“Ya Nabi” – The eulogy par excellence

In this month of “Rabi-ul- Awwal, which is the month of the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam), the recital of “Moulid”, which is commonly referred to as “Moulood” both in Sri Lanka and South India, is an age- old practice. It is done collectively and individually both in the Mosques and in the homes of the faithful.

The concept of “moulid” itself is a form of celebrating a birth anniversary. The celebrations relating to the advent of the Holy Prophet (SAL) is aptly termed “Moulid-un- Nabi”, and the text of the recitals are called “Rasool Moulid”. With the passage of time the practice has spread to embrace birth anniversaries of saints and even to mark great events like the Battle of Badr.

The contents of the recitals marking the advent of the Holy Prophet (SAL) consist of anecdotes referred to as “Hikayath” and poetical eulogies. The latter stands out with relative distinction underscoring the contents and the theme of widespread joy, upon the advent of the Holy Prophet (SAL) . It also has a mixture of thankfulness (shukr), to Allah Subhanahu wa tha’ala, in conformity with the reported Hadees-ul –Qudsie that enjoins the character of thankfulness for all blessings as a mark of a true mu’min. The Holy Prophet (SAL) is “blessings” from Allah (SWT) to all mankind, and the joyous recitals from the Rasool Moulid is a conveyance of appreciation of the blessings in an excellent manner. The contents of the Hikayath, on the other hand are more weighted to fanciful description of the origins of creation and commentaries on the advent of the Holy Prophet (SAL), and on the cultures of the then civilized world. Some of the narrations are unauthenticated.

The poem “Ya- Nabi” takes pride of place in the whole recital; in one part, it is excellent in its contents, as a beautiful poetic representation of the advent of the Messenger of Allah (SWT) in the figure and form of the Holy Prophet (SAL). In the other part it is a shower of glories of the Lord, with humble confessions of human weakness and helplessness, and thankful appreciations of the mercy and blessings of the Almighty Lord.

The advent of the Holy Prophet (SAL) is greeted with the traditional greetings of salaam.

“ Prophet ! greetings of peace unto you
Messenger! greetings of peace unto you
Comrade! greetings of peace unto you
Allah’s merciful greetings unto you”

The eulogistic reference then begins with such exaltations as unparalleled illumination to the whole universe, an incomparable light, the reinforced beacon to guide humanity, and indeed the final resort on the day of judgment. This is followed by the address to the Lord , directly in the second person. In the classical poetic style the addressee is concealed while his glory is revealed with awe and humility. In its reference to the Lord, man’s gratefulness to the Lord for all forms of blessings is expressed without reserve. The glory of the Lord as the forgiver of man’s shortfalls and particularly of those that are secret and under cover, the revealing of which will render him to shame and stigma. The Lord is not only the forgiver of shortfalls but also the keeper of such secrets, as would render man to shame, if revealed. He is the Redeemer of calamities, the Patron of the pious, the Source of all status, the Responder to all pleadings.

The poem is subtly arranged. In the classic poetic form, the Lord is addressed to without the addressee being revealed, until the very end of the invocation.

The tenth stanza begins with the address, “Thou” and connects the addressee in the last of the stanzas, as “The Lord”. In between are the glorious references as “The forgiver”,”The Veiler of the shortfalls” “The Patron of the pious”, “The Knower of the hidden” “The Source of status” “The Responder to the pleadings”. The plea after the glorification is the true expression of humility seeking to be distanced from all wrongs and the pursuit of forgiveness and indeed blessings to all with all that is virtuous..

Some have wrongly interpreted the address as directed to the Holy Prophet (SAL), which is indeed unacceptable. The misunderstanding of this structure has given rise to a great deal of controversy among the Muslims. . The direct address to the Holy Prophet (SAL) ends at the 9th. Stanza and the “Thou” in the 10th.stanza,- “Antha” is a direct address to the Lord, whose identity, following the glorious references emerges in the last of the stanzas, with the final, culminating invocation. “Lord bless us all, with all virtues”.

A misreading of this stanza as a continuous address to the Holy Prophet (SAL) has caused much concern, and controversy, drawing the Muslim community asunder with schools of thought declaring the recital of “Moulid” not only unacceptable but even blasphemous. However a correct understanding of the poetic structure will show that the invocation is correctly and truly directed to the Almighty Lord. It is a near perfect expression of human humility before the majesty of the Lord, and man’s dependence on the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness. Allah is most knowing.