The Poem of Burdah (Read and Listen)

Qaṣīdat al-Burda (“Poem of the Mantle”) is an ode of praise for Prophet Mohammad composed by the Imam al-Busiri of Egypt.

The poem, whose actual title is al-Kawākib ad-Durrīya fī Madḥ Khayr al-Barīya (“Celestial Lights in Praise of the Best of Creation”), is famous mainly in the Sunni Muslim world.

Sheikh Imam Sharfuddin Abi Abdullah Mohammed bin Sa’eed Al-Misree was born in 608 A.H or 1212 C.E. in Egypt. He was well known by his surname Busiri.

Imam Al-Misree also got a compound surname of Dalasaree. He studied in Cairo, where he specialized in hadith and Arabic literature; two disciplines that helped make him the foremost exponent of Muslim religious poetry.

Read Chapter One of the Poem. (And read the full poem by clicking here):

Is it because of your remembrance of the neighbours of Dhi-salam.

That tears mixed with blood are flowing (from your eyes).

Or is it because of the breeze blowing from Kaazimah.

Or it is the lightning struck in the darkness of the night Idam

What has happened to your eyes, (the more) you tell them to stop, the more they continue flowing.

What is the matter with your heart, (the more) you tell it to come to its senses, (the more it is distracted).

Does the lover think that his love can be concealed.

While his eyes are shedding tears and his heart is glowing.

Had it not been for the love, you would not have shed tears at the ruins (of your beloved).

Nor would you become restless at the remembrance of the cypress (tree) the high mountain.

How do you deny love after the testimony.

Borne against you by (such) reliable witnesses as your yours and your illness.

Love has ingrained two lines of fear, and withered your face.

On your cheeks like yellow rose and the reddish tree.

Yes! Thoughts of the beloved came to me at night and kept me awake.

And love transforms pleasure into pain.

O you who reproach me, regarding my love, excuse me.

From me to you if you do justice, you would not reproach me.

My state (of love) has been expressed to you, (now) my secret is no longer concealed.

From those who malign (me), nor is there (something to) check my agony.

You have sincerely advised me , I did not heed it.

For verily a lover is deaf to those who advise him.

I regarded with suspicion the advice of the elders in reproaching me.

(Wisdom) in the advice of the elders is above suspicion.

Source: onislam.net