The Poem “The Birth of the Guide” – A Light for Existence
A poem by Ahmed Shawqi praising the Prophet:
Born is the guide, a light for creation,
The face of time adorned with smiles and praise.
The spirit and celestial host surround him,
Bringing glad tidings to the world through him.
The Throne rejoices, and the garden thrives,
While the highest abode and the great Sidra bloom.
The garden of division blossoms with heights,
Translating fragrant verses into beautiful melodies.
The revelation flows like a chain of pearls,
The tablet and the exquisite pen are drenched in grace.
The names of the prophets are inscribed within,
In the sacred tablet, adorned with Muhammad’s name.
His name, in its splendid letters,
With an ‘A’ at the beginning, and ‘Ta-Ha’ following.
O best of those who entered existence, a salute
From the messengers who came to guide through you.
The abode of the Prophets, where only the righteous meet,
Exclusively the devout and the sincere.
The finest lineage was bestowed upon you by Adam,
Above all mankind, and Hawwā (Eve) was honored.
They realized the glory of prophethood and came to you,
In which lies the true honor and noble status.
Created for your house, and it for you as well,
Indeed, the great ones are qualified by the great.
Through you, Allah heralded the heavens, thus they adorned,
And the earth filled with the fragrance of musk upon you.
Your countenance shone with undeniable truths,
And its brilliance became a source of guidance and modesty.
Upon him rests the luminescence of prophethood’s glow,
From the limpid people and his admirable traits.
The Messiah praised him from beyond the heavens,
And the Virgin Mary rejoiced in recognition.
A day that stands out in the era, with its resplendent morning,
And its evening filled with light through Muhammad.
The truth is elevated in its place and honored,
In the dominion where no banner surpasses its praise.
The thrones of the oppressors trembled and shook,
And the echoes of injustice faded before him.
Surrounding fire lies vacant, buried in despair,
As its lapping flames subsided into silence.
The miracles overflow as divine signs,
With Gabriel delivering them with grace.
Indeed, the orphan holds the trace of his favor,
And orphanhood becomes a sustenance and wisdom.
In the cradle, life seeks hope through him,
And through his aspirations, tribulations are alleviated.
Aside from honesty in youth, and truthfulness,
The people of integrity do not recognize him otherwise.
O you whose morals reach lofty heights,
Beyond which the elite ardently admire.
If you had not established a faith, it would have stood alone,
A doctrine that illuminates its way through time.
Adorned you are with magnificent traits,
That attract and enchant the noble-hearted.
As for beauty, you are the sun in the heavens,
And the grace of the friend is like your excellence.
The generosity of countenance, and goodness,
Surpassing what leaders and chiefs have achieved.
Whenever you give generously, you reach sublime heights,
And you accomplish what the seasons cannot accomplish.
When you forgive, you encompass greatness and greatness,
And the ignorant feel no shame in your forgiveness.
When you show mercy, you become akin to a mother or father,
These two bear the characteristics of compassion.
And when you are angered, it is only righteous anger,
No malice nor animosity arises in your heart.
And when you are pleased, that is but a reflection of His pleasure,
As for most, their satisfaction is pretentious and reeking of hypocrisy.
When you deliver a sermon, the podium shakes,
While the hearts mourn and shed tears.
And when you conclude, there is no doubt,
As though divine justice has arrived from above.
And when you protect the water, they shall not taste it, even if
The emperors and kings thirst for its respite.
And when you grant refuge, you become the house of Allah; none,
Shall enter upon it adversarily.
And when you master your inner self, you act justly,
Even if your hands possess nothing but sheep.
When you build, choose the best of spouses,
And when you forsake, the parents are there for you.
When you abide, loyalty appears manifest,
Among your companions and confidants.
And when you take a pledge or give one,
Your full integrity is a guarantee of fidelity.
And when you confront an enemy, you become a roaring lion,
And if you engage, you emerge victorious.
You extend patience toward the reckless, enduring their mistakes,
Until the foolish feel the weight of your wisdom.
In every being, from your might, there is respect,
And in every spirit, there is a longing for your mercy.
The Poem “Muhammad, the Best of the Arabs and Non-Arabs”
Brought forth by Al-Busiri:
Muhammad, the most noble of both Arabs and non-Arabs,
Muhammad, the best to walk upon this earth.
Muhammad, the ever-generous and magnanimous,
Muhammad, the master of kindness and virtue.
Muhammad, the head of all messengers of Allah,
Muhammad, the embodiment of truth in words and speech.
Muhammad, the keeper of the covenant, steadfast in his role,
Muhammad, possessing noble character and virtues.
Muhammad, whose essence was woven with divine light,
Muhammad, a constant beacon since the dawn of time.
Muhammad, the just ruler endowed with honor,
Muhammad, a treasure of blessings and wisdom.
Muhammad, the finest creation of Allah from Quraysh,
Muhammad, the best of all Allah’s messengers.
Muhammad, his religion is indeed true and worthy,
Muhammad, a comprehensive guide on all matters of faith.
Muhammad, his memory is a soul’s reprieve,
Muhammad, expressing gratitude is a duty for nations.
Muhammad, the adornment of this world and its heart,
Muhammad, revealing the darkness and shadows.
Muhammad, a master whose virtues are exalted,
Muhammad, shaped by the Merciful with blessings.
Muhammad, the chosen one, refined by divine favor,
Muhammad, who shields against false accusations.
Muhammad, always welcoming to guests with generosity,
Muhammad, whose neighbors have never wronged him.
Muhammad, the world found joy in your arrival,
Muhammad, who brought forth miracles and wisdom.
Muhammad, on the Day of Resurrection, our intercessor,
Muhammad, his light guiding us from darkness.
