Nasheed Hub: Qasida Burda Part 1–On Lyrical Loveyearning
The Nasheed Hub, an initiative of SeekersHub Global, aims to showcase the traditional Islamic art of nasheed, or Islamic devotional songs.
Qasida Burda
The Qasida Burda (Poem of the Cloak) is one of the most famous poems of Islamic history. The writer, Imam al-Busiri was inspired to write it after he became paralysed. When he went to sleep, he saw the Prophet, Allah bless him and in a dream, laying his cloak over him. When he woke up, he was completely healed.
The first chapter of this poem speaks of the writer’s love and longing. Rather than directly mentioning the object of his love, he hints at it in true poetic fashion, mentioning Dhi-salam, Kadhima, and Iram, the cities surrounding the Prophet’s city. He further mentions that excessive crying has caused marks on his face, which causes him to admit his love towards the end of the chapter.
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[pdf-embedder url=”https://seekersguidance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Chapter-1.pdf” title=”Chapter 1″]
About Nasheed Hub
Throughout the decades and civilisations of Islam, the vocal tradition, sometimes known as nasheed or devotional songs, were penned as a way of celebrating and giving thanks to Allah for the message of Islam, as well as for the Messenger himself.
These nasheeds were a way for people to turn towards their Lord in joyful celebration, rather than stringent routine. They were also tools to spread the message of Islam in a non-confrontational way. These nasheeds were able to reach out to those who were alienated or indifferent to the religion and the Muslim community, as well as to teach children who were too young for academic study.
These nasheeds originating from all corners of the Muslim world – from West Africa to Malaysia, from Turkey to Great Britian – mirror their own culture but all carry a common thread: love of Allah and His Messenger.
This series will explore the different nasheeds, penned by some of the great historical Muslim figures, poets, and scholars.
With gratitude to The Winterspring Mawlid and Dr. Asim Yusuf.
