Is it permissible to play music that is in praise of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam? My friends chant the Dhikr every Thursday, but use the frame drum. Is this Haraam?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible to use musical instruments when praising the Prophet or for any other purpose because these are forbidden in Islam. This is forbidden in the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of the Prophet and according to the consensus of the scholars .

For more benefit in this regard, please refer to Fataawa 81239 and 81545.

However, the scholars exempted Al-Duff (a tambourine-like instrument without bells) because the Islamic legislation permitted its use. The most preponderant opinion, however, is that it (Al-Duff) is peculiar to women and not to men and with some conditions. The songs of these women should not contain obscene words and it should not be in the presence of marriageable men, and other conditions that the scholars had stated.

Nonetheless, in principle it is desirable to praise the Prophet whether in poems or prose, but it should be free from any religious violations like exaggerating in praise, or lying, or dancing while saying the praise, or causing a neglect of the mention of Allaah or in the recitation of the Quran or other prohibited acts.

Allaah Knows best.