Beating a Drum at the Times of Suhur and Iftar

Question

Is it permissible or not, for suhur and iftar and for gathering for the Friday prayer and the two ‘Id prayers, to play any musical instrument, or to beat a daf, a kettledrum or a drum, or to fire a gunpowder charge, or to ring a bell? If it is permissible, are all instruments permissible or some particular instrument, such as the daf, and is it permissible for all matters — weddings, the wedding procession, nikah — or only for matters like those mentioned above?

Answer

If the time of suhur or iftar cannot otherwise be known and there is a fear that the fasts will be spoiled, then beating a kettledrum, or ringing a bell, or setting off a firework charge is permissible. But it should not be done in the mosque or on its roof; rather it should be done away from the mosque, on some other building or elevated place, because this is contrary to the…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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