The Ruling on Islamic Anthems and the Recitation of Poetry

The questioner:
Peace be upon you. What is the ruling on the prohibition of Islamic anthems? Knowing that they contain no musical instruments and no obscene words, but rather carry words and knowledge that exhort to jihad, the death of the Qur'an, and other noble deeds. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to recite poetry with melody. Therefore, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Then tranquility descended upon me, and my feet were firmly planted," what is the definition of what Allah has told you and what you worship?

The Shaykh:
Anthems that have collective voices and are composed with melody are not permissible, because they are among the songs and fall under the category of songs. As for the recitation of poetry, where one person recites and the rest listen, or where everyone recites, each with his own voice independent of the others, as in travel or otherwise, there is no harm in that. This is permissible. This is what is called the recitation of poetry, where each person recites for himself, or one person recites and the others listen, like the goad-singer who sings to the camels or to the caravan at night so they do not get lost on the road. There is no harm in that. They call this the goading of camels. But for us to organize a group of boys and young men and have them compose melodies and sing, this is not permissible. This is what the Sufis do. The Sufis are the ones who take pleasure in these things and consider them part of the religion. This is from one aspect. The second aspect is that anthems have now become the slogan of the parties, the slogans of the scattered parties and groups. They incite evil, stir up hatred, spread fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) among people, and sow discord, so they are not permissible from several aspects.
As for the recitation of poetry, this is a permissible matter. Poetry was recited in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and indeed it was recited in the mosque in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Hassan recited, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded him to do so. He used to place a pulpit for him in the mosque from which he would recite. There is no harm in that. There is a difference between the recitation of poetry and anthems; a clear difference between the two. Yes.

Another questioner:
I think the answer is...

The Shaykh:
This is an easy matter regarding the goading, but now something new has come. What is in travel or on the road is an easy matter because it energizes the travelers and moves them along, and it does not lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). But now there is composition and melodic singing, hymns like the hymns of the Christians, exactly like the hymns of the Christians, and like the hymns of the Sufis. This is from one aspect. The second aspect is that these anthems have become the slogan of the parties. These collective parties have now split, and every party has its own methodology and every party has its own way, and they oppose the other parties, and so on. Thus, the anthems have become their slogans. So from this aspect as well, they are not permissible.
In addition to the fact that this is among the songs; this is a type of song. What was permitted is what does not lead to harm, such as the goading in travel, which does not lead to harm. Like the singing of the young slave girls that was heard in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which does not lead to harm. Like the singing of women at the time of the wedding with the beating of the hand drum on the night of the marriage, because this is part of announcing the marriage, and there is benefit in it and it does not lead to harm. But if it leads to harms, such as what we mentioned: partisanship, or songs, or imitating the Christians, or fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) with the voices, until some of them take pleasure in the voices of the boys and the young men, this is forbidden and not permissible. Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.