The Meaning of Mizmārat al-Shayṭān
Taken from: Fatawa Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
In the following narration, what is meant by Mizmārat al-Shayṭān?
✿ Narrated by ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنها):
دخل على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعندي جاريتان تغنيان بغناء بعاث… فقال: دعهما
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to me while two young girls were singing about the events of Bu‘ath. He lay down on the bed and turned his face to the other side. Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) entered and rebuked me, saying: “Musical instruments of Shayṭān in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned towards him and said: “Leave them.” When Abu Bakr was inattentive, I indicated to them and they went out.
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 949, Sahih Muslim: 829)
❖ Answer:
Mizmārat al-Shayṭān here refers to singing or playing the duff (frame drum).
The word mizmar has several meanings: it can mean a melodious voice, a whistling sound, or musical instruments. In this narration, the young girls were singing about Bu‘ath and playing the duff, which is permissible.
Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), using his ijtihad, referred to it as Mizmārat al-Shayṭān, because such sounds can often distract from the remembrance of Allah. He deemed it inappropriate in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ). However, since these were not musical instruments (other than the duff), the Prophet (ﷺ) did not forbid it, rather he permitted it — which proves its permissibility.
❖ Statements of Scholars:
✿ Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله, 852H) said:
قوله: مزمارة الشيطان… يعني الغناء أو الدف… وإضافتها إلى الشيطان من جهة أنها تلهي فقد تشغل القلب عن الذكر…
Mizmārat al-Shayṭān refers to singing or the duff. The term mizmar is derived from zamir, meaning a whistling or melodious sound. It applies to both singing and musical instruments. Its attribution to Shayṭān is because such sounds may distract the heart from the remembrance of Allah.
(Fath al-Bari, 2/442)
✿ Imam al-Qurtubi (رحمه الله, 656H) said:
Mizmar means sound, and its attribution to Shayṭān was a form of condemnation according to Abu Bakr’s (رضي الله عنه) ijtihad.
❖ Supporting Hadith:
✿ Narrated by Buraidah (رضي الله عنه):
إن عبد الله بن قيس أو الأشعري أعطي مزمارا من مزامير آل داود
“‘Abdullah ibn Qays (i.e., Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari) has been given a voice among the voices of the family of Dawud.”
(Sahih Muslim: 793)
This Hadith proves that the word mizmar is also used for a beautiful and melodious voice.
