The Role of Poetry in Defending Early Islam

The Mass Media of the 7th Century

In 7th-century Arabia, poetry was the equivalent of modern-day mass media. A powerful poem could elevate a tribe's status or destroy its reputation overnight. When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) began preaching Islam, the Quraish employed their best poets to launch psychological warfare and propaganda campaigns against him.

Hassan bin Thabit: The Poet of the Prophet

To counter this propaganda, the Prophet (PBUH) enlisted the help of Muslim poets, the most famous being Hassan bin Thabit (RA). Hassan possessed a razor-sharp intellect and unparalleled linguistic skills. The Prophet (PBUH) even set up a special pulpit for him in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi to recite poetry defending Islam.

The Power of Words

The Prophet (PBUH) encouraged Hassan (RA), stating: "Respond to them (in poetry), and Jibril (Gabriel) is with you." His poetry was so devastatingly effective in dismantling the arguments of the pagans that the Prophet remarked his words were more painful to the enemy than a barrage of arrows.

The Foundation of Naat

Hassan bin Thabit's beautiful verses praising the character, physical beauty, and morality of the Prophet (PBUH) serve as the foundation of the modern Naat tradition. His famous couplet: "My eyes have never seen anyone more handsome than you, and no woman has ever given birth to anyone more beautiful than you," remains iconic.