(A Poetic Masterpiece Detailing Prophet Muhammad’s Character, Beauty, and Miracles)
By: Shaykh Muhammad al-Yadālī (Mauritania)
Source: Harvard University Blog, titled Arabic Sufi Poetry (by Sulaymān ibn Qidees)
Transliterated & Edited by: Isma'eel Bakare
INTRODUCTION
The poem has a beautiful story. According to Muhammad al-Yadali's own account, a popular poet praised Prince Ahmed bin al-Hiba al-Barkani with a lovely poem in the Hassani dialect, which sparked al-Yadali's jealousy. He felt that such beautiful poetry deserved to be dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instead, so he composed this poem in praise of the Prophet, matching the same meter and rhyme.
THE POEM
صَلَاةُ رَبِّي مَعَ السَّلَامِ ** عَلَى حَبِيبِي خَيْرِ الْأَنَامِ
Ṣalātu Rabbī ma‘a-s Salāmi ** ‘alā Ḥabībī khayri-l anāmi
The blessings of my Lord with peace upon my beloved, the best of creation.
بَادِي الشُّفُوفِ دَانِي الْقُطُوفِ ** بَرٌ عَطُوفٌ لِيثٌ هُمَامِ
Bādī-sh shufūfi dānī-l quṭūfi ** barrun ‘aṭūfun laythun humāmi
Clear and translucent, close by at hand; kind, affectionate, the lion of the gallant.
ذَاكَ النَّبِيُّ الْهَاشِمِيُّ ** ذَاكَ الْعَلِيُ الْهَادِي التِّهَامِي
Dhāka-n Nabiyyu-l hāshimiyyū ** dhāka-l ‘aliyyu-l hādī-t tihāmī
Thus is the Hashimi prophet; thus is the Exalted, the Guide, the Tihami.
ذَاكَ الرَّفِيعُ الْغَوْثُ الْمَنِيعُ ** ذَاكَ الشَّفِيعُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامِ
Dhāka-r rafī‘u-l gawthu-l manī‘u ** dhāka-sh shafī‘u yawma-l qiyāmi
Thus is the Elevated, saviour of the Invincible; thus is the intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.
عَيْنُ الْكَمَالِ عَيْنُ الْجَمَالِ ** قُطْبُ الْجَلَالِ قُطْبُ الْكِرَامِ
‘Aynu-l kamāli ‘aynu-l jamāli ** quṭbu-l jalāli quṭbu-l kirāmi
The essence of Perfection, the essence of Beauty; the axis of Majesty, the axis of Nobility.
نَافِي الْضَّلَالِ ضَافِي الظِّلَالِ ** صَافِي الزُلَالِ لِكُلِّ ظَامٍ
Nāfi-ḍ ḍalāli ḍāfi-ẓ ẓilāli ** ṣāfi-z zulāli li-kulli ẓāmin
The negator of error, the dispeller of shadows; the purity of water, for each who thirsts.
جَمُّ الْخِصَالِ جَمُّ الْمَعَالِي ** جَمُّ الْنَوَالِ نَدَاهُ هَامِي
Jammu-l khiṣāli jammu-l ma‘ālī ** jammu-n nawāli nadāhu hāmī
Abundant in fine qualities, and in distinctions; abundant in favors, his generosity is overflowing.
زَيْنُ الْخِلَالِ زَيْنُ الرِّجَالِ ** زَيْنُ الْفِعَالِ زَيْنُ الْأَسَامِي
Zaynu-l khilāli zaynu-r rijāli ** zaynu-l fi‘āli zaynu-l asāmī
The finest of qualities, the finest of men; the finest of deeds, the finest of names.
عَالِي الْمَنَارِ عَالِي الْفَخَارِ ** عَالِي النِّجَارِ عَالِي الْمَقَامِ
‘Ālī-l manāri ‘ālī-l fakhāri ** ‘ālī-n nijāri ‘ālī-l maqāmi
The exalted light, exalted in honour; of exalted origin, of exalted station.
بَدْرُِ السُّعُودِ وَافِي الْوُعُودِ ** وافِي الْعُهُودِ وَافِي الذِّمَامِ
Badru-s su‘ūdi wāfi-l wu‘ūdi ** wāfi-l ‘uhūdi wāfi-dh dhimāmi
The full moon of happiness, the fulfiller of promises; the fulfiller of covenants, the fulfiller of rights.
قُطْبُ الْوُجُودِ مُغْنِي الْوَفُودِ ** مُدْنِي الْأَسُودِ مِنَ الْحَمَامِ
Quṭbu-l wujūdi mugnī-l wufūdi ** mudnī-l usūdi mina-l ḥamāmi
The Axis of existence, the sufficiency of the travelers; who brings together the black and the doves.
هَادِي الْعِبَادِ هَادِي الْأََيَادِي ** جَالَ الْأَعَادِي جَالُ الظَّلَامِ
Hādī-l ‘ibādi hādī-l ayādī ** jāla-l a‘ādī jālu-z ẓalāmi
The guide of the servants, guide of the hands; victor over enemies, victor over oppression/darkness.
حَامِ الْحَقَائِق غَوْثُ الْخَلَائِق ** صَافِ الْخَلَائِق كَافِ الزِّنَامِ
Ḥāmi-l ḥaqā’iq gawthu-l khalā’iq ** ṣāfi-l khalā’iq kāfi-z zināmi
Protector of (spiritual) realities, the succor of creation; the joy of creation, the sufficiency of the outcasts.
أَسْنَى الْوَسَائِلِ سَنَى الْمَحَافِلِ ** مُسْدِي الْجَلَائِلِ مَرْدِي اللِّئَامِ
Asnā-l wasā’il sanā-l maḥāfil ** musdī-l jalā’il mardi-l li’āmi
Most radiant of intermediaries, the brightest of hosts; advisor to the majesties, who puts down the accusers.
طُودُ الْجَلَالِه بَادِي الْبَسَاله ** نَجْمُ الرِّسَاله بَدْرُ التَّمَامِ
Ṭūdu-l jalālih bādī-l basālih ** najmu-r risālih badru-t tamāmi
The mountain of his glory, his evident courage; the star of his message, the full moon of completion.
سَهْلُ السِّجَايَا جَمُّ الْمَزَايَا ** بَيْنَ الْبَرَايَا وَسَطَ النِّظَامِ
Saḥlu-s sijāyā jammu-l mazāyā ** bayna-l barāyā waṣaṭa-n niẓāmi
Gentle of nature, abundant in virtues; in the midst of creations, in the middle of the group.
مُبْدِي الْعَجَائِبِ مُهْدِي الرَّغَائِبِ ** لَهُ كَتَائِبُ أَسْدُ اللَّطَامِ
Mubdī-l ‘ajā’ib muhdir-ragā’ib ** lahu katā’ib asdu-l laṭāmi
The manifester of wonders, the guide to the objects of desire; he has troops, lions in their blows.
سُودُ الْوَقَائِعِ خُضْرُ الْمَرَابع ** بِيضُ الشَرَائِعِ حُمْرُ السِّهَامِ
Sūdu-l waqāi‘i khuḍru-l marābi‘i ** bīḍu-sh sharā’i‘i ḥumru-s sihāmi
[they are] the black of the battle, the green of the fields; the white of shari’ah, the red of arrows.
وَجْهِ جَمِيلٌ طَرْفُ كَحِيلٌ ** ظِلٌّ ظَلِيلٍ عَلَى الْأَنَامِ
Wajhu jamīlun ṭarfu kaḥīlun ** ẓillun ẓalīlun ‘alā-l anāmi
Beautiful of face, with eyelids adorned with kohl; he shades and shelters all humanity.
فَخْرٌ أَصِيلُ مَجْدُ أَثِيلُ ** خَدٌّ أَسِيلٌ فِي الْفَخْرِ سَامٍ
Fakhrun aṣīlun majdu athīlu ** khaddun asīlun fi-l fakhri sāmin
Of honourable lineage, and illustrious ancestry; smooth cheeked, the honor of Shem.
عَزٌ قَدِيمٌ هدى قَوِيمٌ ** وَجْهِ كَرِيمٌ عَلَى السَّلَامِ
‘Azzun qadīmun hadī qawīmun ** wajhu karīmun ‘ala-s salāmi
Of ancient glory and upright guidance; with a face ennobled with peace.
