When we assess the nature of Islamic society, particularly to determine to what extent should men and women be segregated, we need to look at the first Muslim community in Madinah, because that was the community established by the Prophet. He lived among them, correcting their mistakes and providing guidance on all aspects of human life. When we look at authentic reports of incidents or behavior, we deduce what was acceptable and what was not. We should remember that the Prophet did not stay quiet when he saw something wrong. It is part of the mission assigned to him that he should declare what was acceptable at the moment such declaration was needed.
The need is obviously clear when something is done. If the Prophet objected to it, people would immediately refrain from it. If he did not object, then that indicated its permissibility. If he encouraged or commended a practice, it became a Sunnah. Since people often speak about Islamic society being segregated, we need to assess how much segregation was practiced in the Muslim society in Madinah. We will certainly find much that shows that society to be a mixed one.
A good indicator is found in the events of common joy, such as weddings and celebrations. The first such occasion was at the time when the Prophet arrived in Madinah. Its people were awaiting his arrival with much anticipation. They used to go out every day to welcome him when he approached. The Prophet was traveling with his companion, Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr reports: "We reached Madinah at night, and people disputed as to who will be the Prophet's host. He said: 'I will stay with the Al-Najjar clan, the maternal uncles of Abd Al-Muttalib (the Prophet's grandfather) . They will take this as a favor.' Men and women were on top of their homes, and children and servants were in the roads calling out, 'O, Muhammad! O, Messenger of God! O, Muhammad! O, Messenger of God'!" (Related by Muslim)
Ibn Abbas reports on what he saw on the day when Makkah fell to Islam and the Prophet entered the city: "People crowded around the Prophet saying: 'This is Muhammad! This is Muhammad!' Even young women came out of doors." (Related by Muslim)
Both of these occasions were public events in which we see men and women taking part alongside each other, with no objection from the Prophet. The two occasions took place eight years apart, which means that there was nothing in the Prophet's guidance throughout this period to prevent such participation. If it is said that the people of Makkah were not Muslim at the time, the Prophet would have pointed out to them that now that Islam was widely accepted in Makkah, their practice should not be repeated, but he did not. Indeed we see the Prophet encouraging joyous celebration of weddings, particularly among the Ansar whom he knew to love to have fun. Aishah reports: "I prepared a woman's wedding to a man from the Ansar. The Prophet said to me: 'Aishah, did you not have any entertainment? The Ansar love to have entertainment' ." (Related by Al-Bukahri) In another version, the Prophet said to her: "You should have sent with the bride a maid to play the tambourine and sing."
We need to establish what the Prophet meant by entertainment. Perhaps we should look here at the usage of the same word in the Qur'anic verse speaking about people's behavior at the time of prayer on Fridays. "Whenever they observe trade or entertainment, they scatter toward it, leaving you (Prophet) standing there. Say, 'what is with God is better than any entertainment or trade. God is the best provider'." (62: 11) Al-Tabari mentions several reports explaining this verse, but then he comments that the one reported by Jabir is perhaps the more accurate one because he was one of them and saw these events. Jabir says: "When young women got married, a procession with drums and wood-wind instruments was organized. People would go to join these, leaving the Prophet giving his sermon. God then revealed the verse disapproving their behavior."
We find that playing music and singing was common practice at weddings in Madinah. Al-Rubayyi' Bint Mu'awwidh reports: "The Prophet came to us when my wedding was over, and he sat on my bed, as close as you are seated now. Some maids of ours played the tambourine and sang, praising those of our people who were killed in the Battle of Badr. One of them said in her singing: 'Among us we have a Prophet who knows what will happen tomorrow.' The Prophet told her: 'Stop this and continue with what you were saying before'." (Related by Al-Bukahri)
In commenting on this Hadith, Ibn Hajar quotes Al-Muhallab: "This Hadith confirms the desirability to publicize marriage by playing the tambourine and singing. It also indicates that the ruler may attend a wedding, even though it involves entertainment, as long as such entertainment remains within what is permissible. "
Ibn Hajar also quotes a Hadith related by Al-Tabarani quoting Aishah: "The Prophet passed by women from the Ansar celebrating a wedding and singing poetry that included a reference to someone as knowing what will happen tomorrow. He said: 'No one knows what will happen tomorrow other than God'."
On both occasions we see the Prophet objecting to something said, because it is contrary to Islamic teachings and untrue. He did not object to the practice of singing or playing music on a joyous occasion like a wedding. In fact, he encouraged that. When there was a wedding which his wife, Aishah, organized, he told her that she should have arranged for some entertainment and singing. We also note that in Madinah men attended such singing at the time of weddings.<br><br>Post edited by: innocence_seeker, at: 2007/09/04 07:30