Qasida al Burdah

[Ruhi_Rose]

Salam dear all. 

Being in the middle of the month of Rabi al Awal, the month of the Prophet’s birthday or Mawlid (12th Rabi al Awal), there has been several questions on the culture of Burdah;  what is it and what is its significance? 

As we are focused specifically on the Noble Quran alone, we are not into the extra Quranic culture at all.  However, it would be useful to know the basics of what Burdah is so we understand better where we need to stand.

In summary, Qasida Al-Burdah or The Poem of the Mantle, commonly known as the Burdah, is a poem in praise of the Prophet (pbuh).  It was composed by Imam Al Busiri of Egypt in the 1200s.  This 13th century ode is a lyrical poem and is meant to be sung. 

It is popular mainly in the Sunni Muslim circles, and in modern times has also permeated much into the Salaf society.  It has been translated into English and also into various other languages of the Muslim world.

Al-Busiri  (1212–1294) was a  Sufi Muslim poet;  he was born in Egypt, and died in Egypt. 

In his Qaṣīda al-Burdah, he claims that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) cured him of paralysis by appearing to him in a dream and wrapping him in a mantle.  Only Allah Almighty knows the truth of such stories.  Speculation of the human mind only leads to growing fabrications.   So, we will not get into that.

There is no such thing as an original Burdah from start to finish as it has been frequently edited and made the basis for other poems, and new poems have been written by interpolating four or six lines after each line of the original.  That’s not a very impressive practice.  A 16th century Egyptian imam born 1567 named Ḥajar al-Haytami said of the Burdah “its popularity has grown to the degree that people study it in their homes and mosques as they do the Quran”.  This is how people go wrong, the human mind misguides the soul with endless exaggerations and hype, opening the door to ideologies of shirk and kufr.  In some societies  the concept of the Noble Quran is fused in the minds of the young with the Burdah, claiming that the Burdah articulates the purest, most intense feelings of affection towards the Prophet (pbuh).  As you can assess, that is a very far-fetched concept.  The fact on the ground is, Burdah by itself has never helped anyone to understand the Noble Quran.  The best understanding of the Quran comes from the depth of one's own sincerity, insight and discernment.  It is also largely because of  the Burdah and similar other poems which have followed, that Hifz in later times has been transformed more into something like a  ‘singing’ session  rather than reading the Noble Quran with the required intonation and focusing on its message and contents.

In medieval times, gatherings were convened to recite the Burdah in Syria, Egypt and the Maghreb, usually on Thursday nights. In these gatherings, a single person would recite the poem verse by verse, followed by the entire gathering’s synchronized chorus recitation of the central verse of the Burdah:  “Mawlaya salli wa-salim daʾiman abadan/ʿala ḥabibika khayr al-khalqi kullihimi”   (Translation “Our Master, send Your Everlasting, Eternal prayers and salutations upon Your beloved, the best of creation in all of its entirety”).  Qasida al Burdah is commonly read and sung in gatherings during the month of Rabi al Awal, the month of the Prophet’s (pbuh) birthday (Mawlid). 

Full English translation with Arabic of Qasida al Burda is in the following link:
Salawat / Qasida Burdah.


And this 👇   Qasida-e-Burda first chapter from original poem.  It's hard to get the original song as mostly we hear the altered ones that mention the names of other personalities as well, that is, Abu Bakr and Omar.  Let me clarify, all 4 righteous caliphs and all 12 imams were very righteous slaves of Allah The Greatest.  However this poem and song Qasida-e-Burda was specifically written by the Egyptian Sufi poet in praise of the Final Messenger (pbuh) and it is his (pbuh) special birthday song.  So, I really don't appreciate the changes.  I like listening to the original as it's a lovely poem.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Walaykom as Salam sister.  Yeah I agree this is a part of general knowledge and people should know what it is so people don't go overboard and keep things in perspective.  Personally, though I absolutely agree with celebrating Mawlid, 12 Rabi al Awwal, however I am not a burdah guy 😄    In our home we observe Mawlid by reading, reciting and simply speaking on the Prophet's biography .. and at the end the ladies might sing the central line of the burdah “Mawlaya salli wa-salim daʾiman abadan/ʿala ḥabibika khayr al-khalqi kullihimi” two or three times, repeating.  That's all.  

The other thing is, one needs to be careful.  As you rightly mentioned, lots of changes and interpolations have been introduced into it.  Many of these Shaikhs and imams have penned their their own burdahs by altering the standard one, and a lot of that isn't compatible with Quanic values and principles.  It also sometimes or maybe more than sometimes demonstrates a state of mesmerization, too noisy at times, too much laughing at other times and so on.  These are just nonsensical and negative etiquette that ruin the dignity of Mawlid.  

