The Importance of Ka’b ibn Zuhayr’s Burdah to Classical and Modern Islamic Poetry

The Importance of Ka’b ibn Zuhayr’s Burdah to Classical and Modern Islamic Poetry

In the rich tradition of Arabic poetry, how can a single ode recited in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) become a foundational archetype that influences poets across centuries, from classical to modern times?

About the Book

The Importance of Ka’b ibn Zuhayr’s Burdah to Classical and Modern Islamic Poetry, authored by Hussam Almujalli and published in 2014 by Darussalam, is a scholarly thesis that examines one of the most eloquent and historically significant odes in classical Arabic literature. The work focuses on Ka’b ibn Zuhayr’s famous “Banat Su’ad” (Su’ad Has Departed) qasidah, also known as his Burdah, which he recited before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) upon his conversion to Islam. The book traces the poem’s biographical and historical context, analyzes its structure and literary features, and explores its profound influence as an archetype of Islamic praise poetry. It investigates how the ode has been referenced in hadith collections, Sufi writings, historical texts, and literary sources, while also comparing it with other prominent praising odes across classical, medieval, and modern periods. The study highlights the Burdah’s enduring role in shaping Islamic poetic traditions and calls for further research on its imitations (mu’aradat).

What You Will Discover

• The biography of Ka’b ibn Zuhayr, his family of poets, and the context of his conversion to Islam
• The story behind the composition and recitation of the Burdah ode before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
• Detailed structural analysis of the qasidah, including debates on the number of verses
• The poem’s significance as an archetype of Islamic praise literature and its influence across hadith, Sufi, historical, and literary sources
• Commentaries, translations, and the posthumous impact of the Burdah in classical and medieval contexts
• Comparisons between Ka’b’s ode and other major praising poems of the Prophet in different literary periods
• The lasting importance of this Burdah for both classical and modern Islamic poetry and suggestions for future studies on its imitations

About the Author

Hussam Almujalli is a scholar whose research focuses on classical Arabic poetry and its role in Islamic literary and historical traditions.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is ideal for students and researchers of Arabic and Islamic literature, lovers of classical poetry, and anyone interested in the historical and artistic significance of praise odes for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) across different eras.