Excerpt from Ahkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Kitāb wa al-Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī ◈
What is the ruling on composing poetry that is free from immoral and condemnable objectives? Some people claim that all forms of poetry lead to ruin in this world and the Hereafter — is this correct?
Poetry in Islam is divided into two categories:
This includes poetry that involves:
This type of poetry is ḥarām (forbidden) and prohibited.
This includes poetry that:
Such poetry is permissible and even praiseworthy in Islam.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ . أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ . وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ . إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَانتَصَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ﴾
“As for the poets — only the misguided follow them. Do you not see how they roam aimlessly in every valley, and say what they do not practice? Except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, remember Allah much, and defend themselves after being wronged. And the wrongdoers shall soon know the end to which they will return.”
[Surah ash-Shuʿarāʾ: 224–227]
This verse shows that most poets were misguided — exaggerating and wandering aimlessly. However, righteous believing poets, who remember Allah and speak truthfully, are excluded from this condemnation.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"It is better for a man’s belly to be filled with pus than to be filled with poetry."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6155; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2257]
Explanation:
Imām al-Bukhārī placed this under the chapter:
“What is disliked of poetry dominating a person.”
It refers to someone who neglects the Qur’an, knowledge, and remembrance of Allah due to constant indulgence in poetry.
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله explains:
“The ḥadīth is general in wording but specific in meaning — it does not include truthful and beneficial poetry like praise of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, or content related to piety, wisdom, and remembrance.”
[Fatḥ al-Bārī, 10/549]
Narrations from the Prophet ﷺ and his companions show approval of noble poetry, especially when it serves:
“O Ḥassān! Reply to the disbelievers, for Jibrīl is with you.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6153]
“The Prophet ﷺ would set up a pulpit in the mosque for Ḥassān, from where he would compose poetry in defense of the Prophet ﷺ.”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2846]
“Indeed, everything besides Allah is falsehood.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6147]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2255]
✔ Permissible poetry includes that which:
✘ Forbidden poetry includes:
Such poetry has been condemned in both the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
The Ummah is in agreement (ijmāʿ) on the permissibility of poetry free from falsehood, indecency, and exaggeration, as reported by Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr and others【ref: Fatḥ al-Bārī 10/539】.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on composing poetry that is free from immoral and condemnable objectives? Some people claim that all forms of poetry lead to ruin in this world and the Hereafter — is this correct?
❖ Answer:
Poetry in Islam is divided into two categories:
① Condemned Poetry
This includes poetry that involves:
- Exaggeration and overstatement
- Romantic entanglements or illicit love themes
- Lies and falsehood
- Content that contradicts Islamic teachings
This type of poetry is ḥarām (forbidden) and prohibited.
② Permissible Poetry
This includes poetry that:
- Reflects the meanings and values of the Qur'an and Sunnah
- Is free from vulgarity, lies, and over-praise
- Promotes truth, wisdom, virtue, piety, and remembrance of Allah
Such poetry is permissible and even praiseworthy in Islam.
❖ Qur'anic Evidence:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ . أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ . وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ . إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَانتَصَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ﴾
“As for the poets — only the misguided follow them. Do you not see how they roam aimlessly in every valley, and say what they do not practice? Except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, remember Allah much, and defend themselves after being wronged. And the wrongdoers shall soon know the end to which they will return.”
[Surah ash-Shuʿarāʾ: 224–227]
This verse shows that most poets were misguided — exaggerating and wandering aimlessly. However, righteous believing poets, who remember Allah and speak truthfully, are excluded from this condemnation.
❖ Condemnation of Evil Poetry in Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"It is better for a man’s belly to be filled with pus than to be filled with poetry."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6155; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2257]Explanation:
Imām al-Bukhārī placed this under the chapter:
“What is disliked of poetry dominating a person.”
It refers to someone who neglects the Qur’an, knowledge, and remembrance of Allah due to constant indulgence in poetry.
❖ Not All Poetry is Condemned:
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله explains:
“The ḥadīth is general in wording but specific in meaning — it does not include truthful and beneficial poetry like praise of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, or content related to piety, wisdom, and remembrance.”
[Fatḥ al-Bārī, 10/549]Narrations from the Prophet ﷺ and his companions show approval of noble poetry, especially when it serves:
- Praising Allah
- Praising the Prophet ﷺ
- Refuting the enemies of Islam
- Preaching moral values
❖ Examples of Praiseworthy Poetry:
- ʿAbdullāh bin Rawāḥah رضي الله عنه recited verses praising the Prophet ﷺ and Islam.
- Ḥassān bin Thābit رضي الله عنه was appointed by the Prophet ﷺ to defend Islam through poetry.
“O Ḥassān! Reply to the disbelievers, for Jibrīl is with you.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6153]- ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
“The Prophet ﷺ would set up a pulpit in the mosque for Ḥassān, from where he would compose poetry in defense of the Prophet ﷺ.”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2846]- The Prophet ﷺ praised the poetic line of Labīd:
“Indeed, everything besides Allah is falsehood.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6147]- The Prophet ﷺ enjoyed listening to poetry with meaning, such as the lines of Umayyah bin Abī aṣ-Ṣalt, and asked a companion to recite over 100 lines for him.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2255]❖ Summary & Ruling:
✔ Permissible poetry includes that which:
- Is truthful
- Praises Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
- Teaches wisdom, ethics, and Islamic values
- Defends Islam and criticizes falsehood
✘ Forbidden poetry includes:
- Lies, exaggeration, romanticism, obscenity
- Content that distracts from religion or encourages sin
- Anything promoting immorality or false beliefs
Such poetry has been condemned in both the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
The Ummah is in agreement (ijmāʿ) on the permissibility of poetry free from falsehood, indecency, and exaggeration, as reported by Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr and others【ref: Fatḥ al-Bārī 10/539】.