Ash-Shama’il al-Muhammadiyyah

'A’isha (may Allah be well pleased with her) said that she was asked: "Was Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to imitating any form of poetry?" She said: "He used to imitate the poetry of Ibn Rawaha, and he would imitate his saying: “You will be brought the news by someone whom you have not furnished with travel provisions.”

Abu Huraira said (may Allah be well pleased with him): “Allah’s Messenger said (ﷺ): ‘The most truthful saying spoken by a poet is the saying of Labid: Everything but Allah is surely futile,’ and [the poet] Umayya ibn Abi’s-Salt almost embraced Islam.’”

Jundub ibn Sufyan al-Bajali said: “A stone hit the finger of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), causing it to bleed, so he said [in poetic verse]: 'Are you nothing but a finger that has bled without having suffered in Allah’s cause?'”

Al-Bara’ ibn 'Azib reported that: A man said to him: “Did you all flee from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), O Abu 'Umara?” He replied: “No, by Allah! Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) did not retreat, but those who were hasty retreated, being assailed by the arrows of the Hawazin. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was mounted on his female mule, while Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib was holding its bridle, and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was saying [in poetic verse]: 'I am the Prophet, no lie! I am the son of 'Abd al-Muttalib!'”

Anas said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) entered Mecca during the Visitation of Fulfillment ['Umrat al- Qada'], and Ibn Rawaha walked in front of him, saying [in poetic verse]: “Clear away from his path, O sons of the unbelievers! Today we shall prevent you from bringing it to a halt, with a blow that removes the owls from its way station, and distracts the bosom friend from his bosom friend!” 'Umar then said: “O Ibn Rawaha, you dare to utter poetry before Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and in Allah’s Sanctuary!” But he said (ﷺ): “Leave him alone, O 'Umar, for it will strike them down more quickly than a shower of arrows!’”

Jabir ibn Samura said: ‘I sat with the Prophet (ﷺ) more than one hundred times, and his Companions used to recite poetry to one another. They would also reminisce over things relating to the pagan era [al-jahiliyya], while he was silent and sometimes even smiled with them.’”

Abu Huraira said: “As the Prophet (ﷺ) said (ﷺ):‘The most poetic saying spoken by the Arabs is the saying of Labid: “Everything but Allah is surely futile!'”

'Amr ibn ash-Sharid reported that his father said: "As I rode behind the Prophet (ﷺ), I recited to him a hundred poetic verses, composed by Umayya ibn Abi’s-Salt. Whenever I recited a verse to him, the Prophet (ﷺ) said to me: “Recite more!” until I had recited a hundred, meaning verses,to him.”’ The Prophet (ﷺ) therefore said: 'He was surely near to embracing Islam!'"

'A’isha said: "Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to set up a pulpit in the mosque for Hassan ibn Thabit. He would stand upright upon it, paying tribute to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)’ or: ‘defending Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ).’ He would say (ﷺ): “Allah (Exalted is He) supports Hassan with the Spirit of Holiness, when he defends or pays tribute to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)!'”