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What is the ruling on listening to the drum and the tambourine and watching the ʿarḍah that includes drumming, taking into account the statement of one of the sheikhs that Ibn Baz permitted listening to it, and that Ibn ʿUthaymin attended the ʿarḍah?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Listening to drums is forbidden because they are among the prohibited musical instruments (ma'azif). The drum was specifically forbidden by the name "al-kubah" in the Hadith. No musical instrument is an exception to this prohibition except the daff (tambourine).

As for the 'Ardha (a traditional dance), if it includes musical instruments such as the drum or the mizmar (flute) – except for the daff – it is not permissible to attend it or to listen to it.

If the 'Ardha includes the daff, there is a difference of opinion regarding its permissibility for men.

Sheikh Ibn Baz was of the view that the use of the daff by men is forbidden.

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen was of the view that the 'Ardha is forbidden if it includes a drum or a mizmar, but he permitted the daff, and he warned against attending gatherings of disobedience (munkar).

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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