English
In Praise of the Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him
Noble in nature, beautiful in character, the prophet of all creation, the intercessor for the nations.
Leader of the messengers, guide of the path, trustee of God, the one to whom Gabriel descends.
Intercessor of humankind, master of resurrection and the raising of the dead, the guide of right, presider over the assembly of Judgment Day.
A Moses whose Mount Sinai is the turning heavens; every light is a ray of his light.
The obeyed intercessor, the generous Prophet: fair-faced, stately of build, and gracious of manner.
An orphan who, before he could even read the Quran fully, washed away the libraries of whole nations.
When his resolve drew the sword of awe, by a miracle he split the moon in two.
When his fame spread through the mouths of the world, the palace of Khosrow trembled to its foundations.
With his 'no god' he shattered the idol Lat to dust; by honoring the faith he drained away Uzza's glory.
He did not merely reduce Lat and Uzza to dust; he rendered the Torah and the Gospel obsolete.
One night he mounted and passed beyond the heavens; in majesty and rank he surpassed the angels.
He rode so eagerly into the wilderness of nearness that Gabriel was left behind at the Lote Tree of the boundary.
The lord of the Sacred House said to him, 'Carrier of revelation, ride higher.'
'Since you found me sincere in friendship, why do you turn your reins away from my company?'
Gabriel said, 'There is no room left for me to go further; I have stopped, for my wings have no more strength.'
'If I fly higher, even by a hair's breadth, the blaze of the divine radiance will burn my wings.'
No one whose leader is such a master stays trapped in the debt of sin.
What worthy praise can I offer you? Peace be upon you, Prophet of all creation.
May the blessing of the angels be upon your soul, and upon your companions and your followers.
First, Abu Bakr, the elder disciple; then Umar, who broke the grip of the rebel demon.
The wise Uthman, who kept vigil through the nights; and fourth, Ali, the king who rode Duldul.
My God, by the truth of the children of Fatima, let me seal my life upon my faith.
Whether you accept my plea or reject it, I cling to the hem and the hand of the Prophet's family.
What loss would it be, O blessed leader, to your lofty rank at the court of the Living God,
if a handful of beggars in your train were guests, uninvited, at the feast of your abode of peace?
God Himself praised and glorified you; Gabriel kissed the ground before your worth.
The high heavens are ashamed before your rank; you were already created when Adam was still water and clay.
You came as the root of existence from the very first; everything else that came to be is your branch.
I do not know which words to speak to you, for you are higher than anything I could say.
The glory of 'but for you' is honor enough for you; the praise of Ta-Ha and Ya-Sin is enough.
How can Saadi, imperfect as he is, describe you? Blessings be upon you, Prophet of peace.