The verses quoted as an allegation against the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) is :
And as for the poets — it is the erring ones who follow them. Dost thou not see how they wander distracted in every valley, And that they say what they practise not? —(Chapter 26 verse 225-227)
Allah also states:
And We have not taught him poetry, nor does that suit it (the Qur’an). It is but a Reminder and a Qur’an that makes things plain,(Chapter 36 verse 70)
Firstly lets make it clear that not all poets are the same. People have written poetry about the good, and about the bad. The falsehood contained in majority is condemned in Islam. It astonishes me that in the same Surah Allah has cleared up what Poets He refers to yet the Anti Ahmadis ignore this. Allah stated:
Allah has clearly made an exception of those who believe and do good works and by looking at the poetry of the Messiah(as) it is clear that he is a part of this category.
As for the verse stating that the Holy Prophet(saw) was not taught poetry, it is referring to the Qur’an. Imam Raghib (ra) has beautifully explained this:
“In the Holy Qur’an where it states that the disbelievers would accuse the Holy Prophet (sa) of being a poet and a mad man, this does not refer to his speaking in verse. Rather, the allegation which was leveled against the Holy Prophet (sa) was something else. Indeed, it is obvious that the Holy Qur’an is not a form of poetry [i.e., it is neither prose nor verse, but something in between]. This is something which is not hidden from even the common man. How then could the eloquent ones among the Arabs not be able to differentiate between verse and prose. The fact of the matter is that the disbelievers accused the Holy Prophet (sa) of lying. The reason being that the word Shi‘r is used to refer to ‘falsehood’ and the word Sha‘ir means ‘Liar’. There is a Arabic saying which suggests that the best Shi‘r (poetic verse) is that which is most false.”
The Prophet Muhammad(saw) himself would listen to the poetry of the companions which were always about the good. If we look at the life of the Holy Prophet(saw) he himself has also used good poetry.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قِيلَ لِلْبَرَاءِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ، أَوَلَّيْتُمْ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ فَقَالَ أَمَّا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ، كَانُوا رُمَاةً فَقَالَ “ أَنَا النَّبِيُّ لاَ كَذِبْ أَنَا ابْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبْ ”.
Narrated Abu ‘Is-haq:
Al-Bara’ was asked while I was listening, “Did you flee (before the enemy) along with the Prophet (ﷺ) on the day of (the battle of) Hunain?” He replied, “As for the Prophet, he did not (flee). The enemy were good archers and the Prophet (ﷺ) was saying, “I am the Prophet (ﷺ) undoubtedly; I am the son of `Abdul Muttalib. (Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, Hadith #606)
Here is a clear indication of the Prophet Muhammad(saw) having poetry in his own life but not the one the Qur’an condemns, rather the one it allows in the next ayah which the anti Ahmadis have sadly forgot to read.
Here are some examples of the beautiful poetry of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) of Qadian :
Thank for Allah’s Beneficence (Urdu Poem) O Allah, Maker of things, Concealer of faults, AllPowerful; O my Dear, my Benefactor, my Sustainer! How should I thank You, O Bestower of Great Favours? Where can I find the tongue to express my gratitude? It is entirely Your grace and favour that You have chosen me; Otherwise, there was no shortage of humble servants in Your court. Those who vowed friendship turned into enemies; But You did not abandon me, O Fulfiller of all my needs. O my Unique Friend, O Refuge of my life, You alone are sufficient for me; I can’t do anything without You.But for Your grace, I would have long been reduced to dust; Then Allah knows where this dust would have scattered. May my heart and soul and very being be sacrificed in Your way! I know of none who loves like You; Since the beginning, I have been brought up under the blessed shadow of Your protection; Like a suckling was I nursed by You. In no son of man have I found the fidelity that You have; Nor have I come across, apart from You, any compassionate friend. People say that the unworthy are not accepted; But despite being unworthy, I have been granted acceptance in Your court. So numerous are Your favours and bounties bestowed upon me; They will remain uncountable to the Day of Judgment. (Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part V Ruhani Khazain Vol 21 pg 127)
