AL-BUSIRI'S POEM IN PRAISE OF THE PROPHET ENTITLED QASIDAT AL-BURDA

Excerpted from Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrine, by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, 1998

What is the position of Ahl al-Sunna re ar!in Qasida al-Burda, "hi#h is rea! in f$%% &' (i%%ions of peop%e an! Is%a(i# s#ho%ars fro( the Mi!!%e East) In!ia) So$theast Asia) an! North Afri#a* +an "e #ontin$e rea!in an! re#itin it as "e ha,e &een ta$ ht &' the s#ho%ars that "e -no"* What is the position of M$ha((a! i&n .A&! a%-Wahha& re ar!in that poe(*

+hapter One/ THE 0REATNESS OF QASIDAT AL-BURDA

Sharaf al-Din M hammad al-! siri"s #$%8-$9$&' ill strio s poem, al-Kawakib al-durriyya fi madh khayr al-bariyya #(he resplendent stars in the praise of the !est of )reation', *hich became kno*n as Qasidat al-Burda, is one of the literary treas res of the +rabic lan, a,e- .t is a model of tr e and excellent praise for the /rophet, *hich contains the rarest pearls and lessons on the eti0 ette of h mility and respect before the Elect 1ne of creation and the !elo2ed of the 3ord of the *orlds(his poem *as ta ,ht, copied, distrib ted, recited, transcribed on mos0 e *alls, memori4ed, commented on, st died, and considered re0 ired readin, by co ntless scholars, incl din, the hadith masters Sakha*i and S y ti, and their st dents- Hafiz +b Shama *rote a commentary on it that is yet np blished- .bn (aymiyya, in the book attrib ted to him nder the title al- arim al maslul !ala shatim al-rasul #(he dra*n s*ord a,ainst those *ho disrespect the /rophet', said5 (he fo ndation of the reli,ion of .slam is b ilt on praisin,, ,lorifyin,, and treatin, *ith di,nity the 3eader of all the /rophets, may peace be pon them all- S ch praise, ,lorification, and treatin, *ith di,nity is praise for the entire 6eli,ion7 and its remo2al is the end of the 6eli,ion!y not ,i2in, s ch respect to the /rophet, all reli,ion comes to an end!elo* is a translation of some of the most bea tif l 2erses of that poem, follo*ed by a ref tation of the false 2ie*s cast a,ainst them by the 8Salafis-8 E1+ERPTS FROM IMAM AL-BUSIRI'S QASIDAT AL-BURDA 9$- asta"hfirullaha min #awlin bila !amalin $ la#ad nasabtu bihi naslan li dhi !u#umi

. ask +llah"s for,i2eness for talk *itho t deeds, for . ha2e thereby claimed an offsprin, for one *ho is seedless9:- amartuka al-khayra lakin ma atmartu bihi $ wa masta#amtu fa ma #awli lakasta#imi . ordered yo to do ,ood deeds, b t . did not follo* that order- . ha2e not been pri,ht- ;hat 2al e ha2e my *ords to yo 5 !e pri,ht& 98- wa la tazawwadtu #abla al-mawti nafilatan $ wa lam usalli siwa fardin wa lam asumi . did not make pro2ision of s perero,atory deeds before death- . did not pray or fast beyond *hat is obli,atory99- zalamtu sunnata man ahya al-zalama ila $ an ishtakat #adamahu al-durra min warami <erily, . ha2e *ron,ed the ;ay of him *ho kept a*ake in the dark ni,ht, prayin, ntil his feet complained of their s*ellin,, =%- wa shadda min sha"habin ahsha%ahu wa tawa $ tahta al-hi&arati kishhan mutrafa al-adami ;ho bo nd p his entrails d e to h n,er, and ,irded beneath stones his delicate flank, =1- wa rawadathu al-&ibalu al-shummu min dhahabin $ !an nafsihi fa araha ayyata shamami ;hom lofty mo ntains endea2ored to t rn from himself *ith offerin,s of ,old, *here pon he sho*ed them ,reater loftiness, =9- wa akkadat zuhdahu fiha daruratuhu $ inna al-darurata la ta!du !ala al-!isami +nd *hat confirmed that he reno nced them *as his necessity- <erily, necessity has no s*ay o2er those made imm ne by +llah7 ==- wa kayfa tad!u ila al-dunya daruratu man $ lawlahu lam tukhra&i al-dunya min al-!adami +nd ho* co ld necessity attract to the *orld the one *ere it not for *hom the *orld *o ld not ha2e come o t of inexistence& =>- muhammadun sayyidu al-kawnayni wa al-tha#alay $ ni wa al-fari#ayni min !urbin wa !a&ami M hammad ? Master of the (*o ;orlds, and of the (*o Dense Kinds @h man and &innA, and of the (*o !ranches, +rabs and non-+rabs, =B- nabiyyuna al-amiru al-nahi fa la ahadun $ abarra fi #awli la minhu wa la na!ami 1 r /rophet ? *ho commands and forbids- Cone is more tr thf l in sayin, Co or Des-

