Question:

Are there traditions that allow the beating of drums?

Answer:

Al-Husain (a.) reported that Imam Ali (a.) said: “The Messenger (s.) passed by the Zanzibarians while they were beating their drums and singing, but when they saw the Messenger (s.), they became silent.” So the Messenger (s.) said: “O sons of Arfadah, act according to what you have been in, so that the Jews may know that our religion offers freedom.” [Al-Ja’fariyyat of Isma’il Ibn Musa, page 317 Hadith 1190]

عن عبد الله عن محمد عن موسى عن أبيه عن أبيه عن جعفر الصادق عن محمد الباقر عن علي السجاد عن الحسين الشهيد عن الإمام علي صلوات الله عليهم قال: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله مر على قوم من الزنج وهم يضربون بطبول لهم ويغنون فلما نظروا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله سكتوا فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: خذوا بني أرفدة ما كنتم فيه ليعلم الهيود أن ديننا في فسحة

Nu’man Ibn Muhammad reported that the Prophet (s.) was passing by Zanzibarians: “They beat their drums and sang, but when they looked at him, they became silent.” So he said: “O sons of Arfadah, act according to what you have been in, so that the Jews may know that there is freedom in our religion.” [Da’a’im-ul-Islam of Al-Maghribi, Volume 2 page 205 Hadith 750]

عن نعمان بن محمد أن الرسول صلى الله عليه وآله مر بقوم من الزنج وهم يضربون بطبول لهم ويغنون فلما رأوه سكتوا فقال: خذوا يا بني أرفدة فيما كنتم فيه ليعلم اليهود أن في ديننا فسحة

Ali Ibn Ja’far reported that he asked Imam Al-Kazim (a.): “What is it about the singing? Is it all right on the day of the breaking of the fast, the feast of sacrifice and for joy?” He said: “There is no problem in that, as long as it is not used as a means of transgression.” [Qurb-ul-Isnad of Al-Himyari, page 294 Hadith 1158]

عبد الله بن الحسن عن جده علي بن جعفر عن أخيه موسى ابن جعفر عليه السلام، قال: وسألته عن الغناء هل يصلح في الفطر والأضحى والفرح؟ قال: لا بأس به ما لم يعص به

Sulaiman Ibn Mihran reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “Frowned upon (Makruh) are those means of distractions (Lahw) that distract from the remembrance of God, such as singing and playing the strings.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, Volume 10 Page 229 Hadith 1]

عن سليمان بن مهران عن الإمام الصادق عليه السلام قال: والملاهي التي تصد عن ذكر الله تبارك وتعالى مكروهة، كالغناء وضرب الأوتار