Proofs of Sufi Dancing [raqs]
Hadith # 1
حدّثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي، ثنا عبد الصمد قال: ثنا حماد ، عن ثابت ، عن أنس قال: كانت الحبشة يزفنون بين يدي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلّم ويرقصون ويقولون: محمد عبد صالح ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلّم: ما يقولون؟ قالوا: يقولون: محمد عبد صالح
It is narrated by Anas (R.A) that the Habashis were present in front of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and
“THEY WERE DANCING (Yarqasun)”
and saying: Muhammadun Abdun Salih (i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم the righteous slave). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked: What are they saying? They said: Muhammadun Abdun Salih
,
[Musnad Ahmed bin Hanbal, Volume No.3, Page no. 152]
,
Note : All narrators of this hadith are those of Sahih bukhari and muslim
,
Shu’yb al Aran’ut said after this hadith:
,
إسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم
,
The Chain is
“SAHIH” on the criteria of
“MUSLIM” [ibid]
Imam Nawawi (rah) on Above hadithsaid
with commentary by Muhammad Shirbini Khatib
It is not prohibited to dance ((Shirbini ) which is not unlawful because it is only motions made while standing or bowing. Furani and others have expressly stated that neither is it offensive,
but rather, is permissible,
as is attested to by the hadith related in the Sahihs of Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) stood before ‘A’isha (Allah be well pleased with her) to screen her from view so that she could observe the Abyssinians sporting and dancing) – unless it is languid, like the movements of the effeminate (Mughni al-muhtaj ila ma’rifa ma’ani alfaz al-Minhaj (y73), 4.430)
Imam Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami (Rah) on above Hadith said about above hadith
Beating the kuba is prohibited…
but dancing isn’t, being neither prohibited nor offensive, because it is only motions made while standing or bowing,
and further because he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) consented to the Abyssinians doing so in his mosque on the day of Eid, as related by Bukhari and Muslim.
The bold text is from the Minhaj of Imam Nawawi while the rest is Ibn Hajar’s commentary
[Tuhfa al-Muhtaj fi Sharh al-Minhaj]
,
Now how many other imams [rah] of Hadith used the word Raqs "Dance" although a Salaf is enough proof in this case but still
1": Imam Tabarani [rah] used the word Raqs [dancing] Reference: Hadith #3 on page 121, Volume 9
2: Imam Nisai [rah] in Sunan Al Kubra using the word Dance "RAQS"] in page # 309, Vol 5 with same Sahih chain and says
that the Abysinians were standing in front of the door of the Holy Prophet e’s house and were ‘ecstatically dancing’ or performing raqs on anticipation of seeing the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)
3: Imam Zamakshari also explained the same haditth with a Sahih chain calling it Raqs , And said Qala al zafaru Al Raqs The word in the hadith means Raqs
4: Imam Suyuti [rah] in[ Sharh Sahih Bukhari pg 123, Al hajl Al tawseeh] said " Al hajalo al raqs biha til maqstatin "
5: Imam Juhri [in kitab ul lugat pg 46] Says Al zafl wa Raqs
,6: Imam murtaza Zubaide [rah] in Taj us uloom kitbah ul lugat ] says " Zafana zasfun zafana ie. It Stands for Raqs [dance]
7: Imam Ibn Manzoor [in lisan ul arab, most authnetic book of lugat pg 135 ] says Al Zafl Al Raqs (i.e it means Raqs )
8: Imam Nabawi [rah] writes in sharh sahih muslim pg 347 says Mana hu yarqusoon (i.e they did Raqs)
9: Qadi Iyad [rah] said in [sarh sahih muslim pg 429 ] Al zabl hu wal raqs
So ijma of imams [rah] agreed its Raqs [dancing] what came from Sahih hadith including Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal [rah] who was a salaf himself
Hadith # 2
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib(ra) states:
حَدَّثَنَا أَسْوَدُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَامِرٍ أَنْبَأَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ هَانِئِ بْنِ هَانِئٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَجَعْفَرٌ وَزَيْدٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِزَيْدٍ أَنْتَ مَوْلَايَ فَحَجَلَ قَالَ وَقَالَ لِجَعْفَرٍ أَنْتَ أَشْبَهْتَ خَلْقِي وَخُلُقِي قَالَ فَحَجَلَ وَرَاءَ زَيْدٍ قَالَ وَقَالَ لِي أَنْتَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْكَ قَالَ فَحَجَلْتُ وَرَاءَ جَعْفَرٍ
Aswad narrated to us that Isra’il informed us from Abi Is-haaq from Haani ibn Haani’ from ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib that he said, “I visited the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) with Ja’far [ibn Abī Tālib] and Zayd [ibn Harithah]. The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said to Zayd, “You are my freedman (mawlā’i),
whereupon Zayd began to Hajala (hop on one leg- a type of dancing) around the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam). The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) then said to Ja’far: “You resemble me in my physical form and character” (Khalqī wa Khuluqī)
, whereupon Ja’far began to do the same behind Zayd. The Nabi (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) then said to me, “
You are a part of me and I am a part of you” (anta minnī wa anā mink) whereupon I began to do the same behind Ja’far.”
