Why is Duff halal and dhol Haram?

Question

Why is Duff halal and dhol Haram in Islam,Duff and dhol is almost same?Duff is also a musical instrument,isn't it?so,why is it halal and other musical instruments are Haram?

Answer 1

Daff is very slighter form of dhol

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There will be among my ummah people who will regard adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments as permissible.”

This hadeeth indicates that all musical instruments are haraam, including the daff.

However daff is very slighter form of dhol and at only three situations it was allowed which are: Eid, weddings, and when one who has been away returns.

The theme here is we should refrain from these as much as possible and slight daff can be allowed in limited situations.

Answer 2

Alhamdulillah,

The main reason is that the duff is less stirring and it has less of an effect on the soul than the tablah. We also should always know that Allah (swt)’s laws and orders and what our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) told us is the best without questioning. Prophet Muhammad (s) said in the Hadith there will be among the ummah those who will consider adultery, wearing silk, drinking alcohol and musical instruments as halal towards the end of time. There were times however where Prophet Muhammad (s) permitted the use of the duff as an exception to musical instruments.

Therefore, majority of scholars are of the view that music is haram according to this Hadith. A minority of Muslim scholars are of the view that music is permissible and not haram and take the view of Ibn Hazm was of the view that music is not haram and that this Hadith is weak but this is not the most authentic opinion and majority of scholars are of the view that musical instruments is haram. And because of the Hadith that permit the use of the duff.

It is an issue of dispute that scholars have differed upon whether the duff is always allowed and always the exception to the prohibition of musical instruments or if it is only allowed on specific special occasions such as Eid, weddings or when one is returning from a long travel or reaching their place of destination after a long travel. Some scholars said that the duff is only the exception to those specific special occasions but haram any other time just like other musical instruments and said there is no evidence the duff was ever used outside of these special occasions. Other scholars said the duff is always allowed and that it is always the exception to the prohibition of musical instruments and argue that if it was allowed on those special occasions then there would be no evidence to prove it is haram any other time and that the Prophet wouldn’t allow it on those special occasions if it was haram at other times.

As for the 4 madhabs or the 4 main schools of thought in Islam, the duff is only halal and permitted on those special occasions such as Eid, weddings, when one is returning back from a long travel or reaching their destination after long travel, etc but is haram any other time and this is according to the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of thought. As for the Hanafi school of thought, the duff is always halal anytime and is the exception to the prohibition of musical instruments according to the Hanafi school of thought