Praise of the Lord of All the Worlds (Urdu Poem) How manifest is the light Of the Source of all lights, Turning the Universe into a mirror For eyes to see His reflection. When I saw the moon yester-night I was overwhelmed with longing, For it reminded me a little Of the beauty of my Beloved Lord. His eternal beauty Has set our hearts afire; Mention not to us the beauty Of the Turk or Tartar. O Beloved! Passing strange and wonderful Is the spectacle of Your glory all around; Whichever way we turn, Is the path that leads to You. Your own light burns bright In the resplendent fountain of the sun; In every star can be seen The spectacle of Your glowing beauty. With Your own hands have You Sprinkled salt upon the souls, Causing great commotion of love Among Your anguished lovers. You have invested each particle With amazing qualities; Who can ever decipher Your boundless mysteries? No one can fathom The extent of Your limitless power; Nor can anyone unravel The mysteries of this intricate knot. It is Your beauty that lends charm To every beautiful face; So are the hues and colours of each flower and garden But a reflection of Your loveliness. The love-laden glances of a beautiful face Ever remind us of You; Every curly lock points its finger In Your direction. To every believer and non-believer, Your countenance alone should be the focal point; But alas! the sightless suffer From a thousand veils. O my Beloved, Your enchanting glances Are like the sharp sword Which cuts off all bondages Of loyalty and love for others. Only to win Your love Have I reduced myself to dust; Hoping, the pangs of separation May be assuaged a little. Except when I am with You I am ever restless; Like the sinking heart of a patient, Life seems to be ebbing away. Wherefore this noise in Your neighbourhood? Pray, tarry not! Lest some love-lorn lover Should perish unknown. (Surma Chashm Arya Rhuani Khazain Vol 2 page 52)
Qualities of the Holy Prophet(sa) (Arabic Poem) O my heart! remember Ahmad(name of the Holy prophet) Source of guidance and annihilator of enemies. He is pious, kind and benevolent; An ocean of bounties and beneficence. He is bright like the full moon; Praiseworthy in all his qualities. His benevolence captures hearts; His beauty quenches the thirst. The oppressors rejected him, So unjustly, and with such arrogance! No one can deny the truth When it becomes manifest. Go and find someone perfect like him; You will be humbled and bewildered. We have not seen anyone like him Who so wakes up the sleeping ones. He is the light of God that has resuscitated All branches of knowledge afresh. He is the elect, the chosen one; The guide, and the source of grace. The rain of guidance is but a part Of the heavy rains of his generosity. The world forgot its light drizzle, When they saw the torrential rain from this leader. Today the mean try to put out And extinguish the light of his guidance. Sooner or later, Allah will manifest his light. O rain that pours day and night, You have been safeguarded from destruction. You have nourished the trees of low lands And high lands with your bounties. We have found you to be the haven of refuge; Hence after finding such a great haven, We are no longer afraid of adverse circumstances, Nor are we scared of the horrors of any sword. We fear not the vicissitudes of time; Nor are we frightened by threats. At the time of every crisis, We turn to our Lord. In many a contest, Between me and the opposing hordes, I emerged victorious, honoured, And a recipient of divine succour. Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Him! As we have recognized our guide. My friend! It is Allah indeed, Who has favoured us with this gift. He is the Night of Decree, Whose bounties are perennial.(Karamat us Sadiqin, Ruhani Khazain Vol 7, page 70-71)
He is our leader, who is the source of all light; His name is Muhammad(sa); he alone is my beloved. All Prophets are holy, one better than the other; But from the Almighty, he is the best of the creation. He is far better than those before him, he is a darling in his qualities; Every eye is focused on him, he is the full moon which dispels all darkness. Those who came earlier, were fatigued halfway; He it is who brought us to the shore; May I be a sacrifice; he alone is the guide. He removed the screen, and showed the secret path; He joined the hearts to the Beloved, such a friend he is! That Friend, beyond all physical limitations, that Unseen Beloved;(Qadian Ke Arya Aur Hum, Ruhani Khazain volume 20 page 456)
There have been sunni scholars recorded reciting the beautiful poetry of Ahmad(as) as well which really shows us how even they have to admit his writings were beautiful.