Praise
Praise refers to the articulation of an individual’s admirable qualities through commendation and celebration, characterized by a loving and precise description. It enumerates the attributes and morals that distinguish the praised person and merit commendation. Numerous poets have gained recognition for their praises; some have praised for personal gain or the aspiration of achieving a notable status, while others have offered sincere praise devoid of any personal ambition. Among the most renowned poets of praise in the Abbasid era is Abu al-Tayyib al-Mutanabbi. In this article, we present some exquisite poetry and verses dedicated to the art of praise.
Finest Verses of Praise Poetry
Throughout history, poets have composed countless pieces of praise poetry, with some of the most beautiful examples including:
- كَمَ تُحَدثُ نَامَ الحملُ العجُوزُ مَيُوزِ حَمَلْتُهُ عَلى عَبورِ أُمِّي
Beneath the cloak as bright as the full moon, it revealed a long night of darkness,
And in the folds, or amidst its wrap, what God knows of religion and generosity.
- Had he sat above the sun for his generosity,
It would be said, “Sit down, O clan of Abbas”,
Then ascend in the rays of the sun, you all to the heavens, for you are the leaders of mankind.
- O father of Hind, don’t rush upon us,
And await, we shall inform you of our certainty,
That we bring forth the white flags,
And issue them back as red, for we have been nourished.
- Take what you see and dismiss what you have heard,
At the rising of the sun, what you need not worry about the planets.
- And I have a friend of impeccable qualities,
With steadfast souls amidst hardships like the persistent cries of those in pain,
I also cause to struggle with fragrances surrounding them,
Of difficult beginnings, with fragrance and bitterness.
Poem: Enough Of You Is A Sickness
Abu al-Tayyib al-Mutanabbi, one of the most celebrated poets of the Abbasid period, composed numerous praises for Sayf al-Dawlah. Following his departure to Damascus, he received a letter from Kafur al-Ikhshidi inviting him to visit. Upon his arrival in Egypt, Kafur offered him a residence and sent him thousands of dirhams. Al-Mutanabbi praised him with the following poem in the month of Jumada al-Akhirah in the year 346 AH:
Enough of you is a sickness to see death as a healer,
For death, no doubt, is a hope.
You wished for it when you wished to see
A friend in distress or a foe in disguise.
If you are content to live in disgrace,
Then do not prepare the Yemeni blade;
And do not harness the proud horses for raiding,
And do not praise the noble steed.
For the lions are not saved by modesty,
Nor are they shielded until they become fierce.
I love you through my heart even before your love,
And truth be told, it was deceitful, so you must be faithful.
And I know that separation grieves you,
So you are not my heart if you see me in misery.
For the tears of the eye betray their Lord
If we are in pursuit of the treacherous.
When generosity is not rewarded by escaping injury,
Nobody gains honor, nor does wealth remain.
And the soul has morals that indicate nobility,
Was it generosity that was not brought forth or were you merely stingy?
Cease longing, O heart, perhaps
You see fit to share cordiality with the unworthy.
I was created with a multitude; if my youth departed,
I would leave my grief struck heart torn with sadness.
And yet I find myself amidst constellations,
While my life, my counsel, and my love have met at a crossroads.
And unburdened, we moved through the battlefields,
And spent the nights awaiting our enemies.
They gazed through the blackness as they carried,
Safely cutting through the distance.
To the day of salvation, hidden were the whispers,
Of hoping inner thoughts call us to meet.
They wish to grasp the reins of the morning,
As if upon their necks lie many snakes.
The spirit walks freely with resolve,
As within the body my heart walks, gently drifting.
Should Kafur’s army falter in their deeds,
And he who sought the sea shall drown forever.
But if weakness strikes, there is loyalty in pain,
And patience in rejection along the journey.
Poem: The Guided Born is Light for Existence
Ahmad bin Ali bin Ahmad Shawqi, one of the most prominent poets of the modern era, was born in Cairo and is known as the “Prince of Poets”. He masterfully navigated multiple poetic genres, including romanticism, praise, description, and elegy, often addressing social and political issues.
The Guided born is the light for existence,
And the smile of time comprises joy and praise.
The spirit and the celestial hosts surround him,
Bringing glad tidings for the religion and for the worldly realm.
The throne shines, brightening the courtyard,
The ultimate destination and the lofty Sidra.
The Garden of Distinction gleams with radiant greenery,
With representations as harmonious as melodies.
And the revelation drips like nectar from a chain,
And the tablet and the pen reflect beauty.
The names of messengers are inscribed as a scrolling page,
In the tablet, the name Muhammad as a grand title.
The name of majesty in distinct letters,
There is an “Alif” there while the name of “Taha” is capped by a “Baa”.
O best of whom existence was brought greetings,
From the sent ones to the guided world came.
The House of the Prophets, which never meets,
Except with the truthful and loyal within it.
The very best of parenthood, Adam embraced them,
As the finest of humanity and obtained honor.
They attained the nobility of prophecy and ended,
In her, dignity leads to you alone.
Created for your house, while it was created for you;
Indeed, the great are suited for grand figures.
With you, God has informed the heavens, shining brilliantly;
And glorious scents flourished with your passage.
And your face, radiant with its characteristics,
Is truly dazzled by the light and modesty of your nature.
Upon you, the light of prophecy sprinkled its splendor,
Derived its excellence and guidance from its friend.
Christ lauded him in heaven’s domain,
While the virgin beamed and flared with joy.
A day that bequeaths honor upon time from your dawn,
And your evening is filled with Muhammad’s light.
Truth stands firmly; its spire emerges victorious,
In dominance, no banner shall overshadow.
The thrones of tyrants were filled with dread,
As sounds echoed upon their crowns.
