1609 — “Indeed, Satan flees from you, O ‘Umar!”

It was recorded by Ahmad (5/353), al-Tirmidhi (4/316), and Ibn Hibban (2186), in abbreviated form, through the route of al-Husayn ibn Waqid, who said: ‘Abd Allah ibn Buraydah told me, from his father, that a black slave woman came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, after he had returned from one of his military expeditions. She said, “I had vowed that, if Allah returned you safe and sound, I would beat the tambourine in your presence.” He said, “If you made the vow, then do so; but if you did not make it, then do not do so.”

So she began beating it. Abu Bakr entered while she was beating it, and others entered while she was beating it. Then ‘Umar entered, whereupon she placed her tambourine behind her and covered herself. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Indeed, Satan flees from you, O ‘Umar!” He added: “I was sitting here, and these people entered; then, when you entered, she did what she did.”

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission according to Muslim’s criteria. There is some criticism concerning al-Husayn, but it does not affect it.

This hadith may pose a difficulty for some people, because beating the tambourine is sinful outside the contexts of marriage and Eid, and it is not permissible to make a vow involving sin or to fulfil it. What appears to me is that, since her vow sprang from her joy at his return—safe, sound, and victorious—she was excused for the means she had vowed to employ in expressing her joy. This was a concession particular to him, peace and blessings be upon him, to the exclusion of all people; thus, it cannot be taken as evidence for the permissibility of the tambourine at every celebration. For there is no joy comparable to rejoicing at his return, peace and blessings be upon him; moreover, such a conclusion would conflict with the general proofs prohibiting musical instruments, tambourines, and the like, except for what has been exempted, as we mentioned shortly before.