Mawlid al-Barzanjī
Encyclopedia
Mawlid al-Barzanjī is the popular name of one of the most important and universally accepted panegyric
s of the Prophet Muhammad
in the Arabic
vernacular. The complete title of the work is, “‘Iqd al-Jawhar fī Mawlid al-Nabiy al-Azhar (عقد الجوهر فى مولد النبي الأزهر) – The Jewelled Necklace of the Resplendent Prophet’s Birth”. It is work of the poet and Islamic jurist of the city of Medina
Jaʿfar b. Ḥasan al-Barzanjī
.
around the world. In South East Asia and South Africa
, the term “Barzanji” is synonymous with the word “Mawlid
”, which is essentially a colourful celebration and spiritual display of deep love of the Prophet Muḥammad. This is done through poetic description of his blessed conception
and birth
, the miraculous exploits and significant events in his life, and description of his internal and external disposition. It is closed with a sublime supplication seeking the fulfilment of needs of the ephemeral world here and the pleasures of the everlasting abode in the Hereafter.
of Rabī al-Awwal
. In the Muslim households of Asia and Africa, it is also recited to solicit Divine blessings on special occasions such us the birth of a child, moving into a new house, opening of a new business, and even at the time of death - for the hallmark of a believer is to rejoice in God’s blessing (i.e. the birth of the Prophet Muḥammad) than to lament a loss (of a loved one). It also serves to remind the believer that no loss is greater than the loss of the Prophet Muḥammad. Yet, he continues to live in the hearts and minds of the faithful.
) of the Shafites in Medina. Another prominent commentator was Muhammad ‘Ulaysh (d. 1299 AH/1881 CE) , the Highest Juridical Authority (Muftī) of the Malikites in Egypt
. A further popular commentary was by the Sunda
nese scholar, Muḥammad Nawawī al-Bantānī (d. 1316 AH/1898 CE) , a Shāfi’ī jurist
and sūfi
who settled in Mecca
. The titles of some of the commentaries are as follows:
Panegyric
A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
s of the Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
in the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
vernacular. The complete title of the work is, “‘Iqd al-Jawhar fī Mawlid al-Nabiy al-Azhar (عقد الجوهر فى مولد النبي الأزهر) – The Jewelled Necklace of the Resplendent Prophet’s Birth”. It is work of the poet and Islamic jurist of the city of Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
Jaʿfar b. Ḥasan al-Barzanjī
Al-Barzanjī
Jaʿfar b. Ḥasan b. ʿAbd al-Karīm b. al-Sayyid Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Rasūl al-Barzanjī, al-Ḥusaynī al-Madanī al-Shāfiʿī, “Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn” . He was born in the Islamic month of Shaʿbān 1128 AH/1716 CE in the city of Medina in present day Saudi Arabia...
.
The Mawlid Genre
The work is highly revered and widely recited by Sunni MuslimsSunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
around the world. In South East Asia and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, the term “Barzanji” is synonymous with the word “Mawlid
Mawlid
Mawlid or sometimes ميلاد , mīlād is a term used to refer to the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal,...
”, which is essentially a colourful celebration and spiritual display of deep love of the Prophet Muḥammad. This is done through poetic description of his blessed conception
Conception
Conception, or a concept, is an abstract idea or a mental symbol.Conception may also refer to:* Conception, or fertilisation, the fusion of gametes to produce a new organism.* Conception , an album by Miles Davis...
and birth
Birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
, the miraculous exploits and significant events in his life, and description of his internal and external disposition. It is closed with a sublime supplication seeking the fulfilment of needs of the ephemeral world here and the pleasures of the everlasting abode in the Hereafter.
Public Approval
The work has a central place during the annual commemoration of the advent of the Prophet Muḥammad which, according to majority consensus, was on the 12th day of the Islamic monthIslamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
of Rabī al-Awwal
Rabi' al-awwal
Rabi' al-awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believe the exact date of birth of Muhammad to have been on the twelfth of this month, whereas Shi'a Muslims believe...
. In the Muslim households of Asia and Africa, it is also recited to solicit Divine blessings on special occasions such us the birth of a child, moving into a new house, opening of a new business, and even at the time of death - for the hallmark of a believer is to rejoice in God’s blessing (i.e. the birth of the Prophet Muḥammad) than to lament a loss (of a loved one). It also serves to remind the believer that no loss is greater than the loss of the Prophet Muḥammad. Yet, he continues to live in the hearts and minds of the faithful.
Scholarly Acceptance
The acceptance of the work amongst the scholarly elite is demonstrated by the numerous commentaries upon it composed by accomplished scholars including the author’s descendent, Ja’far ibn Ismā’īl al-Barzanjī (d. 1317 AH / 1899 CE) , the Highest Juridical Authority (MuftīMufti
A mufti is a Sunni Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law . In religious administrative terms, a mufti is roughly equivalent to a deacon to a Sunni population...
) of the Shafites in Medina. Another prominent commentator was Muhammad ‘Ulaysh (d. 1299 AH/1881 CE) , the Highest Juridical Authority (Muftī) of the Malikites in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. A further popular commentary was by the Sunda
Sunda
Sunda may refer to:In Indonesia:-* Sunda Islands, a group of islands located in Indonesia and Malaysia** Greater Sunda Islands** Lesser Sunda Islands* Sunda Strait, the strait between Java and Sumatra...
nese scholar, Muḥammad Nawawī al-Bantānī (d. 1316 AH/1898 CE) , a Shāfi’ī jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and sūfi
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
who settled in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. The titles of some of the commentaries are as follows:
- al-Barzanji, al-Kawkab al-anwār ‘alā ‘iqd al-jawhar fī mawlid al-nabī al-azhar.
- ‘Ulaysh, al-Qawl al-munjī ‘alā mawlid al-Barzanjī
- al-Bantānī, Madārij al-ṣu‘ūd ilā iktisā’ al-burūd
Popular Refrain
The work is the source of the popular refrain chanted in Mawlid gatherings around the globe:
عَطِّرِ ٱللّٰهُمَّ قَبْرَہُ ٱلْكَرِيمْ ، بِعَرْفٍ شَذِيٍّ مِنْ صَلاَةٍ وَتَسْلِيْم
ٱللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ
‘Aṭṭir Allāhumma qabrahu l-karīm / bi-‘arfin shadhiyyin min ṣalātin wa-taslīm
Allāhumma ṣalli wa-sallim wa-bārik alaihi wa-‘alā ālihi
O Allāh, perfume his noble grave / with the fragrant scent of blessings and peace
O Allāh, honour, bestow peace, and shower blessings upon him and his family
Contents of Mawlid al-Barzanjī
The contents of the Mawlid al-Barzanjī in English is as follows :- The Prophet’s Lineage
- Before His Birth
- Preternatural Occurrences
- His Childhood
- ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib and Abū Ṭālib
- Adulthood
- His Marriage
- Resolving a Dispute
- The Beginning of Prophethood
- The First Believers
- The Year of Sadness
- The Night Journey
- The Prophet Presenting Himself to the Tribes
- The Emigration
- The Cave
- Surāqa
- The Story of Umm Maʿbad
- Medina
- His Inward and Outward Perfection and Beauty
- The Seal of Prophethood
- His Love for the Poor
- Closing Supplication