want you may sing…” till
the end of report.
This is Umar, and this is his view and this is his practice regarding music.
Now, is it logical that the singers should be frightened of him and refrain from
their act, and flee, but Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) should listen to it and not avoid it?
And believe that Shaitan flees on seeing Umar, but he does not flee on seeing the
Prophet? We seek Your refuge , O God!
Through the authorities of Ibne Abi Aufi, in his Musnad,9 Ahmad has
narrated this same important excellence for Uthman. Abu Bakr sought permission
to enter the chamber of the Prophet when a slave girl was playing tambourine.
After that Umar sought permission and entered. After that Uthman sought
permission to enter. At this point the slave girl stopped playing the tambourine.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said:
“Indeed, Uthman is a very modest person.”
After this, it is necessary to turn our attention to the poet of Nile valley, who
composed verses in which he compared the whip of Umar to staff of Prophet
Musa (a.s.), which was a great miracle for an infallible prophet and through
which he rendered falsehood invalid and established truth. As was mentioned
before, he has written as follows:
“His whip made him needless of a sharpened sword and how numerous were
deviated and arrogant persons that it terrified. For him this whip was like Staff of
Musa (a.s.) for its owner; that it did not allow any liar and falsehood to come near him.”10
We ask this man: What is the similarity between that staff and this whip that
this should be said regarding it: Perhaps no one remained safe from it, except
very few from companions. He carried this whip whenever or wherever he went
and people feared this whip more than they were afraid of the sword. They
always said: I began the day while I whipped people and there is no one above
us, except the Lord of universe,11 and after it was said: Indeed, the whip of Umar
was more terrifying than sword of Hajjaj as is mentioned in Mahaziratul
Saktwari.12
What is the similarity between the staff of an infallible prophet and the whip
of one, from whom none was safe, except very few companions? Is this whip a
facsimile of that staff, when its owner whipped ladies, who wept on the daughter
of Prophet and His Eminence caught his hand and said: “O Umar, it is enough?”13
Or when he beat up Umme Farwa, daughter of Abu Qahafa, when she was
weeping for her father?14
Or when he lashed Tamim Dari for praying after Asr Prayer, whereas it is
recommended.15
Or when he beat up Munkadir, Zaid Jahni and others, due to the fact that
they had prayed after the Asr Prayer.16
Or as a butcher he beat up those, who purchased meat for their family two
days in a row.17
Or when he beat up a man, who had traveled to Baitul Muqaddas, whereas it
is recommended to travel there.18
Or when he lashed those, who kept fasts in the month of Rajab, whereas
fasting in that month is an emphasized recommended act.19
Or when a person asked him about a Quranic verse, whose meaning he did not know.20
Or when he beat up a Muslim man, who showed him book containing
knowledge.21
Or when he beat up a Muslim man, who showed him the Book of Daniyal
(a.s.).22
Or when he beat up those, whose agnomen was Abu Isa23 or when he lashed
the elder of Rabia tribe, without any fault.24
Or according to Tarikh Ibne Kathir, when he beat up Muawiyah, without his
having committed any crime.25
Or when he beat up Abu Huraira as he had purchased a horse from his own
funds.26
Or when he beat up those, who fasted for a long time.27
And other instances, which cannot be calculated; thus look at the appalling
statement of this man, who says: How many deviated and arrogant persons I
terrified! Whom does he imply?
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ (٢٠٤)
“And among men is he whose speech about the life of this world
causes you to wonder, and he calls on Allah to witness as to what
is in his heart, yet he is the most violent of adversaries.”28