- "Indeed, Satan is afraid of you, O ʿUmar!" It was recorded by Aḥmad (5/353), al-Tirmidhī (4/316), and Ibn Ḥibbān (2186) in a shortened form through the route of al-Ḥusayn ibn Wāqid, who narrated to me from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Buraydah from his father: "A black woman came to the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) as he returned from one of his expeditions, and she said: I had vowed that if Allāh returned you safely, I would beat the drum before you!" He said: "If you have done so, then do it, and if you have not, then do not." So she beat the drum, and Abū Bakr entered while she was beating it, and others entered while she was beating it, then ʿUmar entered. She hid her drum behind her while she was veiled, and the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: (he mentioned it) and added: "I was sitting here, and these people entered, but when you entered, she did what she did." I say: This is a sound isnād according to the criteria of Muslim, and there is some discussion about al-Ḥusayn that does not harm [the authenticity]. This ḥadīth may be problematic for some people because beating the drum is a sin outside of marriage and festivals, and it is not permissible to vow or fulfill a vow for a sin. What seems apparent to me is that her vow, since it was out of joy for his (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) safe and victorious return, was excused for the reason she vowed it, to express her joy, as a special case for him (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) alone, and not for all people, so it cannot be taken as permission for drums in all celebrations. Because there is no joy like the joy for him (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), and this contradicts the general evidence prohibiting musical instruments and drums, except for what has been exempted as we mentioned earlier.