What is the ruling on gathering to recite poetry accompanied by clapping, whistling, cursing, and insulting?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Shaykh, we have customs we suffer from. Two groups meet facing each other, and each group comes with a poet. They always start this in occasions.
The Shaykh : What, what?
The questioner : Two groups of people face each other, and two poets exchange poetry.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It includes cursing and insulting. What is our position, O Shaykh, regarding this matter? We come to read... enjoining good and forbidding evil... Does this include insulting to the point where one describes the other as a donkey or a dog, far be it from you, and these things, along with clapping and whistling?
The Shaykh : Yes, gathering to recite poetry is permissible; this is the original ruling. However, if it is accompanied by something harmful, as I mentioned, such as some of them cursing each other, and perhaps the cursing extends to their fathers and grandfathers, then this is not permissible because of the cursing associated with it. As for merely gathering people to exchange poetry among themselves, there is nothing wrong with it. Also, I do not prefer that this be a regular habit, as some people do, going out every night and holding such an event.
The questioner : It includes clapping, whistling, and dancing, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, this is a custom. If it is not accompanied by anything forbidden, there is nothing wrong with it. If it is accompanied by something forbidden, such as cursing, clapping, and dancing, all of this is not permissible, because all of this is for women.
Shaykh, we have customs we suffer from. Two groups meet facing each other, and each group comes with a poet. They always start this in occasions.
The Shaykh : What, what?
The questioner : Two groups of people face each other, and two poets exchange poetry.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It includes cursing and insulting. What is our position, O Shaykh, regarding this matter? We come to read... enjoining good and forbidding evil... Does this include insulting to the point where one describes the other as a donkey or a dog, far be it from you, and these things, along with clapping and whistling?
The Shaykh : Yes, gathering to recite poetry is permissible; this is the original ruling. However, if it is accompanied by something harmful, as I mentioned, such as some of them cursing each other, and perhaps the cursing extends to their fathers and grandfathers, then this is not permissible because of the cursing associated with it. As for merely gathering people to exchange poetry among themselves, there is nothing wrong with it. Also, I do not prefer that this be a regular habit, as some people do, going out every night and holding such an event.
The questioner : It includes clapping, whistling, and dancing, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, this is a custom. If it is not accompanied by anything forbidden, there is nothing wrong with it. If it is accompanied by something forbidden, such as cursing, clapping, and dancing, all of this is not permissible, because all of this is for women.