see also POETS

• better to stuff the belly with pus than the brain with poetry,

  Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:
  The Prophet said, "It is better for a man to fill the inside of his body with pus than to fill it with poetry." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 175)

  Narrated Abu Huraira:
  Allah’s Apostle; said, "It is better for anyone of you that the inside of his body be filled with pus which may consume his body, than it be filled with poetry." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 176)

  Abu Sa`id Khudri reported: We were going with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). As we reached the place (known as) Arj there met (us) a poet who had been reciting poetry. Thereupon Allah's Messanger (may peace be upon him) said: Catch the satan or detain the satan, for filling the belly of a man with pus is better than stuffing his brain with poetry. (Sahih Muslim, Book 28, Number 5611)

Further reading:

• Islam and Poetry: Analyzing Muhammad's Love-Hate relationship with Poets (see also the discussion linked at the bottom)

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