in unison, a single portion from one surah, raising their voices. By contrast, the people of Mecca and Basra would gather so that one person recited ten verses while the rest listened attentively; then another would recite ten verses, and so on until they were finished. Ḥarb remarked, “All of that is good and beautiful.” Mālik, however, censured the practice of the Syrians.

I say: What Mālik criticized is, God willing, the correct view, because it opposes the Sunnah, as has already been shown—although it is in any case impermissible specifically before the Friday prayer, as noted earlier under “Prohibitions,” paragraph 5.

11 – Reciting fine poetry on occasion—especially when it is in defense of Islam—is a form of jihad. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to set up a pulpit in the mosque for Hassān, on which he would stand and boast on behalf of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. In another wording: “He would defend him with poetry.” In yet another: “He would satirize those who spoke against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Indeed, Allah supports Hassān with the Holy Spirit so long as he defends or boasts on behalf of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

This ḥadith is narrated by ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her). It was recorded by Abū Dāwūd—the third wording is his—by al-Tirmidhī, al-Ḥākim (whose version is cited here), and by Aḥmad—who transmits the second wording along with the addition—through several chains from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī al-Zinād, from his father, from ʿUrwah and Hishām ibn ʿUrwah, both from ʿUrwah, from her.