References
►This is reported by Imām Ahmad in his Musnad (1:537 #857)2.
► Ash-Shākir declared it authentic in his review of the Musnad.
► Al-Bazzār in his Musnad with a sound chain according to Imām Al-Haythamī in his Majma’ Az-Zawā’id (5:157).
►Also reported by Imām Al-Bayhaqī in his Sunan Al-Kubrā (8:6 #15548, 20816)
►as well as Ibn Abī Shaybah in his Musannaf.
►Ibn Sa’ad reported this in Mursal form in his Tabaqāt, 4:22.
Authenticity of Above Hadith
Regarding one narrator Hani bin Hani who some ignorants use to prove above hadith weak
Imam Dhahabi (rah) said in
full in his Meezan,
هانئ بن هانئ عن على رضى الله عنه. قال ابن المدينى: مجهول. وقال النسائي: ليس به بأس. وذكره ابن حبان في الثقات
Translation:
Hani bin Hani narrated from Ali (Radhi Allaho Anho). Ibn Mudayni said he is Majhool.
Imam Nasai (rah) said: “
THERE IS NO HARM IN HIM” and Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his
“THIQAAT (Reliable narrators)”
[Mizan ul Aitidal (7/71)]
Imam Tirimdhi declared many ahadith from Hani bin Hani as
“HASAN SAHIH” [SunnanTirimdhi Volume No.5, Hadith #3798]
Imam Ibn Majah (rah) narrated from him and
did Sukoot [Sunnan Ibn Majah, Muqadma, Hadith # 143]
Imam Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his Kitab ul Thiqaat (5/508)
Muhadith Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir in his Tahqiq of Musnad Ahmad where he said:
“Its chain is sound (إسناده صحيح)“ [Musnad Ahmad Volume 001, Page No. 537, Hadith Number 857, FN: 2]
Imam Ibn Hajr al Haythami (rah) said about ahadith having Hani bin Hani
ورجال أحمد والبزار رجال الصحيح غير هانىء بن هانىء وهو ثقة
Translation: The Rijaal of Ahmed and Bazaar are those of Sahih
except Hani bin Hani who is “THIQA” [Majma az Zawaid (8/102)]
Imam Hakim declared ahadith from
Hani bin Hani as “
SAHIH” [Mustadrak al Hakim (3/179)]
Imam al Ajli (rah) said:
1885 ـ هانىء ابن هانىء، كوفي، تابعي ثقة.
Translation: Hani bin Hani, Kuf
i “TABI AND THIQA” [Thiqat al Ajli Volume No.1, Page No. 454]
Even famous and controversial Wahabi[salafi ] sheikh
Nasir ud-din Albani declared ahadith from
Hani bin Hani as “SAHIH” [Sahih Sunnan Ibn Majah by Albani, (1/119)
Scanned page of above hadith from Musnad of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal [rah]
Also
