and whisperings and conjectures instilled in them by Satan, while they imagine themselves to be among Allah’s chosen allies, though they are among His bitterest enemies. At other times, they use these fabricated reports to justify inventions that contradict the religion of Islam, claiming that these are among the secrets of the elite, as the heretics, Qarmatians, and Bātiniyyah (esotericists) do. At still other times, they use them to justify turning away from Allah’s Book and His Prophet’s Sunnah towards their own innovations, making their religion an amusement and a game.
In short, it is necessarily known in Islam that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not prescribe for the righteous, devout worshippers, and ascetics of his community to gather to listen to poetry sung to melodies, accompanied by clapping, beating time with a stick, or playing a frame drum. Nor did he permit anyone to abandon following him and adhering to the Book and wisdom he brought, whether inwardly or outwardly, whether an ordinary person or one of the elite. However, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did permit certain forms of amusement at weddings and similar occasions, such as allowing women to play frame drums at weddings and celebrations.
As for the men of his time, none of them played a frame drum or clapped their hands. Rather, it is authentically reported that he said:
“Clapping is for women, and saying ‘Glory be to Allah’ is for men.”
He also cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.
Since singing, playing the frame drum, and clapping were activities performed by women, the early generations would call a man who did these things effeminate, and they called men