Ethiopians Danced in the Prophet's Mosque

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الصلاة والسلام عليك يا سيدي يا رسول الله

وعلى آلك واصحابك يا سيدي يا رسول الله

فداك ابي وامي يا رسول الله

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

Some narrow minded Muslims accuse the Sufis of innovation, or worse heresy, for their ecstatic movements that appear to be a form of dancing. However, when the Sufis and defenders of Sufism present the example of the Ethiopians playing with their spears in the Prophet’s Mosque in the presence of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم the detractors argue that this was not dancing but rather martial arts training with weapons for Jihad.

Yet, there is another version of the Hadith with wording that clearly states that the Ethiopians were dancing in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم presence:

عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ كَانَتِ الْحَبَشَةُ يَزْفِنُونَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ‌وَيَرْقُصُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَبْدٌ صَالِحٌ

Anas رضى الله عنه said: The Ethiopians danced in the presence of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and were saying, “Muhammad is a righteous servant” (Musnad Ahmad; v.20, p.17, #12540. Shuaib Arnaut said the Isnad is Sahih upon the condition of Imam Muslim):