Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ibn Abjar narrates that Hazrat Amir passed by two men who were near a place where two paths met. Both of them were backbiting about him and finding faults in him. Upon this, he recited this verse: "They are perfectly fine, prosperous, and not afflicted by any illness, yet they tarnish our honor."

Hazrat Yazid bin Abdullah bin Qasit narrates that Hazrat Abu al-Hasan Barrad said: When this verse was revealed, "And as for the poets, only those who are astray follow them," Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawaha, Hazrat Ka'b bin Malik, and Hazrat Hassan bin Thabit—all three came weeping to the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Allah, the Lord of Glory, has revealed this verse while He knows that we are poets. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: You should also recite the verse that comes after it: "Except those who believe and do righteous deeds." That refers to you. Translation: Those people succeeded. That also refers to you.

Hazrat Salamah narrates that Hazrat Ikrimah said regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَالشُّعَرَائُ یَتَّبِعُہُمَ الْغَاوُونَ } that by this are meant the disobedient jinn.

Hazrat Abu Ja'far Khatmi narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was engaged in the construction of the mosque, and Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawahah was reciting this verse: "Successful is the one who strove to build the mosque." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, successful is the one who made an effort to build the mosque." He recited this verse: "He recites the Qur'an standing and sitting." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "He recites the Qur'an standing and sitting." At that time, the companions were constructing the mosque.

Hazrat Amir narrates that Hazrat Haritha bin Badr Tamimi, who was from Busra, recited this poem: When you meet the people of Hamdan, convey our greetings to them and tell them that the one who finds fault with Hamdan cannot remain safe from enmity. I swear that the people of Hamdan fear Allah, and their orator judges in the light of the Book of Allah. And he recited this poem: The hair on my head has turned white, and the thunder and flash of death have made our minds light. Our hearts consider death sweet and life bitter. Hazrat Amir says: This was mentioned to Hazrat Abdullah bin Ja'far, and he said: We were more deserving of these verses than the people of Hamdan.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the people withdrew their hands from the battle of Siffin, Hazrat Amr bin Al-Aas recited these verses: When the battle intensified, I prepared my shoulders and chest for it. When, due to swift running, the horses become weary, hardship will be met with hardship. My horse is broad-chested and big-bellied. Its height is moderate, and when it sees something or hears a sound, it pricks up its ears. And Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) recited these verses: If the woman named Jamal had seen my bravery at Siffin, her hair would have turned white. When the people of Iraq attacked like gathering clouds. We came upon our enemies to destroy them, our army like the waves of the sea. When, at the break of day, the battle intensified between us and them, neither did anyone turn his back nor did anyone flee. When someone says that they quickly turned their backs, in that time more of their army would appear. They say, pledge allegiance at the hand of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), we say, we will fight. (According to the research of Muhammad Awwama, the attribution of these verses to these esteemed companions is not correct. He has proven his stance with many evidences. See: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 13, page 304)

Hazrat Hamzah Abu Ammarah narrates that Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz said to Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah: "What connection do you have with poetry?" He replied, "One cannot manage without expressing what is in the heart."

Imam Zuhri says that whenever I met Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Abdullah, it was as if I had stirred a revolution in an ocean.

Hazrat Abu Salamah narrates that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) were not miserly, nor did they show weakness in performing acts of worship. They used to recite poetry in their gatherings and mention incidents from the time of ignorance. And when anyone intended to target their religion, the insides of their stomachs would churn as if that person were insane.

Hazrat Muhammad bin Fudayl states that Hazrat Ibn Shubrumah said: Farazdaq was the greatest poet.

Hazrat Abu Sufyan Sa'di says that I heard Hasan Basri reciting this verse of a poet: When a person recognizes a fatal disease, he will rejoice in his piety and abstinence.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when there was a delay in news reaching the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) would recite this verse of Tarafah bin Abd: "And time will bring you such news as you have never known."

The father of Abdur Rahman narrates that I used to sit with my father in the mosque in the gathering of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. They used to recite poetry and mention the matters of the pre-Islamic era.

Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah narrates that we used to come to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And each of us would sit until the end of the gathering. And the companions would recite poetry and mention incidents from the time of ignorance in front of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he would not forbid them, and sometimes he would smile.

Hazrat Mutarrif says that I was on a journey with Hazrat Imran bin Husain. There was not a single day that passed in which he did not recite poetry.

Hazrat Hisham narrates that a man who intended to pray asked Muhammad these questions while you were in the mosque: Should a person who recites poetry perform ablution again? And can poetry be recited in the mosque? The narrator says that you recited those eloquent verses of Hazrat Hassan bin Thabit, and then you began the prayer.

Hazrat Aswad bin Suraee says that I submitted: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Indeed, I have composed poetry in praise and glorification of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Recite, and begin with what you have said in praise of Allah.

Hazrat Thabit narrates that Hazrat Anas said: I was present in a battle when Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawaha said: O soul! I see that you do not like to enter Paradise. I swear by Allah that you will have to enter Paradise, whether you are pleased or displeased.

Hazrat Qasim narrates that Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: While Hazrat Abu Bakr was giving a decision, I was reciting this verse: "That fair-faced one, by whose means clouds are sought. He is the refuge of orphans and the honor and dignity of widows." Hazrat Abu Bakr said: "He is indeed the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him."

Imam Zuhri says that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, never recited any poetry except for this verse: "This burden is not like the burden of Khaybar. This is pure and blessed from our Lord." (He recited this verse at the time of the construction of Masjid Nabawi.)

Hazrat Bara bin Azib narrates that I saw the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of the Battle of the Trench in such a state that there was a line of hair on his blessed chest, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was reciting the verses of Abdullah bin Rawaha as a chant. And he was saying: O Allah! If it were not for Your grace, we would not have been guided, nor would we have given charity, nor would we have prayed. So send down mercy and tranquility upon us, and grant us steadfastness when meeting the enemy. Surely these people have rebelled against us. And if they create mischief against us, we will not accept it.

Hazrat Bara bin Azib narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not turn his back and flee on the day of the Battle of Hunayn. And Hazrat Abbas and Hazrat Abu Sufyan were holding the reins of his mule, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) was saying: I am a Prophet, there is no lie in this. I am the son of Abdul Muttalib.

Hazrat Jundub bin Sufyan narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was injured in a battle, so he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You are merely a finger, from which blood is flowing, and you have been wounded in the path of Allah."

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Surely, the real life is the life of the Hereafter. O Allah! Forgive the Ansar and the Muhajireen.

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair narrates that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) used to recite this verse as: { دارست }. And he used to cite this verse of poetry as evidence: "The taste of Daris, Saab, and Alqam is bitter."

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that the word "zaneem" used in the Holy Qur'an means "a vile person." Then he recited this verse: "People exaggerate the vileness of a vile person just as leather is stretched out."

Hazrat ‘Abbad narrates that a man from the tribe of Banu Laith came to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Shall I recite poetry to you? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied three times: No. Then, upon being granted permission the fourth time, he recited eulogistic verses, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If any poet does good, then you have done good.

Hazrat Qatadah narrates that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: I did not know the meaning of Allah, the Lord of Might’s statement: { رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَیْنَنَا وَبَیْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ }. Until I heard the daughter of Dhi Yazan saying: Come, I will decide between you.

Hazrat Aamir narrates that Hazrat Zubair, while he was performing Tawaf of the Ka'bah, had the poetry of Hazrat Khalid recited.

Hazrat Hisham bin Urwah narrates that Hazrat Ibn Zubair attacked his opponents until he drove them out of the gates. And he recited this rajaz: If I had found another like myself, it would have been enough for me. And he was reciting this verse: We are not those whose blood drips from their backs; our blood falls upon our feet.

Hazrat Hisham bin Urwah narrates that Hazrat Urwah bin Zubair said: The people of Shaam were fighting against Hazrat Ibn Zubair and were shouting loudly: O son of the woman with two waistbands (the son of the woman who wore two belts). Hazrat Ibn Zubair said: This is that disease whose shame is appearing from you. Hazrat Asma asked: Do those people taunt you with this? He replied: Yes. Hazrat Asma said: By Allah! This is the truth.

Hazrat Sufyan narrates from a certain Sheikh that Hazrat Ibn Zubair was reciting poetry during the circumambulation of the Kaaba.

Dawood narrates that Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib said: The sun does not rise except that there are three hundred and seventy angels with it. Have you not heard Umayyah bin Abi Salt saying: This sun does not rise upon us of its own will, rather it is punished and it is whipped.