=$- huwa al-habibu al-ladhi tur&a shafa!atuhu $ li kulli hawlin min al-ahwali mu#tahimi He is the !elo2ed *hose intercession is dearly so ,ht a,ainst e2ery terror"s onsla ,ht=:- da!a ilallahi fal-mustamsikuna bihi $ mustamsikuna bi hablin "hayri munfasimi He called nto +llah- (hose *ho take hold of him ha2e ,rasped a rope that shall ne2er break=8- fa#a al-nabiyyina fi khal#in wa fi khulu#in $ wa la yudanuhu fi !ilmin wa la karami He s rpasses all /rophets in form and character- Cone of them approaches his kno*led,e or ,enerosity=9- wa kulluhum min rasulillahi multamisun $ "harfan min al-bahri wa rashfan min al-diyami +ll of them come and take from +llah"s Messen,er a handf l of his ocean or a sip of his contin o s rains>%- wa wa#ifuna ladayhi !inda haddihim $ min nu#tati al-!ilmi aw min shaklat al-hikami (hey stand before him ? each at his limit ? possessin, b t one dot of his science and a ,limpse of his *isdom>1- fa huwa al-ladhi tamma ma!nahu wa suratuhu $ thumma istafahu habiban bari%u al-nasami He is the one *hose innermost and o t*ard form *ere made perfect, after *hich the )reator of so ls took him for His !elo2ed Eriend>9- munazzahun !an sharikin fi mahasinihi $ fa &awharu al-husni fihi "hayru mun#asimi He is exalted abo2e ha2in, a partner in his excellent 0 alities- (he essence of his bea ty *as made indi2isible>=- da! ma idda!athu al-nasara fi nabiyyihim $ wahkum bi ma shi%ta madhan fihi wa ihtakimi / t aside *hat the )hristians ha2e claimed of their /rophet7 then prono nce *hat yo *ill in praise of him, and be *ise7 >>- fansub ila dhatihi ma shi%ta min sharafin $ wansub ila #adrihi ma shi%ta min !izami +nd attrib te to his person *hate2er nobility yo *ill, and ascribe to his *orth *hate2er ,reatness yo *ill, >B- fa inna fadla rasulillahi laysa lahu $ haddun fa yu!riba !anhu nati#un bi fami Eor the s periority of +llah"s Messen,er has no limit that a speaker can express *ith his mo th-