The Poem “Send Blessings on the Best of Creation”
By Ibn Al-Janan:
Send blessings upon the best of creation,
And the most honorable of those who possess glory.
Send blessings on he who graced existence,
Whose presence elevated the sanctity of Mecca.
Send blessings on the highest of Quraish,
Whose essence has risen to sublime positions.
Send blessings on the light that dawned,
Dispelling the darkness of misguidance.
Send blessings upon the guide who revealed the path,
A righteous path steeped in truth.
Send blessings upon this Prophet, for he is
Forever compassionate to believers.
Send blessings upon the noble and cherished Muhammad,
None like him among the messengers of grace.
He who attained virtues, commanding respect,
The path of his character is a well-organized chain.
Who could be braver than Asimah in battle,
And among the generous, a shield of kindness.
Radiant in appearance, humility adorned him,
As he increased in dignity and esteem.
Every wise observer judged him favorably,
In the revelation of the wise book.
Witnesses bore testimony to his truth,
As dawns were cleaved by his presence.
Even the sun stood still, enamored by
The beauty of the Prophet’s divine form.
How many signs have testified to Ahmad,
Even objects responded to his divine call.
The trunk mourned, yearning for its beloved,
Clinging to memories of longing and tears.
Glorious are the attributes of the Seal of the Messengers,
Who concludes with enlightenment and guidance.
He has ascended to elevated ranks in the heavens,
Through visions that offer tranquil repose.
To him belongs the banner of praise, undeterred,
And intercession when all find themselves weary.
We seek him on the Day of Reckoning, and verily,
We hope for his immense station.
There is no means for us but the love we bear,
And salutations that bloom with fragrance.
For the finest gift one can offer their Prophet,
Is sincere prayers and salutations.
O you who seek intercession from him,
Send blessings upon him and surrender humbly.
The Poem “Here is a Story About This Chosen Prophet”
By Abu Zaid Al-Fazazi:
Here is a story about this Chosen Prophet,
One that willingly embraces its listeners.
The stones in his palm sang praises,
As did the four guiding leaders.
When a Prophet expresses emotions,
He does not obscure the truth from his followers.
What words convey, miracles relate,
The messages of all previous messengers.
They converge beautifully within Ahmed’s embrace.
The Poem “O Prophet, If We Imprinted the Sun One Day”
By Elia Abu Madi:
O Prophet, if we were to forge the sun one day,
And adorn it with a gleaming sword,
Adorned with radiant shooting stars,
We could not increase your glory or praise.
For you are the bravest of all warriors,
And the greatest leader in the world’s conquests.
Whenever your name passes among a people,
You’d find even the most articulate left speechless.
How many a Syrian you have healed,
And how many a Turk you have brought health to.
How often in Beirut did you protect honor,
And how often did you grant souls peace.
You raged against the crescent, and it fell in fear,
While you motioned for it to take caution.
You struck hard, turning every fort
Into an expansive field of victory.
Your determination rises above the stars,
Causing fortresses and towers to tremble.
From the valleys to the deserts of Sinai,
Until you visited that revered shrine.
From the Sea of Galilee to Damascus,
You tirelessly pursued the wicked Turk.
The soldiers stood as one in their resolve,
And every Syrian became like ancient Jericho.
If Messiah became the ransom for humanity,
Then verily, you preserved the Messiah’s mission.
The Poem “You Are the Prophet, No Deceit”
By Abu Al-Huda Al-Sayadi:
You are the Prophet, there is no deceit,
You are the son of Abdul Muttalib.
Guide me firmly on the path,
For the journey brings me to goodness.
Heal my heart with guidance,
For I am connected to you.
May you never turn away from
Those who have come to rely on you.
Now they approach with hope,
Craving the torrent of your generosity.
And they call upon you in fear,
With a heart trembling in distress.
O helper, O source of all beings,
Present whenever they call upon you.
The Poem “I Turned My Gaze to Praise the Messenger”
By Malik ibn Al-Mahrak:
I turned my gaze to praise the Messenger,
His tales I share and speak of him.
My praise of him is an act of worship,
And in every manner of his virtues, I seek.
My reward from my Lord will suffice in His forgiveness,
As I often linger in conversation, enjoying the moment.
I have drunk deeply from the cup of love, let my song be heard,
In that praise lies a toast for companionship.
After the death of my parents in Mecca,
I endured alongside my grandfather and uncle.
A noble presence that does not bow to any creed,
Nor yield to the allure of worldly temptations.
For thirty years and then three more,
Until the first seven were over, now I recount the tale.
It is constant, constant! O Muhammad, indeed,
I am the truth. So believe it, the time has come.
The way of guidance is clear; here is our scripture,
Prepared to answer your call and guide you.
Thus, O servants of Allah, let us hasten toward your Prophet,
Rushing toward the paradise without delay.
Firmly and resolutely, fulfil your promise,
For the faithful and unfaithful shall not be equal.
Trust in Allah’s reward, for your destiny
Leads to a garden blossoming and a fire of anguish.
Your deeds will bear fruit, and you shall harvest tomorrow,
Taking from it what is sweet and what is foul.
Your faith is rooted in the Prophet Muhammad,
So hold onto it tightly with steadfastness.
Beware, should you stray from his path,
For straying from it leads to falsehood.
The soil of his land is pure; oh, how I long to
Lay my cheek upon its dust and be blessed.
How immensely rewarding it would be to be counted among those
Whose tears flow as they remember him.
Three dreams I have of visiting his grave,
And of seeing him in my sleep, anticipating the day of my resurrection.
Woe to me from friends who are capable,
Of visiting the noble tomb; may they find rest.
It weighs heavily to part from family,
Yet this is the fate we all must face.