Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … In these ahadith, those poems are condemned which are frivolous, purposeless, and meaningless, because good poetry has been praised in the Shari‘ah, and good poetry was recited in the gatherings of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and indeed, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself also recited poetry.

Imam Nawawi rahimahullah said: This blessed hadith will be applied to the person who has focused his attention on poetry and has become heedless of the Qur’an and hadith.

Imam Qurtubi said: The person who becomes dominated by poetic speech must, according to general rules and regulations, be subject to censure and condemnation. …

Imam Abu ‘Ubaydah Qasim ibn Sallam said: From this hadith it is understood that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam granted concession for a small amount of poetry, because it is appropriate to interpret this hadith as relating to the person who becomes entirely devoted to poetry and becomes heedless of the Noble Qur’an and the remembrance (adhkar) of Allah ta‘ala. If a person is characterized by the Qur’an and other Islamic sciences, and he also possesses some poetry, then he does not fall under the purview of this hadith. (Sahihah: 336)

In reality, a speech is not praiseworthy or blameworthy merely because it is prose or poetry; rather, its goodness or badness depends on the meaning conveyed within it. As Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Poetry is like speech; its good is like good speech, and its bad is like bad speech.” (Dar Qutni: 490, Sahihah: 447)

Any speech in which others are insulted, the fire of discord and corruption is kindled, shirk and innovation are promoted, or in any way the principles of the Shari‘ah are opposed, then such speech is blameworthy, whether it is poetry or prose.

On the contrary, any speech that contains praise and glorification of Allah ta‘ala, describes the noble qualities of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, encourages goodness and instills aversion to evil, or in any way conforms to the principles of the Shari‘ah, then such speech is praiseworthy, whether it is in the form of poetry or prose. In any case, one should avoid excessive poetry; if needed, there is no harm in reciting good poetry.