By the way, this is a part of the burdah, right?



We have by a couple of other singers in our video board.  

[Ruhi_Rose]

Brother, the way you observe Mawlid is just right.  We in Pakistan follow the same method.   We often close it by reciting from the Noble Quran - Surah Tawheed, Al Falak and An Nas.   An older style is to end it with singing briefly 'Ya Nabi Salam Alaika.'

There are also qasida burdahs with inappropriate wordings amounting to shirk as I have heard as well.  So yes, you're darn right one needs to be ultra careful before joining in with some little known shaikh or imam singing burdah on Mawlid. 

This burdah you posted from Youtube is sung by Mesut Kurtis.  In our video board we have the same one by a couple of different singers.

[N. Truth Seeker]

What is 'Ya Nabi Salam Alaika' ?

[Ruhi_Rose]

The words Ya Nabi Salam Alaika means 'O Prophet Peace be upon you'.   Just a Mawlid song in memory of the Prophet (pbuh).   It was first composed by Syed Ahmed Barelvi, a Islamic scholar and poet of South Asia.  But it also has an Arabic version.  Its wordings are fine, not controversial.  It is a brief song compared to the lengthy qasida burdah.  It's sung in Arabic by Maher Zain, and viewers can also check the wordings appearing in English captions.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Burdah culture is tricky stuff.  Me not too comfortable with it.  I llike the method of celebration you guys mentioned.  We just distribute food to the needy and read the Noble Quran, and conclude it with dua for the Prophet with peace and blessings of Allah .. often in our own words.  This way we know that whatever we mention is in accordance with Quranic values and 100% Halal. 

Br. TS is right.  Sometimes these burdahs can get pretty rowdy.  Someone is singing .. someone else i the corner might say something and laugh loud .. there's no coordination and the noise is annoying.

That common burdah by al Busiri sung by Mesut Kurtis and others is one I sometimes hear only for the tune. These ones are very brief with acceptable wordings.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Thanks a lot for explaining that Sister Ruhi.  Maher Zain has sung the Arabic version very well.  Is the original one in Pakistani language?

   .....

  Sometimes these burdahs can get pretty rowdy.  Someone is singing .. someone else i the corner might say something and laugh loud .. there's no coordination and the noise is annoying.

🤣
This is exactly what happens quite commonly and you bet it's annoying ..

[Ruhi_Rose]

Thanks a lot for explaining that Sister Ruhi.  Maher Zain has sung the Arabic version very well.  Is the original one in Pakistani language?

Yeah it is in Urdu and though not as long as the burdah, it's also fairly lengthy.  However in Pakistan no sings all of that in Mawlid, they sing just the 4 central lines which are

"Ya Nabi Salaam Alaika

Ya Rasul Salaam Alaika

Ya Habib Salaam Alaika

Salawaa Tullah Alaika"

That's it.

   .....

  Sometimes these burdahs can get pretty rowdy.  Someone is singing .. someone else i the corner might say something and laugh loud .. there's no coordination and the noise is annoying.

😂

[Heba E. Husseyn]

There's a Pakistani family who are our neighbors, 3 or 4 houses away.  The sister once said in Pakistan they generally hold that saying "ya nabi" is Haram.   Sis Ruhi, would you know why?  This sister who said it isn't too knowledgeable and often talks nonsense .. and of course she's a hadthist.

[Ruhi_Rose]

No, not the way people may think.  If a person says 'Ya Nabi' or 'Ya Rasul Allah' for peace and blessings from Allah to shower on the Prophet (pbuh) then that's perfectly fine.  But if someone says 'Ya Nabi' with the intention of calling upon the Prophet (pbuh) for help, then that would certainly be Haram, because we call only to Allah for help or for the fulfillment of our desires.
 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Exactly, very correct.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

And btw, what exactly is "burdah night" I often hear hadithists using this expression?

[N. Truth Seeker]

And btw, what exactly is "burdah night" I often hear hadithists using this expression?

It is supposed to be an event, usually not more than once a month, for immersing oneself in an evening of poetical praise for the Prophet (pbuh) and his remembrance.  Its duration is generally 1 hour in which the entire burdah is sung.  Facilities are provided separately for brothers and sisters. 


This is what a brothers' burdah night gathering looks like .. 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Ah, I see it ... so burdah night can also be on other months apart from Mawlid in Rabi al Awal ?

[N. Truth Seeker]

I think so, yes .. probably.