Poetic Tributes of the Noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم

To become a true Muslim, love for the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is essential. The manner of expressing this love is unique to each individual. Some express their devotion by sacrificing their lives for their beloved Master, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ,  while others do so by dedicating their homes, wealth, and children in his name. Some demonstrate their love by kissing their thumbs upon hearing the blessed name of Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , while others express their emotions of love by writing or reciting poetry (Naʿat) in his praise.

These diverse forms of expressing love for the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم were also present during the blessed era of the Noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم . These revered individuals would sometimes express their love for their beloved Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in prose and sometimes in verse.

Come, let us consider some glimpses of the poetic tributes offered by the Noble Companions in the court of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ,  and strengthen the love for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in our hearts.

Sayyidunā Ḥassān b. Thābit رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ

The leading figure of Naʿat reciters among the Companions, is the famous poet and reciter of Naʿat, Sayyidunā Ḥassān bin Thābit رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ . The extent of his good fortune and favour can be gauged from the following narration:

It is narrated from the mother of the believers, Sayyidatunā ꜤĀishah Ṣiddīqah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا : The Holy Prophet           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to have a pulpit for Sayyidunā Ḥassān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  in the masjid, upon which he would stand and praise the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم or repel (the objections of the disbelievers). The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would say:

"May Allah Almighty assist Ḥassān through Jibrīl for as long as he glorifies the Messenger of Allah or repels objections."[1]

My honour is a shield for them

Observe selected verses from one of Sayyidunā Ḥassān b. Thābit's رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ odes:

هَجَوْتَ مُحَمَّدًا فَأَجَبْتُ عَنْهُ

وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ فِي ذَاكَ الْجَزَاءُ

You censured Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ,  so I responded on his behalf,

And the true reward for that is with Allah.

هَجَوْتَ مُحَمَّدًا بَرًّا حَنِيفًا

رَسُولَ اللَّهِ شِيمَتُهُ الْوَفَاءُ

You censured Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ,  who is righteous and turns away from falsehood,

He is the Messenger of Allah, and faithfulness is his characteristic.

فَإِنَّ أَبِي وَوَالِدَتِی وَعِرْضِي

لِعِرْضِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنْكُمْ وِقَاءُ

Indeed, my father, my mother, and my honour,

Are a shield for the honour of Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم against you.

وَقَالَ اللَّهُ قَدْ أَرْسَلْتُ عَبْدًا

يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ لَيْسَ بِهِ خَفَاءُ

Allah says: "I have sent a chosen servant as a Messenger,

Who speaks the truth; there is no obscurity in it."[2]

I also act with justice and fairness

Sayyidunā Ḥassān b. Thābit رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ once recited these verses to the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم :

شَهِدْتُّ بِاِذْنِ اللهِ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدا

رَسُوْلُ الَّذِي فَوْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ مِنْ عَلُ

I bear witness, by the permission of Allah, that Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the Messenger of the One whose sovereignty is above the heavens and who is Exalted and Lofty.

وَاَنَّ اَبَا يَحْيٰى وَ يَحْيٰى كِلَاهُمَا

لَه عَمَل في دينه مُتَقَبَّلُ

And the deeds of both Sayyidunā Abū Yaḥyā (Zakariyyā) and Sayyidunā Yaḥyā عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام  are accepted in our religion.

وَاَنَّ اَخَا الْاَحْقَافِ اِذَا قَامَ فِيْهِمْ

يَقُولُ بِذَاتِ الله فيهم ويَعْدِلُ

And when the brother of the people of Al-Aḥqāf (Sayyidunā Hūd عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم) stood among them, he called them to Allah and acted with justice and fairness.

The Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: "And I (also call to Allah, act with justice and fairness)."[3]

Fortunate Girls

When the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم migrated to Madinah Munawwarah by the command of Allah, the people of Madinah came out of their homes to welcome him. At that time, the young girls of Madinah offered a poetic tribute in his honour:

طَلَعَ الْبَدْرُ عَلَیْنَا مِنْ ثَنِیَّاتِ الْوَدَاعِ

وَجَبَ الشُّکْرُ عَلَیْنَا  مَا دَعَا لِلہِ دَاع

The full moon rose over us from the valleys of WadāꜤ.

