Two young girls were singing what the Ansar composed on the Day of Bu’ath
Two young girls were singing what the Ansar composed on the Day of Bu’ath
عن عائشة قالت ثم دخل علي أبو بكر و عندي جاريتان من جواري الأنصار تغنيان بما تقاولت به الأنصار يوم بعاث قالت و ليستا بمغنيتين فقال أبو بكر أبمزمار الشيطان في بيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم و ذلك في يوم عيد فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يا أبا بكر إن لكل قوم عيدا و هذا عيدنا
On the authority of ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:
Abu Bakr entered upon me while there were two young girls from Madinah singing what the Ansar composed on the Day of Bu’ath. However, they were not professional singers. Abu Bakr scolded, “(Musical) instruments of Shaitan in the home of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”
This happened on the day of ‘Id. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “O Abu Bakr, every nation has an ‘id and this is our ‘Id (day of celebration).”[1]
قوله أن حديث الجاريتان ينتقص من النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم
He (the Shia) says, “The hadith of the two young girls degrades Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”
There is nothing at all in the hadith which warrants its rejection. The two young girls were still kids and had not yet reached puberty. Moreover, they were signing on the day of ‘Id naturally, not like normal music which turns a person on and incites hidden passion; music which is forbidden. This is apparent from Sayyidah ‘Aisha’s explanation, “They were not singers.”
As regards Sayyidina Abu Bakr’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu reproach and likening hitting the drum to the musical instrument of Shaitan, this is due to the fact that it makes one negligent and occupies the heart from the remembrance of Allah. Yet, our Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam allowed it and explained, “Every nation has an ‘id and this is our ‘Id (day of celebration).”
Another hadith in this regard mentions that a black girl said to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam that she vowed that if Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam returned safely, she would beat the drum. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to her:
إن كنت نذرت فاضربي و إلا فلا
If you vowed, the beat the drum. And if not, then do not.
Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam permitted her to beat the drum to fulfil her vow, otherwise not.
Thereafter, Sayyidina Abu Bakr entered followed by Sayyidina ‘Ali and Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhum. When Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu entered however, she threw the drum and sat on it. At this, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam commented:
إن الشيطان ليخاف منك يا عمر
Undoubtedly, Shaitan is afraid of you O ‘Umar.
Can there be any better praise for Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu than this praise of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam!
[1] Sahih al Bukhari; Sahih Muslim.