at weddings and other celebrations, for women and children. Most poetry chanted to stir the soul falls into these four categories: love poetry; poetry of anger and zeal, namely martial verse and satire; poetry about calamities, such as elegies; and poetry celebrating blessings and joy, namely praise poetry. Poets habitually follow their natural impulses, as Allah Most High says:

“Do you not see that they wander in every valley,
and that they say what they do not do?”

For this reason, He states that the wayward follow them. A wayward person is someone who follows his desires without knowledge. This is waywardness, the opposite of sound judgment. Likewise, someone who is astray and does not know what benefits him stands in contrast to someone who is rightly guided. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, says:

“By the star when it descends,
your companion has neither strayed nor erred.”

For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the upright, rightly guided caliphs after me.”

Thus you find poets praising courage and generosity as such. The absence of these two qualities is blameworthy without qualification, while their presence enables people to attain all manner of desired ends. Yet the good outcome belongs to those who fear Allah. Those who do not fear Him have immediate gains, but no good final outcome. Although this good outcome is realized in the Hereafter, it is also realized in this world. Thus, after recounting the story of Noah and his deliverance in the Ark, Allah Most High says:

“It was said, ‘O Noah, disembark with peace from Us and blessings upon you and upon communities from among those with you. But there are communities whom We shall grant enjoyment, then a painful punishment from Us will afflict them.’”

Then, further on, He says:

“So be patient; indeed, the good outcome belongs to those who fear Allah.”

And He said: