Qaṣīdat-ul-Burda

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Qaṣīdat-ul-Burda ("Poem of the Mantle"), as it came to be called, is an ode composed by the eminent Sufi Shaikh Abū `Abdillāh Muḥammad ibn Sa`īd al-Būṣīrī (d. 1296) of Egypt. The poem, whose actual title is al-Kawākib ad-Durrīya fī Madhi Khair-ul-Barīya ("Celestial Lights in Praise of the Best of Creation"), is recited throughout the Muslim world.

al-Būṣīrī composed the Burda while suffering paralysis of half his body. After praying to God for health, he fell asleep and dreamt of reciting his compilation to the Prophet Muḥammad. The prophet touched the paralysed body parts and threw his mantle (burda) over al-Būṣīrī. On arising, the shaikh was cured. His story spread and the poem became famous.

Muslims venerate the ode. The poem is memorized and recited in congregations, and its verses decorate the walls of public buildings and mosques. Muslims believe that, if recited with love and devotion, the Burda can cure diseases and purify hearts. Over 90 commentaries have been written on this poem and it has been translated into Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Berber, Punjabi, English, French, German, and other languages.

The Burda is divided into 10 chapters and 160 verses. Each verse ends with the Arabic letter mīm, a style called mīmīya. The 10 chapters of the Burda concern