جَاه عَظِيمٌ مَجْدٌ صَمِيمٌ ** جُودٌ عَمِيمٌ بِلَا انْصِرَامِ
Jāhu ‘aẓīmun majdu ṣamīmun ** jūdun ‘amīmun bila-n-ṣirāmi
His rank is magnificent, splendid to the core; totally generous and kind, without any severity.
خُلْقٌ صَبِيحٌ خُلْقٌ مَلِيحٌ ** نُطْقٌ فَصِيحٌ أَسْنَى الْكَلَامِ
Khulqun ṣabīḥun khulqun malīḥun ** nuṭqun faṣīḥun asnā-l kalāmi
Handsome of form, beautiful of character; eloquent of discourse, most brilliant of speech.
لَيْثٌ جَرِيءٌ غَيْثٌ مُرِيءٌ ** غَوْثٌ بَرِيءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَامِ
Laythun jarī’un gaythun murī’un ** gawthun barī’un min kulli dhāmi
A lion of courage, the rain of the clouds; saviour of the innocent, from every accuser.
هَادٍ أَمِينٌ حِصْنٌ حَصِينٌ ** حَبْلٌ مَتِينٌ بِلَا انْفِصَامِ
Hādin amīnun ḥiṣnun ḥaṣīnun ** ḥablun matīnun bila-n-fiṣāmi
Trustworthy guide, impregnable stronghold; the firm rope, without split.
نَاء مَدَاهُ هَامٍ نِدَاهُ ** مَوْل عَدَاهُ حَدُّ الْحُسَامِ
Nā’a madāhu hāmin nidāhu ** mawla ‘adāhu ḥaddu-l ḥusāmi
The utmost limit of his compass is enthralled by his call; the wealth of his foes, the edges of swords.
ذُو الْمُعْجِزَاتِ الْمُبِينَاتِ الــ ** مُحْكَمَاتِ الغُرِ السوام
Dhu-l mu‘jizāti-l mubīnāti-l ** muḥkamāti-l gurri-s sawāmi
Possessed of miracles, clear and clarifying; and judgements, great and unimpeachable.
أَبْدى الْإِلَهُ سَنَا حَلَاهُ ** زَارَتْ عَلَاهُ ظِبِي الْمَوَامِ
Abdī-l Ilāhu sanā ḥalāhu ** zārat ‘alāhu zibī-l mawāmi
God manifested his sweetness, radiant; his elevated gaze visited the gazelles of the desert.
وَالذِّئْبُ عَنَا وَالْجِذْعُ حَنَا ** لَهُ وَأَنَا كَالْمُسْتَهَامِ
Wa-dh dhi’bu ‘anā wal-jidh‘u ḥanā ** lahu wa anā ka-l mustahāmi
The wolves are caring and the branches bloom for him; as if they were infatuated with him.
وَالْبَدْرُ شَقَّا لِمَنْ تَرَقَّى ** وبات يَلْقَى بِالِاحْتِرَامِ
Wa-l badru shaqqā li-man taraqqā ** wa bāta yalqā bi-l iḥtirāmi
And the moon was split for he who ascended; and was delivered with respect.
وَالصَّخْرُ سَلَم وَالْجَوُ أَظْلَمَ ** لَهُ تَكَلَّم مَوْتَى الرِّجَامِ
Wa-ṣ ṣakhru salam wa-l jawwu aẓlam ** lahu takallam mawtā-r rijāmi
Whom the rock greeted and the sky grew dark; to whom the dead tombstones began to talk.
وَالْبِئْرُ فَارَتْ وَالسِّرْحُ سَارَتْ ** دَعَا فَصَارَتْ خَصْبًا أَزَامَ
Wa-l bi’ru fārat wa-s sirḥu sārat ** da‘ā faṣārat khaṣban azāma
For whom the well gushed forth, whom the free-ranging flock follow; he prayed and the drought became fertile.
وَالشَّاةُ أَبْدَتْ وَالشَّمْسُ رَدَّتْ ** لَهُ أُعِدَتْ دَارُ السَّلَامِ
Wa-sh shātu abdat wa-sh shamsu raddat ** lahu u‘iddat dāru-s salāmi
The sheep became shy and the sun was returned; to him was promised the Abode of Peace.