>$- law nasabat #adruhu ayatuhu !izaman $ ahya ismuhu hina yud!a darisa al-rimami .f his si,ns had matched his *orth, the mere tterance of his name *o ld ha2e bro ,ht back to life the d st that once *as bones7 >:- lam yamtahinna bima ta!ya al-!u#ulu bihi $ hirsan !alayna fa lam nartab wa lam nahimi ! t he did not test s *ith *hat makes impotent the minds, o t of ,reat concern for s, so that *e sho ld not do bt nor become perplexed>8- a!ya al-wara fahmu ma!nahu fa laysa yura $ li al-#urbi wa al-bu!di minhu "hayra munfahimi )reation is, in tr th, po*erless to nderstand his secret- Do *ill not see any near him or far, except it makes them be*ildered, >9- ka al-shamsi tazharu li al-!aynayni min bu!din $ sa"hiratan wa tukillu al-tarfa min amami +s the s n appears small to the eyes from a distance, and yet exha sts their si,ht pon a second lookB%- wa kayfa yudriku fi al-dunya ha#i#atahu $ #awmun niyamun tasallaw !anhu bi al-hulumi +nd ho* co ld one percei2e his reality in this *orld, *ho belon,s to a sleepin, race distracted from him *ith dreams& B1- fa mabla"hu al-!ilmi fihi annahu basharun $ wa annahu kharyu khal#illahi kullihimi (he s m of their kno*led,e concernin, him is that he *as a mortal, and that he *as the best of all +llah"s creationB9- wa kullu ayin ata al-rusulu al-kiramu biha $ fa innama ittasalat min nurihi bihimi +nd e2ery sin,le si,n bro ,ht by the noble /rophets *as theirs only in connection to his li,ht, B=- fa innahu shamsu fadlin hum kawakibuha $ yuzhirna anwaraha li al-nasi fi al-zulami Eor 2erily he is a s n of perfection of *hich they are the moons brin,in, its li,ht to people in the midst of darknessB>- akrim bi khal#i nabiyyin zanahu khulu#un $ bi al-husni mushtamilin bi al-bishri muttasimi Ho* noble *as the form of this /rophet adorned *ith a hi,h character that encompassed bea ty and *as marked *ith cheerf l co ntenanceF BB- ka al-zahri fi tarafin wa al-badri fi sharafin $ wa al-bahri fi karamin wa al-dahri fi himami

+ form like the soft lilies and the f ll moon in splendor, a character like the ocean in ,enerosity and (ime in endea2ors, B$- ka%annuhu wa huwa fardun fi &alalatihi $ fi !askarin hina tal#ahu wa fi hashami Seemin,, d e to his maGesty, e2en *hen yo met him alone, to head an army or a lar,e company, B:- ka%annama al-lu%lu%u al-maknunu fi sadafin $ min ma!dinay manti#in minhu wa mubtasimi +s if the 2ery pearl concealed inside the shell *ere formed in the t*o molds of his speech and his smileB8- la tiba ya!dilu turban damma a!zumahu $ tuba li muntashi#in minhu wa multathimi (here is no fra,rance e0 al to the earth that encloses his bones- !lessed is he that breathes its scent and kisses it1>B- in ati dhanban fa ma !ahdi bi munta#idin $ min al-nabiyyi wa la habli bi munsarimi .f . commit a sin, my co2enant is not broken a*ay from the /rophet, nor is my connection to him c t, 1>$- fa inna li dhimmatan minhu bi tasmiyati $ muhammadan wa huwa awfa al-khal#i bi aldhimami Eor . hold a bond from him in my bein, named M hammad, and he is the most tr st*orthy one in creation in keepin, his bonds, 1>:- in lam yakun fi ma!adi akhidhan bi yadi $ fadlan wa illa fa #ul ya zallata al-#adami +nd if he *ere not, on the day of my ret rn to +llah, to take my hand o t of m nificence, then yo may say of me5 the foot *ill slipF 1>8- hashahu an yuhrima al-ra&i makarimahu $ aw yar&i!a al-&aru minhu "hayra muhtarimi Ear be it from him to depri2e the petitioner of his ,races- Ear be it from him that the seeker of ref ,e ret rn from his presence discomfited1>9- wa mundhu alzamtu afkari mada%ihahu $ wa&adtuhu li khalasi khayra multazimi Dea, since . de2oted my tho ,hts to praisin, him, . ha2e fo nd him the best of contractors for my deli2erance1B%- wa lan yafuta al-"hina minhu yadan taribat $ inna al-haya yunbitu al-azhara fi al-akami

