Mukhtarat min Ajmal al-Shi'r fi Madh al-Rasul
- Author died
- 1434 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Ma‘rifah
Mukhtarat min Ajmal al-Shi'r fi Madh al-Rasul (Selections of the Most Beautiful Poetry in Praise of the Messenger) is an anthology of Arabic poems in praise of the Prophet Muhammad, presented and introduced by the Syrian scholar Muhammad Sa'id Ramadan al-Buti (d. 1434 AH / 2013 CE) . The work gathers notable panegyrics composed across different eras, illustrating the literary and spiritual dimensions of the devotional genre known as al-mada'ih al-nabawiyyah .
Themes and Preface
In his introductory essay, al-Buti dedicates the collection to the memory of the Companion and poet Abdullah ibn Rawahah, who was martyred at the Battle of Mu'tah . Al-Buti analyzes the traditional flaws (āfāt) inherent in standard court panegyrics composed for kings, rulers, and patrons . He identifies two fundamental shortcomings in conventional praise poetry: first, the unavoidable discrepancy between poetic exaggeration and the actual flaws of human patrons; and second, the extrinsic motivation of material gain or ambition, which often reduces the verses to artificial linguistic craftsmanship .
In contrast, al-Buti argues that poetry praising the Prophet Muhammad is free of both deficiencies . Because the Prophet exemplifies complete moral and spiritual excellence, praise does not suffer from forced exaggeration, and because the poet is driven by genuine reverence and love rather than worldly ambition, the poetry carries emotional sincerity and profound impact . Al-Buti highlights this contrast by citing the poetry of al-Busiri, noting how his verses directed at rulers exhibited artificiality, whereas his devotional odes dedicated to the Prophet displayed sincere emotion and artistic resonance .
The introduction further explores the historical relationship between the Prophet and poetry, referencing the prophetic saying إن من الشعر لحكمة، وإن من البيان لسحرا ("Indeed, some poetry is wisdom, and some eloquence is enchantment") and noting the Prophet's appreciation for meaningful verses recited by poets such as al-Nabighah al-Ja'di, al-Khansa', and Labid ibn Rabi'ah .
Scope and Content
The anthology brings together odes from diverse historical periods, encompassing early Islamic, classical, and modern Arabic poetry . The selections range from early poets who spanned the pre-Islamic and Islamic eras (mukhadramun)—such as al-A'sha, Ka'b ibn Zuhayr (including his celebrated ode Banat Su'ad), and Hassan ibn Thabit—to classical figures such as al-Busiri and Ibn al-Sa'ati .
The collection also incorporates works by prominent nineteenth- and twentieth-century figures of diverse literary backgrounds, including Ahmad Shawqi, Khalil Mutran, Badawi al-Jabal, Umar Abu Rishah, al-Sha'ir al-Qarawi (Rashid Salim al-Khuri), Muhammad al-Bizim, Salim al-Zirikli, Anwar al-Attar, and Jūrj Saydah . Together, these selections illustrate how the veneration of the Prophet Muhammad remained a vital and continuous theme across centuries of Arabic poetic tradition .
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