The Extreme Dislike of Poetry to be Recited in a Masjid

‫اهسالى عوينى‬

Here is an article by brother Abu Abdullaah (from Shiachat) concerning Poetry:

I have seen many masaajid around the world that allow poetry, e.g. Nasheeds,
Qaseedahs, Nauhas/Latmiyyah, Marsiyas, etc, to be recited in it. The following is the
perspective of the Ahlul Bayt (‫ )عليهم السالم‬regarding the impermissibility of reciting poetry in
the masaajid and other such times. The only thing that is allowed is the recitation of the
Holy Qur’aan in the masaajid.

Now, as you will see from ahaadeeth, the A’immah (‫ )عليهم السالم‬are very strict when it
comes to having ONLY the Holy Qur’aan recited in the masaajid. Also, it is disliked to recite
poetry in the month of Ramadaan (night and day), or in any night, when one has ihraam on, on
the day of Jum’ah, and in the haram (Ka’bah), and in the masaajid:

)ٍ‫عيَ ِير‬
ُ ‫ً أَتِي‬
ِ ِ‫ً ات‬
ِ َ‫جيِيعًب ع‬
َ ‫حيَّ ٍد‬
َ ُ‫ً ي‬
ِ ِ‫حيَ َد ت‬
ِ َ‫ً أ‬
ِ َ‫ً َي ِِزِيَب َر ( َّ تِإِسٌَِبدِ ٍِ ع‬
ِ ِ‫عوِيِّ ت‬
َ ً
ِ َ‫ً تِإِسٌَِبدِ ٍِ ع‬
ِ َ‫ً اهْحَس‬
ُ ِ‫حيَّ ُد ت‬
َ ُ‫ي‬
َّ ‫حرِ ِى َّ فِي اهْحَرَ ِى‬
ِ ُ‫شِ ِع ِر هِوضَّبئِىِ َّ ِه ْوي‬
ّ ‫ل ثُ ْنرَ ٍُ رَِّايَ ُة اه‬
ُ ُّ‫ت أَتَب عَتِ ِد اهوَّ َِ ع يَل‬
ُ ِ‫ل سَ ِيع‬
َ ‫ً كَب‬
َ ‫ً حَيَّب ِد تًِِ عُ ْثيَب‬
ِ َ‫ع‬
‫ً شِ ِع َر حَق‬
َ ‫ً نَب‬
ِ ِ‫ل َّ إ‬
َ ‫قٍ كَب‬
ّ‫ح‬َ ‫ش ِع َر‬
ِ ًَ‫ً نَب‬
ِ ِ‫ت َّ إ‬
ُ ْ‫ل ُكو‬
َ ‫ل كَب‬
ِ ‫ً يُرَِّْ تِبهوَّ ِي‬
ِ َ‫ج ُيعَ ِة َّ أ‬
ُ ْ‫فِي يَِّ ِى اه‬

Muhammad bin al-Hasan in his isnaad from „Alee bin Mahziyaar (and in his isnaad from Ahmad bin
Muhammad all from Ibn Abee 'Umayr) from Hammaad bin 'Uthmaan, He said I heard Abaa '„Abd Allaah
(AS) say: Narrating poetry is disliked while fasting, and while in iHraam, and in the Haram and on the day
of Jum'ah and to narrate in the night. He said: I said: and If the poem was true? He said: And (even) if
the poem was true.

Source:
1. Al-‘Aamilee, Wasaa’il Al-Shee’ah, vol. 10, pg. 169, hadeeth #13137
2. Al-Toosee, Al-Tahdheeb, vol. 4, pg. 195, hadeeth #6
Grading:
1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is Da’eef ‘Alaa Dhaahir Aw Muwaththaq
(Apparently Weak or Reliable)
 Milaadh al Akhyaar, vol. 6, pg. 516

But the alternate chain for this is SaHeeH (Authentic), taken from Tahdheeb:
‫ّ عً عوي تً يِزيبرعً يحيد تً يحيٓ عً حيبد تً عثيبً كبل سيعت أتب عتد اهلل ع يلّل‬

ًَ‫ش ِِ ِر َريَظَب‬
َ ‫شِ ِع ُر ِتوَ ِيلٍ َّ هَب يٌُْشَ ُد فِي‬
ّ ‫ً أَتِي عَتِ ِد اهوََِّ ع كَبلَ هَب يُ ٌْشَ ُد اه‬
ِ َ‫ً ع‬
َ ‫حيَّبدِ تًِِ عُثْيَب‬
َ ً
ِ َ‫َّ تِبهْإِسٌَِب ِد ع‬
‫ً فِيٌَب‬
َ ‫ً نَب‬
ِ ِ‫ل َّ إ‬
َ ‫ل هَ َُ ِإسِيَبعِيلُ يَب أَتَثَب ٍِ فَإٌَِّ َُ فِيٌَب كَب‬
َ ‫ل َّ هَب ٌََِب ٍر فَلَب‬
ٍ ‫ِتوَ ِي‬
 And in the isnaad from Hammaad bin 'Uthmaan from Abee 'Abd Allaah (AS): says "Do not sing/recite
poetry in the night and do not sing/recite (poetry) in the month of Ramadaan in the night and the day...”