والضرع درّا الْوَحْشُ قَرَا ** لَهُ أَقْرَا ضَبُ الْأَكَامِ
Waḍ-ḍar‘i darrā al-waḥshu qarrā ** lahu aqrā dabu-l akāmi
The udders became full, the wild beasts became still; his are the settlements of the lizards of the hills (Medina).
وَالْجِذْعُ خَارَا وَالْغَيْثُ فَارَا ** لِمَا أَشَارَا إِلَى الْغَمَامِ
Wa-l jidh‘u khārā wa-l gaythu fārā ** limā ashārā ilā-l gamāmi
The tree trunks bend, the rain gushes forth; when he points to the clouds.
آيَاتُ طَهَ لَيْت تُبَاهِى ** وَلَا تَنَاهِى عَلَى الدَّوَامِ
Āyātu Ṭāhā layti tubāhī ** walā tanāhī ‘alā-d dawāmi
The signs/verses of Ṭāhā are unsurpassed in beauty; and never, ever come to an end.
قَلْبِي لَدَيْهِ شَوْقِي إِلَيْهِ ** يَزْكُو عَلَيْهِ أَزْكَى السَّلَامِ
Qalbī ladayhi shawqī ilayhi ** yazkū ‘alayhi azka-s salāmi
My heart is in his hands, my longing is for him; give as alms unto him, the purest salutations of peace.
مَا الدَّهْرُ لَاحَتْ ذكى وَفَاحَتْ ** صَبَا وَنَاحَتْ وَرَقُ الْحَمَامِ
Mā-d dahru lāḥat dhakā wa fāḥat ** ṣabā wa nāḥat warqu-l ḥamāmi
O how time has become fragrant and overflowing with perfume; and the loft of pigeons coo.
عَلَى الْإِمَامِ أَعْلَى الْأَنَامِ ** أَنْمَى السَّلَامَ مِنْ السَّلَامِ
‘Alā-l Imāmi a‘alā-l anāmi ** anma-s salāma mina-s salāmi
Upon the Imam, the highest of mankind; increase the blessings of peace from The Peace.
إِنِّي لِشَادٍ خَيْرِ الْعِبَادِ ** رَاجِي أَيَادٍ مِنْهُ عِظَام
Innī li-shādin khayri-l ‘ibādi ** rājī ayādin minhu ‘iẓāmi
I, in order to praise the best of servants, can only hope for help from his greatness.
يَامَنْ حَبَاهُ بِمَا حَبَاهُ ** ثُمَّ اصْطَفَاهُ هَبْ لِي مُرَامِ
Yā man habāhu bimā habāhu ** thumma-s sṭafāhu hablī murāmi
O you who granted to him what you granted to him, then purified him, grant me my wishes.
ربِّ امْحُ عَنِي مَا كَانَ مِنِّي ** سَوَاءً فَإِنِّي بِكَ اعْتِصَامِي
Rabbi-imḥu ‘annī mā kāna minnī ** sawā’an fa’innī bika-ti‘ṣāmī
Lord, efface from me, all my evil; for I take refuge in Thee.
وحُطَّ ذَنْبِي وَأَحْيِ قَلْبِي ** فَأَنْتَ رَبِّي مُحْيِي الْعِظَامِ
Wa huṭṭa dhanbī wa aḥyi qalbī ** fa anta rabbī muḥyi-l ‘iẓāmi
Diminish my sin and revive my heart; for you are my Lord, who brings to life dead bones.
كَفِّرْ ذُنُوبِي وَاسْتُرْ عُيُوبِي ** وَاكْشِفْ كُرُوبِي وَاغْفِرْ أَثَامِي
Kaffir dhunūbī wastur ‘uyūbī ** wakshif kurūbī wagfir athāmī
Cover my sins and veil my faults; remove my troubles and forgive my sins.
حَقِق مَنَانَا فِيكَ امْتِنَانًا ** وَاغْفِرْ خَنَانًا بِذَا الْإِمَامِ
Ḥaqqiq manānā fīka-mtinānan ** wagfir khanānā bidhā-l imāmi
Fulfill our hopes in you graciously; forgive tenderly, by this Imam.
