Reciting religious poems in the mosques before Friday prayer

28-6-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalam-O-Alaikum, Dear Sir, my question is that whether “Naat & Hamd” [reciting religious poetry: Naat for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) & Hamd for Allah] are permissible or not?? What are the rulings? Secondly, if these are permissible then is it permissible to recite loudly (on the speakers) in the Masjid? As mostly in Pakistan these are being recited in the Masjids before Jum’ah Prayers or any other religious Islamic occasions. Please do reply. And these are also being recited on the Television with some music. Is it permissible to do so ?? Thanking you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

Reciting poems to praise Allaah or to praise the Prophet without going to extremes in praising him, is permissible. Indeed, we have already issued Fataawa 84644 and 91021 clarifying the conditions of what is called Islamic songs; among these conditions is that it should not include any music because music is in itself forbidden as we clarified in Fatwa 81545.

Moreover, reciting poetry in the mosque is in principle permissible as we clarified in Fatwa 123416. However, raising the voice while doing so in a way that disturbs the praying people and those who recite the Book of Allaah, is not permissible. This is even more forbidden if it is done before the Friday prayer as this is an evil innovation in addition to disturbing the praying people or those who recite the Quran as we previously mentioned.

As regards reciting these poems on permissible religious occasions, then this is permissible if the religious conditions which we mentioned are met.

Allaah Knows best.