The Ruling on Poetry at Weddings with Dancing and Clapping

Question:
It has become customary and widespread among some tribes to bring in those who are called: poets of dialogue, such as bringing two poets to wedding celebrations and the like, each from a different tribe, in exchange for giving them a sum of money. The two poets keep the night alive, as they say, where there are two facing rows of men, and each poet has his own row. They collectively repeat what the two poets say, with loud voices, accompanied by clapping, dancing, and swaying. Each poet boasts of his lineage and ancestry, and attacks the other poet. What is the ruling on all of this?

Answer:
As for singing by women at weddings with the hand drum, this is part of announcing the marriage. It is prescribed to beat the hand drum at a marriage for women specifically, and there is no free mixing of men and women in it. It is done with ordinary songs that contain no evil. This is prescribed for women, and it is part of announcing the marriage. It was practiced in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and his wives and others would attend.
As for men, there is nothing wrong with them engaging in Arabic poetry, gathering to listen to it, provided it contains no harm, no backbiting, no cursing, no insulting, and does not cause enmity or hatred. It must be without drums and without any other evil, such as criticizing people or criticizing a specific tribe in a way that causes enmity. This is not permissible.
However, if they prepare good poetry, such as the poetry of Hassan, and good poems that contain goodness and calling to it, or if a poet calls them to goodness: to generosity, kindness, and good deeds, and another poet likewise calls to goodness, noble morals, and excellent deeds, then there is nothing wrong with it. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and he said to Hassan: , and he said: . So Hassan would satirize them, and his poetry was great and good. So too was Abdullah ibn Rawahah, and Ka'b ibn Malik, and so were the good poets who came after them.
Among the poetry is the "Nuniyyah of Ibn al-Qayyim," which is one of the greatest and most beneficial poems. It is a good, great, and beneficial poem. And the "Nuniyyah of al-Qahatani," which is a good and beneficial poem in matters of creed. And so are the good poems that contain calling to goodness, noble morals, and excellent deeds. This is good at weddings and other occasions.
As for two or more poets standing up to quarrel, disparaging one another, cursing one another, or this one cursing that one's tribe, and that one cursing this one's tribe; this is evil. But if the poetry is in what benefits people, such as calling to noble morals, excellent deeds, dutifulness to parents, maintaining family ties, obeying Allah and His Messenger, obeying the rulers in what is right, and being cautious of the sins of Allah; then all of this is good, and it has an effect on the souls.
There is nothing wrong with giving a singer at a wedding a wage for her work, or a poet who has good poetry, inviting him to recite the good poetry that benefits people, and giving him a prize. There is nothing wrong with that.
As for the one who calls for the backbiting of so-and-so, the disparagement of so-and-so, and the praise of so-and-so, in order to stir up enmity, hatred, and animosity among people, this is evil and not permissible—may Allah grant us safety.