THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAWS) POSITION ON POETRY

'Amr b. Sharid reported his father as saying:

One day when I rode behind Allah's Messenger (SAWS), he said (to me): Do you remember any poetry of Umayya b. Abu Salt. I said: Yes. He said: Then go on. I recited a couplet, and he said: Go on. Then I again recited a couplet and he said: Go on. I recited one hundred couplets (of his poetry). This hadith has been reported on the authority of Sharid through another chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2255 a, b
In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 1

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Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (SAWS) as saying:
The truest word spoken by an Arab (pre-Islamic) in poetry is this verse of Labid: " Behold! apart from Allah everything is vain."

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2256 a
In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 3

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Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (SAWS) as saying:
The truest word uttered by a poet is this verse of Labid: " Behold! apart from Allah everything is vain," and Umayya b. Abu Salt was almost a Muslim.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2256 a
In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 4

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Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (SAWS) as saying:
The truest couplet recited by a poet is:" Behold! apart from Allah everything is vain," and he made no addition to it.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2256 d
In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 6

THE ABOVE ENDORSEMENT is not blanket on all kinds of poetry please. Indulging in poetry comes with a reservation. So poets should beware what they say or write. Hear my Rasool SAWS again.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be opon him) as saying:
"It is better for a man's belly to be stuffed with pus which corrodes it than to stuff) one's mind with FRIVOLOUS poetry." Abd Bakr has reported it with a slight variation Of wording. ~ *Emphasis mine*

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2257
In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 8

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Sa'd reported Allah's Apostle (SAWS) as saying:
It is better for the belly of any one of you to be stuffed with pus rather than to stuff (one's mind) with poetry.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2258
In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 9

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Abu Sa`id Khudri reported:
We were going with Allah's Messenger (SAWS). As we reached the place (known as) Arj there met (us) a poet who had been reciting poetry. Thereupon Allah's Messanger (SAWS) said: Catch the satan or detain the satan, for filling the belly of a man with pus is betting than stuffing his brain with poetry.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2259
In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 10

So, be among the former poets that the Rasool would ask your verses be recited to him (SAWS), rather than the latter, who is the voice of satan, agent of the devil, stuffing the minds and brains of a man with your vain poetry.

A REMINDER TO ALL POETS, UNIVERSALLY.

PLEASE, BE CONSCIOUS OF WHAT YOUR SAY....