al-Sama li-Ibn al-Qaysarani

Kitab al-Sama (The Book of Audition) is a legal and hadith treatise defending the permissibility of audition (sama), singing, and musical instruments, authored by the traditionist and historian Abu al-Fadl Muhammad ibn Tahir al-Maqdisi, commonly known as Ibn al-Qaysarani (d. 507 AH / 1113 CE) Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.

Background and Purpose

Ibn al-Qaysarani composed the work in response to an inquiry regarding sama in all its varieties, intending to provide a systematic, detailed exposition supported by textual evidences and proofs al-Sama li-Ibn al-Qaysara…. Operating within a Zahiri legal framework, he premised his argument on original permissibility (al-asl fi al-ashya' al-ibaha), asserting that prohibition requires an authentic, unambiguous textual proof from the Lawgiver Nayl al-Awtar Sharh Munta…+1.

Content and Methodology

The work systematically defends the licit nature of spiritual audition, vocal music, and various musical instruments—including the tambourine (duff), reed pipe (yara), rhythm sticks or wands (qadib), and stringed instruments (awtar, such as the lute and tanbur) al-Taratib al-Idariyya = …+1. Ibn al-Qaysarani argued that:

• No authentic hadith exists that establishes the prohibition of musical instruments or singing, and he critically appraised the chains of transmission (asānīd) of prohibiting reports to demonstrate their weakness and identify flawed narrators Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.
• Authentic prophetic traditions demonstrate permissibility, citing narrations such as the Abyssinians displaying their martial play and dancing in the Prophet's mosque, during which the Prophet ﷺ remarked: لِيَعْلَمَ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى أَنْ فِي دِينِنَا فُسْحَةً ("So that the Jews and Christians may know that in our religion there is latitude") al-Sama li-Ibn al-Qaysara….
• Playing the tambourine is an established sunna, and singing without instruments enjoys historical consensus from early generations, including the scholars of Medina al-Taratib al-Idariyya = …+1.

The treatise also addresses Sufi communal practices associated with sama. Among its chapters are sections dedicated to honoring the reciter or chanter (al-qawwal) and assigning a designated seat for him—which he analogized to the Prophet placing a minbar for Hassan ibn Thabit in the mosque—as well as the custom of casting garments to the chanter, analogized to the Prophet giving his mantle to Ka'b ibn Zuhayr upon hearing his poetry Talbis Iblis. He also cited prominent figures who permitted stringed instruments, including Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi, noting that he had adhered to the Zahiri school before adopting the Shafi'i madhhab Nayl al-Awtar Sharh Munta…+1.

Reception and Refutations

The book generated significant legal and theological controversy among later scholars:

• Ibn al-Jawzi heavily criticized Ibn al-Qaysarani's juristic inferences and analogies in Talbis Iblis, describing them as Sufi deductions rather than sound jurisprudence, and quoted his teacher Ibn Nasir questioning Ibn al-Qaysarani's reliability Talbis Iblis+1.
• Ahmad ibn 'Isa ibn Qudama (Sayf al-Din, d. 643 AH / 1245 CE) wrote a dedicated refutation against the work and its permissive rulings, titled al-Radd 'ala Muhammad ibn Tahir al-Maqdisi fi ibahatihi al-sama' (Refutation of Muhammad ibn Tahir al-Maqdisi on His Permitting Audition) al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.
• Other scholars transmitted and studied the text; it was heard and transmitted through the traditionist Abu Tahir al-Silafi, who received it directly from Ibn al-Qaysarani al-Taratib al-Idariyya = ….

Transmission and Editions

Manuscript copies of the treatise have survived in repositories such as the Köprülü Library in Istanbul and the Zawiya of al-Hamil in Algeria Khizanat al-Turath - Fihr…+1. An edition of the work edited by Abu al-Wafa al-Maraghi was published in Cairo in 1970 by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.