Ibn Taymiyyah’s grandfather—may Allah have mercy on them both—headed this ḥadith of Buraydah in al-Muntaqā min Akhbār al-Muṣṭafā with the title:
“Chapter: Women beating the duff on the arrival of an absent person and similar occasions.”

I say: relying on this ḥadith for the ruling suggested by that heading warrants hesitation, because it relates to a particular incident and cannot be taken as a general precedent. To liken rejoicing at the return of any traveller, whatever his rank, to rejoicing at the arrival of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is an analogy vitiated by the obvious difference between the two. Hence I wrote in al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 4/142, right after citing the ḥadith:

“This narration may puzzle some people, for beating the duff is sinful outside marriage celebrations and the two ‘Īds, and it is impermissible to vow a sin or to fulfil such a vow.”

What seems correct to me is that her vow, made as an expression of joy at his—peace and blessings be upon him—safe and victorious return, was excused because its purpose was to manifest happiness exclusively for him, unlike anyone else. Therefore nothing in the report allows the duff at all festive gatherings, for there is no one whose coming is celebrated like his, peace and blessings be upon him, and such a conclusion would contradict the general proofs that prohibit musical instruments, tambourines, and the like, except where a specific exemption has been established, as mentioned earlier.

The same point appears in volume 5 of al-Ṣaḥīḥah, pp. 332–333.

The reason I have set forth was also explained by Imām al-Khattābī—may Allah have mercy on him—who said in