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Holding a Nasheed recital in a mosque

Question

what is the status of nasheed in islam. can a nasheed program be arranged at mosque without any music

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The ruling and criteria of Islamic Anaasheed (Islamic songs without musical instruments) have previously been clarified in Fatwa 84664.

As regards holding a Nasheed recital in the mosque, if what is meant by that is just to recite poetry in the mosque, then, according to the preponderant opinion of scholars, it is permissible so long as it praises Islam, encourages people to be involved in Jihaad and good deeds, or any similar good purposes. It is narrated that once ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him came upon Hassaan ibn Thaabit  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him while he was reciting poetry in the mosque, thereupon he looked towards him disapprovingly. Hassaan said: "I used to recite (poetry) in it (the mosque) when one better than you, (i.e. Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was present (here)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Nevertheless, reciting poetry in the mosque is forbidden should it lead to clamor and noise, and that is forbidden as reported on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that he said: "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be closer to me, followed by those who are next to them (saying it thrice); and beware of the tumult of markets. [Muslim and others]

Indeed, raising voices, clamor and congregational recitation of poetry in the mosque are among the tumult of markets, according to An-Nawawi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him. That often applies to reciting Islamic Anaasheed when accompanied with melody. If this is what is meant by holding a Nasheed recital in the mosque, then the mosque should be free from that. But there is no harm in holding it in the courtyard outside the mosque.

Allaah Knows best.

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