Qaseedah Burdah @The Poem of The Mantle
In congestion of Maulid Rasulullah(S.A.W) Month I am going to share the Beautiful Story of My Favorite Qaseedah
Qaseedah Meaning
Qasida (also spelled qasidaho qaseedah), in Arabic: قصيدة, plural qasā'id, قــصــائـد; in Persian: قصیده (or چكامه, chakameh), is a form of lyric poetry that originated in pre-Islamic Arabia.It is one way of poem or rhyme or hymn in Islamic art.
My favourite Qaseedah – Solawatul Burdah
Qaseedah Burdah is also known as Poem of the Mantle or Poem of Scarf. The most recited and translated single poem in the world.
The Poet
It was written in the 11th century by Imam al-Busiri and forms part of a vast body of literature in praise of the Prophet Muhammad. Full name of Imam Busiri was Abu Abdallah Sharafuddin Muhammad ibn Sa'id ul-Busiri (1211–1296). He was born and lived in Egypt.Imam al-Busiri died in Alexandria, Egypt in the year 1295 CE. His grave is well known and is connected to a large mosque. His poem embellishes its walls.
The Qaseedah Chapters
The Burda is divided into 10 chapters and 160 verses. Each verse ends with the Arabic letter mīm, a style called mīmīya. The 10 chapters of the Burda comprise of Love Yearning for the Prophet, Warnings about the Caprices of the Self, the Praise of the Prophet, his Birth, his Miracles, the Exalted Stature and Miraculous Merits of the Qur'ān, the Ascension of the Prophet, the Chivalrous Struggle of God's Messenger, Seeking Intercession through the Prophet and Intimate Discourse and the Petition of One’s State.
The Beautiful Story of Qaseedah Burdah
Poet Busiri's name is well known not only in his own land but well beyond the continent for his elegance and unparalleled poetic talents. Due to his merit, in earlier part of his life he became a very successful poet patronized by royal courts and secretary of state’s of the land. Now coming towards more mature age his life took an unexpected turn. By a sudden stoke half of his body became completely paralyzed and the conditions only worsened by every day. Through his serious physical affliction coupled with a deeper spiritual aspiration Busiri turned inward whole-heartedly.
Invoking the help of Prophet Muhammad and his intercession, he fervently prayed to God the Almighty, with tears, repentance and sincerity of purpose, to grant him a speedy relief from the paralysis. With inspiration and love for the Prophet the poetic instinct of Busiri composed a tribute to the Prophet as a hymn (qasidah). He continued reciting the poem with ardent zeal again and again till he fell asleep. In his sleep state Busiri had the most amazing dream unlike any he had ever before. In that magnificently lucid dream Prophet Muhammad appeared to him and asked Busiri to read the ode the poet wrote for him. When he said, "O Messenger! I wrote many eulogies for you; which one do you wish?" the Prophet indicated the last by reciting the first verse. While Busiri recited the ode, the Prophet listened with pleasure, swaying from side to side. Then as a sign of his approval and reward, the Prophet wrapped his famous mantle around the poet.
The dream came to an end.
Busiri woke up with profound joy. While pleasurably trying to gather the dream together, he realized that his paralysis had vanished, and he was astounded with happiness. Read from the account of the poet himself: "I was suddenly paralyzed down one side of my body by a stroke. I decided to compose this ode, the Burdah. I hoped that it would be a means unto Allah, by which He would cure me. So I recited it again and again, weeping, praying, and petitioning God. I fell asleep, and in a dream, I saw the Blessed Prophet. He moved his noble hand across my face, and placed his cloak upon me. When I awoke, I found that I had recovered my health."
The historical record of the incident continues and as Busiri woke up from the dream near the dawn, the time of Morning Prayer were approaching. He took ablution (muslim way of baptism before prayer) and started towards the mosque where he saw a sufi dervish. With much surprise to Busiri the dervish wanted to receive the ode he recited in the presence of the Prophet the night before.
Reciting the first line exactly, the dervish informed that he also witnessed it in a dream recited before the Prophet, who continued moving to and fro like a tender plant, as a mark of his approbation, and then invested the reciter with a 'Mantle'. Hearing the exact description of the dream Busiri gave him the poem. The report of this incident spread out and soon enough the poem would famously be called "Qasidah al-Burdah" or "The Poem of the Mantle".
When the operation was completed the doctor gave him a bill which covered all the costs. After looking at the bill, the man started crying. Upon seeing this, the doctor said, "If the cost is too high then we could make some other arrangements for you." The old man replied, "I am not crying because of the money but I am crying because Allah (SWT) let me urinate for 70 years and HE never sent me a bill!" SubhanAllah! 
