MUSIC, DANCE, AND SPORTS

�Aisha reports: �The Messenger of Allah came in my apartment while there were two girls with me singing the song of the Battle of Bu�As.  He lay down on the bed and turned away his face.  Then came AbU Bakr and he scolded me and said: Oh! this musical instrument of the devil in the house of the Messenger of Allah.  The Messenger of Allah turned towards him and said: Leave them alone.  And when he became unattentive I hinted them [the girls] and they went out, and it was the day of Id� (1942).  Muhammad added: �AbU Bakr, every people have a festival and it is our festival [so let them play on]� (1938).

This is the only hadIs that can be construed as an instance of Muhammad�s approving of music.  In a large measure he was indulging his child-wife �Aisha, but the sufi schools of Islam, in which music plays an important role, make the most of this hadIs.

On the same occasion, Muhammad, with �Aisha�s head resting on his shoulder, was watching some Abyssinians engage in a mock armed fight.  �Umar came and wanted to drive them away by throwing pebbles at them.  But Muhammad told him: � �Umar, leave them alone� (1946).

author : ram swarup