Source:
1. Al-‘Aamilee, Wasaa’il Al-Shee’ah, vol. 10, pg. 169, hadeeth #13137
2. Al-Toosee, Al-Tahdheeb, vol. 4, pg. 195, hadeeth #4

Grading:
1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH (Authentic)
 Milaadh al Akhyaar, vol. 6, pg. 515

ُ‫ق ع هَب يُ ٌْشَد‬

ِ ‫ً اهضَّب ِد‬
ِ َ‫ً ع‬
َ ‫حيَّب ِد تًِِ عُ ْثيَب‬
َ ً
ِ َ‫ً أَتِي عُيَ ِي ٍر ع‬
ِ ِ‫ً ات‬
ِ َ‫ً أَتِيَِ ع‬
ِ َ‫ً إِ ِترَاُِي َى ع‬
ِ ِ‫يِ ت‬
ّ ِ‫عو‬
َ ًَِ‫َّ رََّا ٍُ ا ْه ُنوَيٌِِيُّ ع‬
‫ً فِيٌَب‬
َ ‫ً نَب‬
ِ ِ‫ل يَب أَتَثَب ٍِ فَإٌَِّ َُ فِيٌَب كَبلَ َّ إ‬
ُ ‫سيَبعِي‬
ِ ‫ل هَ َُ ِإ‬
َ ‫ل َّ هَب ٌََِبرٍ فَلَب‬
ٍ ‫ش ِِ ِر َريَظَبًَ ِتوَ ِي‬
َ ‫ل َّ هَب يُ ٌْشَ ُد فِي‬
ٍ ‫شِ ِع ُر ِتوَ ِي‬
ّ ‫اه‬

And his narrating Al-Kulaynee from „Alee bin Ibraaheem from his father from ibn Abee „Umayr from
Hammaad bin „Uthmaan from Al-Saadiq (‫)عليه السالم‬: "Do not sing/recite poetry in the night and do not
sing/recite (poetry) in the month of Ramadaan in the night and the day."

Source:
1. Al-Kulaynee, Al-Kaafee, vol. 4, pg. 88, hadeeth #6
Grading:
1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH
 Miraat al- ‘Uqool, vol. 16, pg. 249

َ‫ً إِ ِترَاُِيى‬
ِ ِ‫ً جَعِ َف ِر ت‬
ِ َ‫ً اهْحَجَّبجِ ع‬
ِ ِ‫ً ت‬
ِ َ‫حي‬
ِ َّ‫ً عَتِ ِد اهر‬
ِ َ‫ة ع‬
ٍ ُّ‫ً يَحِت‬
ِ ِ‫ً ات‬
ِ َ‫حيَّ ٍد ع‬
َ ُ‫ً ي‬
ِ ِ‫حيَ َد ت‬
ِ َ‫ً أ‬
ِ َ‫ً يَحِيَٓ ع‬
ُ ِ‫حيَّ ُد ت‬
َ ُ‫ي‬
َُ َّ‫طَ اهو‬
ّ َ‫شِ ِع َر فِي ا ْه َيسَبجِ ِد فَلُّهُّا ف‬
ّ ‫س ِيعِ ُثيٍُُّ يُ ٌْشِ ُد اه‬
َ ًَِ‫ل اهوَّ َِ ص ي‬
ُ ُّ‫ل َرس‬
َ ‫ل كَب‬
َ ‫ً ص كَب‬
ِ ِ‫ً اهْحُسَي‬
ِ ِ‫عوِيِّ ت‬
َ ًَِ‫ع‬
ًِ‫ت ا ْه َيسَبجِ ُد ِهوْ ُلرِآ‬
ِ َ‫م إِ ٌَّيَب ٌُضِت‬
َ ‫فَب‬

Muhammad bin YaHyaa from Ahmad bin Muhammad from ibn MaHboob from „Abd Al-RaHmaan bin Al-
Hajjaaj from Ja‟far bin Ibraaheem from „Alee bin al-Husayn (‫)عليه السالم‬: The Prophet ( ‫صلى هللا تعالى‬
‫)عليه واله وسلن‬: “(If you) hear someone singing poetry in the masaajid say to him: „May Allaah tear your
mouth. Verily, the masaajid is only appointed for the Qur‟aan (recitation).‟”

Source:
1. Al-Kulayni, Al-Kaafi, vol. 3, pg. 369, hadeeth #5
Grading:
1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is Majhool (Unknown)
 Mir’aat Al-`Uqool, vol. 15, pg. 246

Here is a breakdown of the sanad (chain of narrators):

Muhammad bin YaHyaa Al-ATTaar is thiqah (trustworthy) according to:

1. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 353, person # 946
2. Al-Hillee, Al-KhulaaSah, pg. 157, person # 110
 3. Al-Khoei, Mu`jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth, vol. 18, pg. 40, person # 12004

Ahmad bin Muhammad bin ‘Eesaa Al-Ash’aree is thiqah according to:

1. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 81-83, person # 198
2. Al-Toosi, Fihrist, pg. 61, person # 75
3. Al-Toosi, Rijaal, pg. 351, person # 5197
4. Al-Hillee, Al-KhulaaSah, pg. 13, person # 2
5. Al-Khoei, Mu`jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth, vol. 2, pg. 296, person # 897

Al-Hasan bin MaHboob Al-Suraad is thiqah according to:

1. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 140, pg. 160, person # 198
2. Al-Toosi, Fihrist, pg. 123, person # 162
3. Al-Toosi, Rijaal, pg. 334, pg. 354, person # 4978, 5251
4. Al-Hillee, Al-KhulaaSah, pg. 37, person # 1
5. Al-Khoei, Mu`jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth, vol. 5, pg. 89, person # 3070
6. Al-Kashee, Rijaal, pg. 556, from the aSHaab al-Ijmaa’

‘‘Abd Al-RaHmaan bin Al-Hajjaaj is thiqah according to:

1. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 238, person # 630
2. Al-Hillee, Al-KhulaaSah, pg. 113, person # 5
3. Al-Khoei, Mu`jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth, vol. 9, pg. 310, person # 6359
4. Al-Kashee, Rijaal, pg. 442

Ja’far bin Ibraaheem Al-Ja’faree Al-Haashimee is thiqah according to:

1. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 183, under his son’s title, Sulaymaan bin Ja’far (#483)
2. Al-Hillee, Al-KhulaaSah, pg. 33 person # 64
3. Al-Khoei, Mu`jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth, vol. 4, pg. 47, person # 2111

Majlisee grades this hadeeth as majhool, but when he grades other ahaadeeth with the same
sanad (chain of narrators), except for Ja’far bin Ibraheem, then it is SaHeeH:
1. Al Kaafee, vol. 2, pg. 647, hadeeth # 2
2. Al Kaafee, vol. 6, pg. 293, hadeeth # 9
3. Al Kaafee, vol. 7, pg. 88, hadeeth # 3

So the problem with the chain has to be Ja’far bin Ibraaheem narrating from Imaam Zayn-ul-
‘Aabideen (‫ )عليه السالم‬or giving the narration to ‘‘Abd Al-RaHmaan. But Ja’far is trustworthy,
and he was the companion of the 4th and 6th Imaams (‫)عليهم السالم‬.

Then, Majlisee contradicts himself in Bihaar ul-Anwaar by saying:

َ‫اهش ِعر‬
ِّ ُ‫س ِيعِثُيٍُُّ يُ ٌْشِد‬
َ ًَِ‫حسَيًِِ ع كَبلَ كَبلَ َرسُّلُ اهوََِّ ص ي‬
ُ ْ‫عوِيِّ تًِِ اه‬
َ ًَِ‫عوَٓ اهظَّب ُِرِ ع‬
َ ِ‫اهشَّيِخُ فِي اهضَّحِيح‬
ًِ‫فِي ا ْه َيسَبجِدِ فَلُّهُّا هََُ فَطَّ اهوََُّ فَبمَ إ ٌَِّيَب ٌُضِتَتِ ا ْه َيسَبجِدُ ِهوْ ُلرِآ‬
The Shaykh (Toosee) in the apparently SaHeeH (hadeeth) from „„Alee bin Al-Husayn (‫)عليه السالم‬:
The Prophet (‫)صلى هللا تعالى عليه واله وسلن‬: “(If you) hear someone singing poetry in the masaajid say
to him: „May Allaah tear your mouth. Verily, the masaajid is only appointed for the Qur‟aan (recitation).‟”

Source:
1. Al-Majlisee, Behaar ul-Anwaar, vol. 80, pg. 363

Conclusion:

When poetry is being done in the masaajid, it is our duty to make sure we try to adhere to the
sunnah and stop poetry from being done.

Finally, the ahaadeeth say not to do poetry in the month of Ramadaan (night and day), or in any
night, when one has ihraam on, on the day of Jum’ah, and in the haram (Ka’bah), and finally, in
the masaajid.

May Allaah (ٓ‫ ) ستحبٌَ ّ ثعبه‬give us the tawfeeq (strength) to not only recite His (ٓ‫) ستحبٌَ ّ ثعبه‬
book with proper tajweed, but to fully memorize His (ٓ‫ ) ستحبٌَ ّ ثعبه‬book and to give us the
eemaan (faith) to implement His (ٓ‫ ) ستحبٌَ ّ ثعبه‬book in our hearts, minds and actions. Aameen.

‫اهسالى عوينى‬