Editing Daf (section)

==History ==
[[File:Daf-isfahan.jpg|thumb|200px|Daf in a [[miniature (illuminated manuscript)|miniature]], [[Isfahan]], Iran]]
The [[Zoroastrian Middle Persian|Pahlavi]] (Middle Persian) name of the daf is dap.<ref name="Kariagdiev">{{Cite web|date=28 May 2008|title=Ghaval:Drumdojo:By Drummers For Drummers|url=http://www.drumdojo.com/ghaval.htm|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528023203/http://www.drumdojo.com/ghaval.htm|archive-date=2008-05-28}}</ref> 

Some pictures of daf have been found in paintings that date before the [[Common Era]]. The presence of the Iranian daf in the 6th–5th century BCE [[Behistun Inscription]] suggests that it existed before the [[Spread of Islam|rise of Islam]] and [[Sufism]]. 

Iranian music has always been a spiritual tool. 

It shows that daf played an important role in [[Zoroastrianism|Mazdean]] Iran emerging as an important element during the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanian]] period, during the [[Sasanian Empire|Kâvusakân]] dynasty. 

Also, there is a kind of square frame drum in the stonecutting of [[Taq-e Bostan]] (another famous monument located 5km northeast of [[Kermanshah]] city). These frame drums were played in the ancient [[Middle East]], [[Greece]], and [[Roman Empire|Rome]] and reached [[Islamic world contributions to Medieval Europe|medieval Europe through Islamic culture]].

[[File:C+B-Music-Fig24-AssyrianQuartet.PNG|thumb|200px|left|Daf depicted in middle Assyrian empire relief 1392 BC–934 BC]]
[[Nowruz]] (the first day of the Iranian New Year and the national festival of [[Iranian peoples|the Iranian people]]) and other festive occasions have been accompanied by daf in the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid]] periods (224 AD–651 AD). In this period, the daf was played in order to accompany Iranian classical music. 

Dafs were likely used in the court to be played in the [[Mode (music)|modes]] and [[Melody|melodies]] of traditional music. This traditional or classical music was created by [[Barbad|Barbod the Great]] and was named the ''khosravani'' after the mythical king [[Khosrow II]].

Recent research reveals that these modes were used in the recitation of Mazdean ([[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]]) prayers. The modes were passed down from master to student and are today known as the ''[[Radif (music)|radif]]'' and ''[[dastgāh]]'' system. 

Many of the melodies were lost, but most of those that remain date to the Sassanid period. Dafs can be played to produce highly complex and intense rhythms, causing one to go under a trance and reach an ecstatic and spiritually-high state. For this reason, they have always been connected with religion in Iran.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

[[File:Aleppomusic.jpg|thumb|200px|Musicians in [[Aleppo]], Syria; the Musician on the far left use the daf.]]
An engraved bronze cup from [[Lorestan province|Lorestan]] at the [[National Museum of Iran]] in [[Tehran]], portrays a double [[ney]] (end-blown [[Reed pipe|reed pipes]]), [[chang (instrument)|chang]] (harp), and a daf in a [[shrine]] or court processional, as similarly documented in [[Egypt]], [[Elam]], and the Persian province of [[Babylonia]], where music was arranged for performance by large orchestral ensembles.<ref name="Kariagdiev" />

The [[Arabs]] introduced the daf and other Middle Eastern musical instruments to [[Spain]], and the Spanish adapted and promoted the daf and other musical instruments (such as the [[guitar]]) in [[Middle Ages|medieval Europe]]. In the 15th century, the daf was only used in [[Sufism|Sufi]] ceremonies; the [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]] reintroduced it to [[Europe]] in the 17th century.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

The daf still functions as an important part of [[Music of Iran|Iranian music]] (both traditional and classical) as it did in [[Ancient history|ancient times]]. It successfully encourages many young [[Iranian peoples|Iranians]] to take up learning this ancient instrument.

Daf, and its smaller version called ''dafli'', is also used across India.<ref name=InEx/> It is believed to have arrived along with other Persian influences in the [[Medieval India|medieval era]], and is a popular [[List of Indian musical instruments|folk instrument]]. In [[South India|southern India]], its use became mainstream, especially in protests, during the early half of the 20th century.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/why-the-dafli-packs-a-big-protest-punch/articleshow/54269783.cms|title=Why the dafli packs a big protest punch|publisher=Times of India|last=Nair|first=Malini|date=11 September 2016|access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref> Since the 1950s, it has also been used prominently in [[Hindi cinema|Bollywood]].<ref name=TOI/>

=== In Islam ===
In some forms of [[Islam]], daf holds special importance because some Muslims believe that it is the only musical instrument which is permitted to be used.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hewer |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGWmDwAAQBAJ |title=Understanding Islam: The First Ten Steps |publisher=SCM Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0334052333 |quote=Some Muslims hold all forms of music to be forbidden, others permit certain forms of unaccompanied singing, while others will permit the use of daff or drum like a tambourine (without the cymbals). In some Sufi circles the flute or lute are permitted.}}</ref> Other Muslims believe musical instruments in general are allowed, not exclusively the daf.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Singing and Music in Islam - IslamiCity |url=https://www.islamicity.org/3018/singing-and-music-in-islam/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.islamicity.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scholars and musicians hotly debate whether music is permissible or not |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/scholars-and-musicians-hotly-debate-whether-music-is-permissible-or-not-1.1262467 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> 

The Prophet of Islam, [[Muhammad]], did not impose a total prohibition on using the daf, stating that it is permissible during [[Eid al-Fitr|Eid]], a wedding [[Walima]], or to greet a government official after they arrive from a journey.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leaman |first=Oliver |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DbNEAQAAQBAJ |title=Controversies in Contemporary Islam |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |isbn=978-1134499823 |location=Kentucky, US |pages=196 |quote=The daff, a simple drum or tambourine, is specifically mentioned. The Prophet did not impose any restriction on using the daff, a common musical instrument used at that time.}}</ref> 

It has always been an important part of [[Sufi music|Islamic Sufi music]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zuhur |first=Sherifa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_m9WEAAAQBAJ |title=Popular Dance and Music in Modern Egypt |publisher=McFarland |year=2021 |isbn=978-1476681993 |location=Berkeley, California |pages=200 |quote=Daff ... It has been important to Sufi music.}}</ref>