Is it permissible for me to occasionally peruse the book "Kitāb al-Aghānī" by al-Isfahani, for the purpose of linguistic learning and understanding the Qur'an, and not for entertainment, despite my knowledge of its objectionable content?
The book "Kitab al-Aghani" (Book of Songs) by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani is a massive literary work, distinguished by its abundance of linguistic expressions, poetry, and literary passages, and it contains many literary gems. However, it is criticized for falsehoods, its subservience to caliphs, its terrible accusations against Harun al-Rashid, and its portrayal of the Abbasid and Umayyad states as realms of wine and song, while ignoring their aspects of knowledge, literature, civilization, and justice. It is not recommended for reading except for those who possess knowledge, awareness, and piety, so they may benefit from its literature and stories while being cautious of the fallacies it contains.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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