Is Qur’an Recitation and Naʿat Before a Religious Program Allowed?

Source: Excerpt from the book “Aḥkām wa Masāʾil: In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī ḥafiẓahullāh

❖ Question:​

What is the ruling on arranging Qur’an recitation (tilāwah) and naʿat (poetry in praise of the Prophet ﷺ) before a religious preaching program or speech?

❖ Answer:​

Arranging for Qur’anic recitation before a preaching session or sermon is supported by sound Islamic tradition.

❖ Recitation Before a Gathering of Knowledge​

Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī رحمه الله narrated in his book from Abū Naḍrah:

❝Whenever the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would gather to seek knowledge, they would begin by reciting a sūrah from the Qur’an.❞​

Reference: al-Jāmiʿ li Akhlāq al-Rāwī wa Ādāb al-Sāmiʿ 2/86, ḥadīth no. 1229

This indicates that reciting the Qur’an at the beginning of gatherings of knowledge was a practice of the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم.

❖ Narrating Ḥadīth Before the Friday Sermon​

There is also evidence of narrating prophetic traditions (aḥādīth) before formal sermons.


Muḥammad ibn Zayd reports:


I saw Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه come out on Friday, and he would hold the two knobs of the pulpit while standing and say:

❝Abū al-Qāsim, the truthful and the trusted — the Messenger of Allah ﷺ — narrated to us…❞​

He would continue narrating aḥādīth until he heard the door of the private chamber open for the Imām’s entrance, upon which he would sit down.

Reference: al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim 3/512, ḥadīth no. 6173

Imām al-Ḥākim رحمه الله titled this chapter:

“The narration of Abū Hurayrah in the mosque before Jumuʿah.”​

And in the latest edition (1/306), it is titled:

“Abū Hurayrah would stand beside the pulpit on Fridays and narrate ḥadīth.”​

Both Imām al-Ḥākim and Imām al-Dhahabī have graded this narration as authentic (ṣaḥīḥ).

❖ Poetry in the Masjid Before the Prophet ﷺ​

Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrated that:

❝The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to place a pulpit for​

Reference: Fatḥ al-Bārī 1/518

❖ Summary and Ruling​

Based on the above narrations:


✔ It is permissible to begin a religious program with Qur’anic recitation.
✔ It is permissible for someone to narrate a ḥadīth before the main preacher or speaker begins.
✔ It is permissible to recite poetry related to faith, truth, or the condemnation of falsehood in such gatherings.
✔ There is no harm in these practices as long as they do not include innovations or impermissible content.


Hence, organizing tilāwah or a naʿat session before a preaching program is permissible and supported by practice from the time of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.


And Allah knows best!