;ealth from him *ill ne2er fail the hands that became destit te ? 2erily, the rain makes flo*ers ,ro* e2en on r ,,ed hills ? 1B1- wa lam urid zahrata al-dunya al-lati i#tatafat $ yada zuhayrin bi ma athna !ala harimi ! t . do not desire the splendor of this *orld, *hich the hands of H hayr sei4ed *hen he praised Harim, the Kin,1B9- ya akrama al-khal#i ma li man aludhu bihi $ siwaka !inda hululi al-hadithi al-!amami 1 noblest one in creation, . ha2e none from *hom to re0 est protection other than yo *hen the Ini2ersal E2ent befalls1B=- wa lan yadi#a rasulallahi &ahuka bi $ idha al-karimu ta&alla bi ismi munta#imi Do r ,reat standin,, 1 Messen,er of +llah, *ill not diminish for ad2ocatin, me, if the Jenero s 1ne manifests Himself *ith His name of +2en,er, 1B>- fa inna min &udika al-dunya wa darrataha $ wa min !ulumika !ilma al-lawhi wa al-#alami Eor yo r ,enerosity encompasses both this *orld and the one that comes next, and yo r sciences encompass the kno*led,e of the (ablet and the /en1BB- ya nafsi la ta#nati min zallatin !azumat $ inna al-kaba%ira fi al-"hufrani ka al-lamami 1 my so lF Do not despair beca se of a terrible footslip- Jra2e sins, nder the co2erin, of for,i2eness, are as small ones1B$- la!alla rahmata rabbi hina ya#simuha $ ta%ti !ala hasabi al-!isyani fi al-#asami .t may be that my 3ord"s mercy, *hen He distrib tes it, shall match the trans,ressions in proportion1B:- ya rabbi wa i&!al ra&a%i "hayra mun!akisin $ ladayka wa i&!al hisabi "hayra munkharimi 1 my 3ordF Do not let my hope be re2ersed in Do r presence, and let not my acco nt be deemed deficient, 1B8- waltuf bi !abdika fi al-darayni inna lahu $ sabran mata tad!uhu al-ahwalu yanhazimi +nd be kind to Do r ser2ant in the (*o +bodes, for his is a kind of fortit de *hich calamities hail and o2ercome, 1B9- wa%dhan li suhbi salatin minka da%imatin $ !ala al-nabiyyi bi munhalli wa munsa&imi +nd ,rant sho*erin,s of blessin,s from Do pon the /rophet, copio s and contin o sF

1$%- thumma al-rida !an abi bakrin wa !an !umarin $ wa !an !aliyyin wa !an !uthmana dhi alkarami +nd may +llah"s ,ood pleas re be *ith +b !akr, KImar, K+li, and KIthman the noble one, 1$1- wa al-ali wa al-sahbi thumma al-'abi!ina lahum $ ahli al-tu#a wa al-nu#a wa al-hilmi wa al-karami +nd *ith the Eamily of the /rophet and his )ompanions, and their S ccessors the /eople of Jod*ariness and / rity and Kindness and Cobility 1$9- ma rannahat !adhabat al-bani rihu saban $ wa atraba al-!isa hadi al-!isi bi al-na"hami +s lon, as the ,entle Eastern *ind *a2es the stalks of the morin,a-tree, and the camel-leader enli2ens the camel *ith his son,s1$=- ya rabbi bi al-mustafa balli"h ma#asidana $ wa i"hfir lana ma mada ya wasi!a al-karami 1 my 3ordF *ith the Elect 1ne make s attain o r ,oals, and for,i2e s for *hat has passed, 1 Most M nificent 1neF 1$>- wa i"hfir ilahi li kulli al-muslimina bi ma $ yatluhu fi al-mas&idi al-a#sa wa fi al-harami +nd for,i2e, 1 my Jod, all M slims *ho recite this in the Earthest Mos0 e and the Holy Sanct ary, 1$B- bi &ahi man baytuhu fi tibatin harami $ wa ismihu #asamun min a!zami al-#asami Eor the Honor and sake of the one *hose ho se lies in the 2erdant sacrosanct land, and *hose name is one of the ,reatest oaths-