Egyptian rapper Wegz sparked widespread debate after incorporating a phrase from a Hadith (a saying of the Prophet Muhammad) into his new song’s lyrics, reopening a broader discussion about the appropriateness of using religious texts in musical work.
The controversy unfolded after it was found the song included the line “Everyone will be judged by their intentions“, which forms part of the well-known Hadith: “Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will awarded according to what they intended.”
This prompted preacher Khaled Zaki to criticize the inclusion of the phrase via a post on his Instagram account.
Wegz inquires about the religious ruling
Responding to the criticism, Wegz clarified that he was unaware the phrase was excerpted from a prophetic Hadith and requested clarification on the religious ruling regarding using such phrases in songs.
“Forgive my ignorance on two counts, Sheikh,” Wegz wrote in his reply. “First, that the sentence comes from a prophetic Hadith; and second, regarding the religious ruling on using a phrase spoken by Prophet Muhammad. If you could reply to me with the explicit text and religious ruling so I can understand better, I would be grateful.”
Wegz affirmed his readiness to alter the song’s lyrics, adding: “The words that are inappropriate to put in a song will be changed immediately. May God guide us and grant us repentance.”
This indicated his intent to remove the controversial line once he learned of its source and received expert guidance.
Fatwa official requests lyrics removal
A Fatwa official at the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta (the official Islamic legal authority), Hisham Rabie, commented on the incident by directing a message to Wegz asking him to delete or modify the segment.
Writing on his official Facebook page, Rabie noted that he had been following the situation regarding the phrase’s inclusion in the song. He emphasized that the sayings of the Prophet hold a sacred status and placing them within an entertainment or musical context may not align with their sanctity.
Rabie stressed that handling prophetic traditions requires reverence and decorum, calling on Wegz to rectify the matter by cutting or altering the phrase while noting that admitting a mistake is a positive step.
He further invited Wegz to visit Dar Al-Ifta to sit down with Fatwa advisers to discuss such matters, reassuring him that the institution’s doors are open for dialogue and that the goal is to offer guidance without targeting art or creativity.
Public reaction
What began as criticism over a religious phrase in a song quickly evolved into a broader discussion about how religious texts should be handled in artistic works.
Wegz’s willingness to amend the lyrics was widely welcomed by his audience, who commended his swift response, acknowledgement of his mistake, and the tolerant, gentle manner in which the religious scholars offered their counsel.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