And the fire’s edges emptied around them,
Snuffed the fiery devastation and quenched the deluge.
And signs keep coming as miracles are abundant;
The angel Gabriel carries them, distributing goodness amongst it.
Indeed, a lonely orphan has shown his favor,
And alone, a fortune in intellect it finds.
In the cradle, one anticipates the rain through hope,
And with intent, the wretched strive to fend for more.
With integrity, honesty in youth denied,
The bearers of truth and loyal were not known.
O, the one adorned in good morals, the desire for glory,
From them, what may captivate the accomplished.
With Your Praise, I Conquered Time
Ibn Al-Sa’ati, Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Muhammad bin Rustam bin Haradhuz, commonly referred to as Ibn Al-Sa’ati due to his father’s profession as a timekeeper, earned the title Bahaa al-Din and the Eye of Poets. Bahaa al-Din served many rulers with his poetry of exquisite craftsmanship.
With your praise, I have conquered time,
Embracing my writing over the world and what’s within it.
Its ink is the night and its pages daylight,
And oceans serve as my words while its nights unveil.
It is the mountains, unwavering; praises in the breezes,
No, the sky holds it like they are stars shining bright.
Indeed, Knowledge and the Man’s Truth
He is Hammam bin Ghalib bin Sasa’a from Bani Darm, known as Al-Farazdaq, meaning ‘a piece of dough’ or ‘the large loaf’ due to the massiveness of his face and frown. Born in Basra, he thrived there, writing poetry at a young age but often leaned toward vulgarity, obscenity, and harsh satire. He enriched his life with travel among rulers, alternating between praise and scorn, which featured in many of his verses:
Indeed, knowledge and a man’s truth come from,
The one who has what the news has informed.
That the two lands do not suffice,
After Ibn Yusuf, except for a venomous snake;
Or perhaps a hawk who limits its catch;
With it, the sun and moon shall meet.
Between them a star that unites,
Heals the wounds; harsh events are mended.
He has been deceived; the perished arrive for him,
In his palm, the blood of the doomed, the rains.
Thus the two were liberated from their sorrows,
And Umar raised the stature of the necks of men.
So that heads straighten that were once bent,
On the bodies of those whose souls have been troubled.
From the lineage of Aadi, arises elegance,
For nothing can compete with the tree of Dhu-Biyan.
From it the soil of Qais, if counted,
And the proudest when the sight turns indisposed.
So tell not from Dhubyaan’s excellence is discredited,
If the tribes reckoned their glories as sophistries.
For it refuses to strive with them when they pride,
At the feet of esteem; moral virtues take precedence.
Indeed, for the house of Aadi, in their kin,
There are two that have fortified their prestige in Mudar;
A House of Aali-Sukain that are eternal in stature,
And the house of Badr if they seek to boast.
Among these two, Qais shall find himself beneath them,
Where the human race converge but behind the holy sanctuary.
Hear my praise, as I neither extend apologies,
Except to him whose hand brings expectations of goodness.
And you are that one awaited for charity,
During winters when behind the stones dwell the needy.
And how you have grown among many elders as a king,
For Dhu-Biyan has appeared stronger and leading.
O sons of Sukainia, when their ropes were extended,
There was neither weakness nor a shortness among them.
Two ropes that exceeded the tales of mankind,
And reached as far as the sight can see in heaven.
O sons of the gracious sons of Dhubyaan, indeed the hand,
To me, is the best of hands destined for survival.
You are my hope on land, for surely I am distinct,
From Wasit and all those whom we shall meet.
And I do hope and it is close by, for you are my yearning,
The Prophet’s Family are Beacons of Guidance
Dubail ibn Ali ibn Razeena al-Khuza’i, known as Abu Ali, was a poet and a satirist from Kufa. A close friend of Al-Buhturi, he authored a book on the (Classes of Poets), and among his praises for the Prophet Muhammad and his family were the following:
O family of the Prophet, beacons of guidance,
Not the misguided who lead into misfortune.
Indeed, Allah has revealed verses,
Ascribing praises to them through divine tokens.
Among them is Abu al-Hasan, to whom the enemy is turned,
He pours forth their bitterness not through cups.
If he advances in battle, yet the hope is escaping,
Their joints stumble amongst fallen forms.
The son-in-law of the Prophet, who is exalted above the skies,
Has coupled them with the purest of blooms.
Thus, he conceived the best of the earth after them,
Implying the two martyrs, the leaders of all beings.
When Hassan was given poison of dire choice,
Or upon Hussein, their enemy unleashed its raids.
For such was the demeanor amidst the darkness that spread,
That held back its fury from due rebellion.
O Lord, increase my guidance in loving them,
And heal my heart from the chains of misguidance.
Poem: O Son of the Minister and the Minister You Are
Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Mu’tazz billah bin al-Rashid al-Abbasi was captivated by literature; thus, he sought after the eloquence of the Bedouins, learning from them. He composed several works, including: Al-Zahr, Al-Riyad, Al-Badi’a, and Al-Adab. In his praises:
O son of the minister, indeed the minister you are,
This is your hope, how are you?
Have your lashes flown, yet they did not halt,
Neither did they turn from lofty aspirations.
Until you have reached now what has been accomplished,
And your safety prevails forever.
Poem: And Better Than You, My Eyes Have Never Seen
Hassan bin Thabit bin Al-Mundhir al-Khazraji al-Ansari, the poet of the Prophet and one of the poets who experienced both pre-Islamic and Islamic eras. He defended the Prophet through poetry against the slanders of the polytheists, among which was his beautiful expression:
And better than you, my eyes have never seen,
And more beautiful than you, no woman has ever birthed.
You are created free from any flaws,
As if you were made by your own desire.