The detailed ruling on listening to Islamic anthems

Question:
The scholars in this country have differed in their rulings on listening to Islamic anthems. Some say they should be prohibited and not listened to because they resemble Sufi listening sessions, while others say listening to them is permissible and there is no harm in it. What is the correct and sound position in this matter? This is because they have become widespread among upright, righteous, and guided youth. Likewise, what about Islamic plays and theatrical performances? Are they permissible or not? We ask you to inform us and kindly provide the ruling with the evidence, and may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Islamic anthems are like poetry. If they are sound, they are sound; and if they contain what is wrong, they are wrong. Poetry, in itself, is as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: But most poets are as Allah said: [Surat al-Shu'ara: 224]. So poetry contains the good and the bad, just like the rest of speech: its good is good, and its bad is bad. If a poem is sound in praising noble morals, warning against blameworthy morals, with the correct creed, condemning the bad creed, and explaining its invalidity, and the like of that which is known in the Shari'ah, then it is a good poem.
Likewise, if the anthems contain calling to good, encouraging good, adhering to Islam, and protecting the homelands from the evil of enemies, and the like of that, then there is no harm in them. But if the anthems contain calling to falsehood, or encouraging falsehood, or encouraging vile morals, they are prohibited, like the rest of prohibited poetry.
So the conclusion: To make a definitive ruling on them absolutely is not sound. One must look into them. Sound anthems are permissible, and anthems that contain what is wrong, or a call to what is wrong, are prohibited. It is not possible to make a definitive ruling on them except after they are presented. All anthems are to be presented to the scholars, and their ruling is to be clarified.