And gratitude is incumbent upon us, for you called us to Allah with truth.[4]

It is narrated from Sayyidunā Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ that the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed by a place in Madinah Munawwarah where some girls were reciting this poetry:

نَحْنُ جَوَارٍ مِنْ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ

يَا حَبَّذَا مُحَمَّدٌ مِنْ جَارِ

We, the girls of Banū Najjār,

How wonderful it is to have Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as a neighbour!

The Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated:

اَللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ اِنِّيْ لَاُحِبُّكُنَّ meaning "Allah Almighty knows that I love you."[5]

In one narration, it is stated that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم supplicated for these girls:

اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ فِيْهِنَّ meaning "O Allah! Grant them blessings."[6]

In the narration of Imam Bayhaqī, it is stated that the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to these girls and asked:

"أَتُحِبُّونِي؟" "Do you love me?"

They replied: "إِي وَاللهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ" "Yes, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah!"

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: "أنا وَاللهِ أُحِبُّكُمْ، وَأَنَا وَاللهِ أحبكم، أنا وَاللهِ أُحِبُّكُمْ"

"By Allah, I also love you, and by Allah, I love you, by Allah, I love you!"[7]

Bestowed a cloak upon hearing an ode:

The Master of the Universe, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ,  declared the blood of Sayyidunā KaꜤb b. Zuhayr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ permissible before he embraced Islam. His brother, Bujayr b. Zuhayr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ , wrote to him: "Hasten to him, for he does not reject anyone who comes in repentance."

Based on this, when Sayyidunā KaꜤb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ arrived, he composed the ode "Bānat SuꜤād" on the way, in which he said:

اُنْبِئْتُ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اﷲ ِاَوْعَدَنِیْ

وَالْعَفْوُ عِنْدَ رَسُوْلِ اﷲ ِمَاْمُوْلُ

فَقَدْ اَتَیْتُ رَسُوْلَ اﷲ ِ مُعْتَذِرًا

وَالْعُذْرُ عِنْدَ رَسُوْلَ اﷲ ِ مَقْبُوْلُ

I have been informed that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has decreed punishment for me, and forgiveness is hoped for from the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . I have come to the court of the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to seek pardon, and apologies are accepted in his court.[8]

When Sayyidunā KaꜤb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reached this verse:

اِنَّ الرَّسُوْلَ لَنُوْر یُسْتَضَاءُ بِہٖ

مُھَنَّد مِّنْ سُیُوِف اللّٰہِ مَسْلُوْلُ

Indeed, the Messenger صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a light from which radiance is obtained,

He is an unsheathed Indian sword among the swords of Allah.

The mercy to the worlds, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ,  bestowed his blessed cloak upon him. Sayyidunā Ameer MuꜤāwiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ wished to acquire that cloak for ten thousand dirhams, but Sayyidunā KaꜤb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  said: "I do not prefer anyone over myself when it comes to the cloak of the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ." After the demise of Sayyidunā Ka'b رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ , Sayyidunā Ameer MuꜤāwiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ acquired the cloak from his heirs for twenty thousand dirhams.[9]

A Verse was amended

Sayyidunā KaꜤb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ stated in his ode:

انَّ الرَّسُوْلَ لَنَارٌ یُسْتَضَاءُ بِہ

وَصَارِمٌ مِّنْ سُیُوفِ الْھِنْدِ مَسْلُولُ

It was said: Say "نُورٌ" instead of "نار" (fire) and "سُیُوفِ الله" instead of "سُیُوفِ الْھِنْد" (swords of India).[10]

This Qaṣīdah consists of 48 verses.[11]

May Allah the Almighty grant us and our future generations the ability to praise and glorify Allah's Beloved صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم until our last breath, for the sake of the Noble Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم  and the daughters of Madinah who composed and recited odes of the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