What is the status of Ahmed Shawqi's poem "Reem 'ala al-Qaa'" and does it contain any Sharia violations?
Despite the great eloquence of Ahmad Shawqi's poem "Nahj al-Burda" and the sincerity of its poetic praise for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, it contains Sharia errors because Shawqi was not one of the people of religious knowledge.
Firstly: The poem includes supplications and обращения to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for matters that only Allah can relieve, such as his saying: "I cast my hope, when a protector is scarce, upon… the reliever of distress in both worlds and of sorrows," and "I call upon you on behalf of my weak people for a crisis… in which hope like this is placed upon you."
Secondly: Describing angels as thirsty, which is incorrect, as in his saying: "And Jibril, the trustworthy, is thirsty."
Thirdly: Claiming that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had knowledge of the Preserved Tablet and worldly sciences, as in his saying: "O reader of the Tablet, nay, O toucher of the Pen." This contradicts Allah’s saying: (Say: "I do not tell you that I have the treasuries of Allah, nor do I know the unseen.")
Fourthly: It includes incorrect incidents from the Sirah (Prophet's biography), such as the story of the spider weaving its web and the dove during the Hijra.
A Muslim should derive their knowledge of and love for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, from the texts of revelation and the practice of the righteous predecessors.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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