Na'at Sharīf

Rose-light over Madinah

Na'at is a poetic bridge — praise as remembrance, remembrance as love, love as tawajjuh toward the Beloved of Allah ﷺ.

Verses of praise

Na'at · Persian

Balaghal-ʿulā bi-kamālihī

Attributed to Shaykh Saʿdī Shīrāzī· 13th century

بلغ العلى بكماله · كشف الدجى بجماله

Balaghal-ʿulā bi-kamālihī, kashafad-dujā bi-jamālihī

He reached the heights through his perfection; he dispelled the darkness through his beauty.

حسنت جميع خصاله · صلوا عليه وآله

Ḥasunat jamīʿu khiṣālihī, ṣallū ʿalayhi wa ālihī

Beautiful are all his qualities — send blessings upon him and his family.

Na'at · Arabic

Yā Nabī salām ʿalayka

Traditional

يا نبي سلام عليك · يا رسول سلام عليك

Yā Nabī salām ʿalayka, yā Rasūl salām ʿalayka

O Prophet, peace be upon you; O Messenger, peace be upon you.

يا حبيب سلام عليك · صلوات الله عليك

Yā Ḥabīb salām ʿalayka, ṣalawātullāhi ʿalayka

O Beloved, peace be upon you; the blessings of Allah be upon you.

أشرق البدر علينا · فاختفت منه البدور

Ashraqal-badru ʿalaynā, fakhtafat minhul-budūr

The full moon has risen over us, and all other moons have faded before him.

Na'at · Urdu

Muṣṭafā jāne raḥmat pe lākhoṅ salām

Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān· 19th century

مصطفیٰ جانِ رحمت پہ لاکھوں سلام · شمعِ بزمِ ہدایت پہ لاکھوں سلام

Muṣṭafā jāne raḥmat pe lākhoṅ salām, shamʿe bazme hidāyat pe lākhoṅ salām

Upon Muṣṭafā, the soul of mercy, millions of salutations; upon the candle of the gathering of guidance, millions of salutations.

مرحبا آفتابِ عالم تاب · صبحِ صادق کی ساعت پہ لاکھوں سلام

Marḥabā āftābe ʿālam tāb, ṣubḥe ṣādiq kī sāʿat pe lākhoṅ salām

Welcome, O sun that illumines the world — upon the hour of the true dawn, millions of salutations.

ہر قبیلے میں تمھاری بات ہے · ایسی بات اور بات پہ لاکھوں سلام

Har qabīle meṅ tumhārī bāt hai, aisī bāt aur bāt pe lākhoṅ salām

In every tribe your mention resounds — upon such a word, and every word, millions of salutations.

Na'at · Arabic

Ṭalaʿa l-badru ʿalaynā

The Anṣār of Madīnah· 7th century

طلع البدر علينا · من ثنيّات الوداع

Ṭalaʿal-badru ʿalaynā, min thaniyyātil-wadāʿ

The full moon has risen over us from the passes of al-Wadāʿ.

وجب الشكر علينا · ما دعا لله داع

Wajabash-shukru ʿalaynā, mā daʿā lillāhi dāʿ

Gratitude is due from us so long as anyone calls upon Allah.

أيها المبعوث فينا · جئت بالأمر المطاع

Ayyuhal-mabʿūthu fīnā, jiʾta bil-amril-muṭāʿ

O you who were sent among us, you came with a command to be obeyed.

جئت شرّفت المدينة · مرحبا يا خير داع

Jiʾta sharraftal-Madīnah, marḥabā yā khayra dāʿ

You came and honoured Madīnah — welcome, O best of those who call.

Na'at · Arabic

Qaṣīdah al-Burdah (opening)

Imām al-Būṣīrī· 13th century

أَمِن تَذَكُّرِ جيرانٍ بذي سلَمِ · مَزَجتَ دمعاً جرى من مُقلةٍ بِدَمِ

A-min tadhakkuri jīrānin bi-dhī Salami, mazajta damʿan jarā min muqlatin bi-dami

Is it from remembering neighbours at Dhū Salam that you mingle tears flowing from your eyes with blood?

أَم هَبّتِ الريحُ من تِلقاءِ كاظمةٍ · وأَومَضَ البرقُ في الظَّلماءِ مِن إِضَمِ

Am habbatir-rīḥu min tilqāʾi Kāẓimatin, wa awmaḍal-barqu fiẓ-ẓalmāʾi min Iḍami

Or is it that the wind blew from the direction of Kāẓimah, and the lightning flashed in the darkness from Iḍam?