قِنَا الْبَلَايَا وَافْتَحْ لَنَايَا ** جَمُّ الْعَطَايَا سُبْلَ السَّلَامِ
Qinā-l balāyā waftaḥ lanāyā ** jammu-l ‘aṭāyā subula-s salāmi
He takes on our trials, O abundant of gifts; open for us, the ways of peace.
وَارْزُقْ لِنَايَا بَارِي الْبَرَايَا ** عِنْدَ الْمَنَايَا حُسْنَ الْخِتَامِ
Warzuq lināyā bāri-l barāyā ** ‘inda-l manāyā ḥusna-l khitāmi
Provide for us, O creator of the creatures, at the moment of death, a beautiful end.
ABOUT THE POET
Shaykh Muhammad al-Yadālī (c. 1685–1753) was a towering 18th-century Mauritanian scholar, saint, and poet whose influence spread far beyond the Sahara into greater West Africa. Born into the Dayman tribe, he is celebrated as one of the most prolific and versatile intellectuals of the "Shinqīṭī" (Mauritanian) tradition.
Early Life and Background
Full Name: Muḥammad al-Yadālī b. al-Mukhtār b. Maḥam Saʿīd al-Daymānī.
Era: He lived during a period of significant social and political transition in southwestern Mauritania (the Gebla region), characterized by the aftermath of the Char Bouba war and the rise of scholarly clerical lineages (Zwaya).
Education: He was trained in the rigorous desert schools of Mauritania, mastering the traditional Islamic sciences, including Law (Fiqh), Grammar (Nahw), and Theology (Aqidah).
Intellectual Legacy
Al-Yadālī was a true polymath. His works are categorized by a rare blend of deep legal knowledge and spiritual (Sufi) devotion:
Sufism: He is arguably most famous for his manual on Islamic spirituality, Khātimat al-taṣawwuf (The Conclusion of Sufism). This text became a foundational manual for nearly all major West African Sufi orders, including the Qādiriyya, Murīdiyya, and Tijāniyya.
Prophetic Love: His devotion to the Prophet Muhammad defines much of his poetry. Salāt Rabbī is his most famous litany, recognized for its "literary dexterity" and rhythmic innovation.
Legal & Social Reform: He was a vocal proponent of applying Islamic law (Sharia) to social issues, often writing on the need for justice and the responsibilities of leaders in a land without a central government.
Key Works
✓ Salātu Rabbī ma‘a-s Salāmi
✓ Al-Dhahab al-Abriz: A comprehensive commentary on the Qur'an (Tafsir).
✓ Khātimat al-taṣawwuf: His widely circulated manual on the path of spiritual purification.
Al-Yadālī’s authority was not based on political power but on his "jihad of the pen." He died in 1753 (1166 AH), leaving a legacy that remains a cornerstone of Mauritanian and West African Islamic identity.
ABOUT THE POEM
"Salat Rabbi" (often beginning with Salātu Rabbī ma‘a-s Salāmi) is a profound piece of devotional literature, specifically a Madh (prophetic praise) composed by the Mauritanian scholar Shaykh Muhammad al-Yadali.
It is widely respected not just for its spiritual depth, but for its rhythmic and structural qualities. Here is a breakdown of the poem’s key elements:
1. Literary Structure
The poem is composed in the Rajaz meter, a common meter in Arabic poetry known for its driving, song-like cadence. This makes it particularly well-suited for recitation and memorization as a litany (wird).
2. Thematic Content
The Salutations: The opening sets a tone of continuous peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Intercession and Protection: Much of the text focuses on seeking spiritual proximity and divine protection through the status of the Prophet.
The Conclusion: A defining feature of this work is its concluding focus on Husn al-Khatim (a beautiful or righteous end), where the poet prays for a transition from this life in a state of grace.
3. Scholarly Context
The poem is often studied alongside its commentary, Al-Fath al-Murabbi Sharh Salat Rabbi. This text provides the deeper theological and linguistic context behind the verses, explaining the specific choices of vocabulary and the metaphysical implications of the praise.