Is a man rewarded for listening to nasheeds in praise of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, if he only enjoys the voice and is not concerned with the praise? And is he held accountable for disliking exaggerated praise? And is there reward and merit in listening to it?

Exaggeration in praising the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is forbidden by Sacred Law. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, warned against it, saying: "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising Jesus, son of Mary. I am only a slave, so say: 'Allah's slave and His Messenger.'"

Many common prophetic eulogies contain clear exaggeration that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would not approve of, such as the poet's saying: "For from your generosity is this world and the hereafter, And from your knowledge is the knowledge of the Preserved Tablet and the Pen."

These eulogies cannot be compared to sending blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, which Allah has commanded. Sending blessings upon him is among the noblest acts of obedience and the best means of drawing near to Allah. The virtue of sending blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is immense.

If eulogies are free from exaggeration and fulfill the conditions of permissible chants, then they are permissible. However, there is no comparison between the virtue of listening to them and sending blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

It is obligatory to dislike listening to eulogies that contain exaggeration. We advise the Muslim to frequently send blessings and salutations upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to warn those who exaggerate about the consequences of their exaggeration, and to explain to them that true love for the Prophet lies in following him and honoring his Sunnah.