Naat can be said as a particular type of poetry that typically praises the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Many of the renowned scholars and researchers in the earlier days of Islam wrote Naat. People who recite Naat are known as Naat-Khua`an or Sana`a-Khua`an.

History of Naat
History of Naat is indeed very difficult to trace as there are no particular authentication records of when exactly it was started and founded. On a more basic and regular basis, companion of Prophet Muhammad named as Hassan ibn Thabit, started this work. Also he was known as Shair-e-Darbaar-e-Risalat. Even before he was accepting the Islam as religion, he became a poet. But, after embracing Islam he gave a new turn to his poetry and started writing Naats in honour of Prophet Muhammad (saw).

He was popular for his poetry that defended Prophet Muhammad in response to rival poets that also attacked him in his religion. So Hassan is also called as the first Sana-Khawaan (Naat reciter) of that time. After that there were many poets followed this style and entirely dedicated themselves to writing Naats.

Urdu Poetry is very rich in the praise of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Hardly ever has there been any Urdu poet who has not written about him. This is typically inspired from the Islamic Hadith that each act of veneration will consequence in ten blessings of God on the person who venerates.

Language of Naat
Term Naat-Shareef (Exalted Poetry) is commonly reserved and also used for poetry in the praise of Muhammad written in Bengali language, Urdu language, and English language, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, Punjabi language and Sindhi Language.

Naat, in Arabi language is often referred as the Madih (praise), or simply as Nasheed (poetry) or Anasheed (plural). The latter two terms can describe any type of religious poetry.

Anasheed or Naat usually is not accompanied by musical instruments. However some scholars have allowed the use of the daf (small drum). Typically poetry that is accompanied by musical instruments is called Ghinaa (music).

This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com