The Book of Poetry - Sahih Muslim 2256 e

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger Muhammad.

Textual Analysis

The noble hadith transmitted by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) affirmed the truest statement uttered by any poet to be the words of Labid ibn Rabi'ah: "Alā kullu shay'in mā khalā Allāha bāṭilun" - "Behold! Apart from Allah everything is vain."

This declaration carries profound theological significance, as it establishes the fundamental Islamic principle of tawḥīd (divine unity) and the transient nature of all creation.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) explains in his commentary on Sahih Muslim that this statement contains the essence of Islamic monotheism. The word "bāṭil" (vain/null) indicates that everything besides Allah lacks intrinsic reality and permanence.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that the Prophet's endorsement of this poetic line demonstrates Islam's recognition of truth regardless of its source, while simultaneously distinguishing between permissible poetry that contains wisdom and forbidden poetry that promotes falsehood or immorality.

The scholars emphasize that this hadith does not constitute blanket approval of poetry, but rather specific approval of statements that align with divine truth, even when uttered by pre-Islamic poets.

Spiritual Implications

This teaching directs believers to recognize the ephemeral nature of worldly existence and to anchor their hearts firmly in the Eternal Reality - Allah alone.

It serves as a powerful reminder that all pursuits, possessions, and relationships are ultimately transient except when connected to divine purpose and seeking Allah's pleasure.

The recognition that everything besides Allah is vain protects the believer from excessive attachment to worldly matters and strengthens their orientation toward the hereafter.

Conclusion

This prophetic affirmation establishes a criterion for evaluating all human expressions: their conformity to divine truth. It teaches us to discern wisdom wherever it may be found while maintaining proper theological foundations.

May Allah grant us understanding of His unity and enable us to live in accordance with this fundamental truth. All success is from Allah alone.