Permissibility of poetry for the sake of Islam

Permissibility of poetry for the sake of Islam

 

 

Imam Sakhawi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has related a quote of Sufyan bin ‘Uyaina in Maqasid-e-Hasana that mercy descends on the mention of the righteous.  When mercy descends on the mention of the righteous generally, then what abundance of mercy should descend on the mention of the Leader of all the Prophets and all the righteous folk, the Holy Prophet, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!

 

There is a Hadith in Mawahib Al Ladunniya and its commentary Sharh Zurqani on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him) that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) entered Makkah to perform the Qadha of the ‘Umrah, ‘Abdullah bin Rawaaha (May Allah be well pleased with him) was walking before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) which mean:

 

Move aside, o progeny of disbelievers from the path of the Holy Prophet

Today we will give you such blows on the order of His Book

That your heads will be separated from your necks….

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  O son of Rawaaha!  You dare to recite poetry before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), that too in the Holy Mosque?

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Let him be o ‘Umar.  His words pierce the hearts of the disbelievers like arrows.

 

There is another Hadith in this regard:

 

Ka’ab bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  A verse of the Holy Quran has been revealed in condemnation of poetry.  Is poetry disallowed now?  He was answered:  The believers fight with words and swords.  Your reciting poetry is like shooting arrows.

 

Ibn ‘Abdul Rabb has written in Al Isti’yaab that Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) asked:  What is the ruling about poetry now?

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Verily, the believer fights with his sword and tongue (speech).

 

[Excerpted from Anwaar-e-Ahmadi]