What is the ruling on erotic poetry and listening to it?

The questioner : What is the ruling on erotic poetry?

The Shaykh : Yes?

The questioner : Erotic poetry; listening to it, composing it, and singing it?

The Shaykh : What is the ruling on erotic poetry? And what else?

The questioner : Just, I mean, listening to it, composing it, and singing it?

The Shaykh : Listening to it, composing it, and singing it. Of course, if the erotic poetry does not stir the desire, it is permissible to use it; because it is speech. And as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . And based on this, we understand the principle that came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in his saying: . In the middle of his speech, he says: . So, if we combine this hadith with the hadith before it; there is no doubt that between the good and the bad ... - ... anyway, Professor, let us proceed, meaning, time is short - if we look at the hadith mentioned just now: ; there is no doubt that between the bad and the good there is an intermediate level, which is permissible speech. And for permissible speech, it is sufficient for us to understand its ruling from the speech itself; and that is that it is permissible. So, if the erotic poetry does not exceed permissible speech, it is permissible; because it is permissible. But if it exceeds the limit of permissibility, then it is not permissible to engage in it, even if it is speech; let alone if it is poetry and erotic verse; because the speech at that time stirs the souls. And among the known legal principles among the scholars of knowledge is that a thing is prohibited, even if it is permissible, out of fear that it will lead to what is not permissible. This is what the scholars call the principle of blocking the means (sadd al-dhara'i'). Blocking the means is a very important principle; we should apply it in many of our affairs and in our lives. So, erotic speech is generally not pure, and it may often contain descriptions that are not fitting for people to hear; such as describing cheeks, describing waists, and likening some women to certain attributes that stir the souls; so at that time, it is not permissible to engage in this type of likening and erotic poetry.