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A study companion for the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, drawn from Sheikh Yasir Qadhi’s lecture series and the classical sources it cites.

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Event

Umar ibn al-Khattab Reproves Hassan ibn Thabit for Reciting Poetry in the Masjid

~During the khilafah of Umar ibn al-Khattab (exact date not given)

Original text & sources

The Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab) Part 1 — Episode 57
View source ↗
Sunan Abi Dawud

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What happened

Umar ibn al-Khattab, then khalifah, heard Hassan ibn Thabit reciting poetry in the Prophet ﷺ's masjid and struck him with his stick for it. When Hassan protested and reminded Umar that he had recited poetry in that very masjid in the presence of someone far better than Umar, he called on Abu Hurairah to confirm that the Prophet ﷺ himself had once commanded him, "Stand up, O Hassan, and write poetry, and the angel Jibril will help you." Abu Hurairah confirmed it.

Significance

A widely cited episode (Abu Dawud) showing that reciting poetry in the masjid is not inherently objectionable when it serves a legitimate purpose, since the Prophet ﷺ himself had sanctioned it for Hassan.

Connected events

Recalled during

Battle~Shawwal to Dhu al-Qa'dah 5 AH (some say 4 AH) · 5 AH
The Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab)
Told alongside Hassan RA's conduct in the fortress of al-Fari'.

Around this time

Other events recorded around the same time. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.

IncidentAbdullah ibn Umar Questions Umar over Usama ibn Zayd's Stipend MiracleFulfillment of the Prophet ﷺ's Prophecy: The Bracelets of Kisra~Within 6-7 years after the Prophet ﷺ's death · 17 AH EventSuhayl ibn Amr Admonishes Abu Sufyan in the Line at Umar's Court~During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab RA · 17 AH InstitutionThe Establishment of the Islamic (Hijri) Calendar~17 AH (c. 638 CE) · 17 AH

Sayings & Actions1

Hassan ibn Thabit RATo Umar ibn al-Khattab RA

Quote · During the khilafah of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Original text & sources

Sunan Abi Dawud
“Umar ibn al-Khattab, during his khilafa, once heard Hassan saying poetry in the masjid. So Umar hit Hassan with his stick. Hassan asked, "Why are you hitting me?" Umar said, "You are saying poetry in the Masjid of the Prophet ﷺ?" Hassan replied, "Wallahi, I have said poetry in this masjid when there was someone in it far better than you."”
The Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab) Part 1 — Episode 57
View source ↗

Why are you hitting me?

After Umar struck him with his stick for reciting poetry in the Prophet ﷺ's masjid.

Umar ibn al-Khattab RATo Hassan ibn Thabit RA

Quote · During the khilafah of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Original text & sources

The Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab) Part 1 — Episode 57
View source ↗

You are saying poetry in the Masjid of the Prophet ﷺ?

Hassan ibn Thabit RATo Umar ibn al-Khattab RA

Quote · During the khilafah of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Original text & sources

The Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab) Part 1 — Episode 57
View source ↗
Sahih al-Bukhari
“Umar came to the Mosque while Hassan was reciting a poem. (Umar disapproved of that). On that Hassan said, "I used to recite poetry in this very Mosque in the presence of one (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ)) who was better than you." Then he turned towards Abu Huraira and said (to him), "I ask you by Allah, did you hear Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying (to me), 'Retort on my behalf. O Allah! Support him (i.e. Hassan) with the Holy Spirit'?" Abu Huraira said, "Yes."”
Hadith reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 3212 (sunnah.com); narrator Sa'id bin al-Musaiyab
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Wallahi, I have said poetry in this masjid when there was someone in it far better than you.

Hassan ibn Thabit RATo Abu Hurairah RA

Quote · During the khilafah of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Original text & sources

Sahih al-Bukhari
“`Umar came to the Mosque while Hassan was reciting a poem. (`Umar disapproved of that). On that Hassan said, "I used to recite poetry in this very Mosque in the presence of one (i.e. the Prophet ﷺ) who was better than you." Then he turned towards Abu Huraira and said (to him), "I ask you by Allah, did you hear Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying (to me), 'Retort on my behalf. O Allah! Support him (i.e. Hassan) with the Holy Spirit?'" Abu Huraira said, "Yes."”
Hadith reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 3212 (sunnah.com). Note: hadith wording is "Retort on my behalf... support him with the Holy Spirit" (i.e. Gabriel/Jibril) rather than literally "Stand up and write poetry," but it is the same attested episode (Umar rebuking Hassan in the masjid, Hassan invoking Abu Huraira as witness).
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O Abu Hurairah, I ask you by Allah, didn't you hear the Prophet ﷺ say that day, "Stand up, O Hassan, and write poetry, and the angel Jibril will help you"?

withMuhammad ﷺ

Abu Hurairah RADramatizedExact wording reconstructed; the text records only that he confirmed it.To Hassan ibn Thabit RA

Quote · During the khilafah of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Original text & sources

The Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab) Part 1 — Episode 57
View source ↗

Yes, I heard him say that.

People involved4

muslim

Umar ibn al-Khattab RA
reproved Hassan for reciting poetry in the masjid
Hassan ibn Thabit RA
recited poetry; recalled the Prophet ﷺ's sanction
Abu Hurairah RA
confirmed the Prophet ﷺ's earlier words

M
Muhammad ﷺ

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