Qawwali at a Wedding

Question

Is it permissible or not to have qawwali (the singing of devotional songs) performed at a wedding in a form that also includes the sarangi (a bowed string instrument), the tabla (paired hand drums) and the like? If it is impermissible, then to what degree — makruh tanzihi, tahrimi, or definitively haram? Please write out the threats of punishment that have come in the Qur’an and hadith concerning those who do this.

Answer

This qawwali is haram. If one knows of it beforehand, attending such a wedding is impermissible. It is wajib upon those who are able to stop it to stop it; in particular, influential people, if they do not stop it, will be more sinful.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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