Verses of a Poet-Imam About Himself

Question

What fatwa, by the Sacred Law, the Qur’an and hadith, falls upon such a poet-imam? His whole poem follows: [ar]کون آئے گا ثانی میرا میرے بعد ٭ کون پہونچائے گا پیغام وفا میرے بعد[/ar] “Who will come as my second after me? Who will convey the message of fidelity after me?” [ar]پھول کی طرح جس ایک شاخ پہ بیٹھا برسوں ٭ کیوں نہ ترسے گی گلستاں کی فضا میرے بعد[/ar] “On the one branch where I sat for years like a flower — why should the garden’s air not pine after me?

Answer

It is the very nature of poetry to praise oneself; that is why the righteous did not take up poetry. Nonetheless, nowhere in the verses quoted is there a claim to prophethood — only poetic vehemence, which is unbecoming; but no severe ruling (kufr and the like) can be applied to him.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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