Entertainment and beating the duff at weddings

Ata said: Once the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a wedding and said: "If only there were some amusement (singing and the like) here, it would be good."

Ibn Sirin said: We were informed that whenever Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the sound of singing and music, he would disapprove of it and ask about it. If he was told that it was a wedding or a child's circumcision celebration, he would say nothing.

A shaykh of Banu Salimah said: At a wedding, Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to a girl who was beating the daff: "Come forward and play, come forward and play."

Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Rahman said: On the night of the marriage, the daff was beaten and singing was performed beside Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him).

Amir bin Sa'd said: I went to Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud and Sayyiduna Qarazah bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with them both), and some girls were sitting with them singing. I said: "You are Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and you do this?" He said: "Permission has been given for singing and the like at weddings."

Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Hatib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The difference between the lawful and the unlawful is the sound, meaning the beating of the daff."

Amr bin Rabi'ah says: I was with Sayyiduna Thabit bin Wadi'ah and Sayyiduna Qarazah bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with them both) at a wedding. I heard the sound of singing, so I said: "Do you two not hear this?" They said: "We have been granted permission for singing at a wedding, and for weeping over the dead without wailing."

Ibn Awn says: There was a wedding in one of the households of Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him). When the people had finished with the wedding and Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him) returned to his house, he asked the women: "Where are your tambourines (duff)?"

Ibn Awn said: He meant the duff (tambourine).

A man narrates that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) attended a wedding in which there were flutes and instruments of amusement. He sat down and did not forbid it.

Ikrimah says: When Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) had his sons circumcised, he called the entertainers and gave them three or four dirhams.