It is said that one day the Umayyad Prince, and later Caliph, Hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik was at Hajj performing his pilgrimage. The crowd was suffocating and no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to approach the Black Stone to pay his respects. Out of frustration, he erected himself a throne and wasContinue reading “Al-Farazdaq replies to Umayyad Caliph Hisham”
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Between Nubūwwah and Imāmah, there’s a juncture
By Shaykh Aḥmad al-Wā’ili Below is a famous Arabic poem in eulogy of our dearest al-Imām al-Ḥasan ibn ‘Alī (may peace be upon him) composed by the honorable scholar and cornerstone of the Ḥusaynī pulpit, the late Shaykh Aḥmad al-Wā’ili (may God have mercy on his soul). May Allah give all of us the tawfīqContinue reading “Between Nubūwwah and Imāmah, there’s a juncture”
They echo in sighs and exasperations
By Di’bil Al Khuza’i They echo in sighs and exasperations Mourners in tongues, odd articulations[1] Of spirits’ secrets, their breaths are informing Of a past love captives and another approaching[2] Like birds they do flutter in their plight Until the dawn quashes armies of night[3] Upon plains bereft those gazelles of grace Be the praiseContinue reading “They echo in sighs and exasperations”
Al-Muhammadiyyah
Below is a famous poem entitled Al-Muhammadiyyah written by al-Busayri, a famous Egyptian Sufi poet who is also the author of the famous Burda in praise of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy household). This piece is translated into English rhyming verse and on the exact same meter as the original. ToContinue reading “Al-Muhammadiyyah”
al-Qaseedah al-‘Ayniyyah
By Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri Below is the translation of the first half of the legendary al-Qaseedah al-‘Ayniyyah of Iraqi poet Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri (1899-1997). Al-Jawahiri is celebrated as the best Arab poet of the 20th century par excellence. His great grandfather, Muhammad Hasan al-Najafi, wrote the Shi’a fiqhi masterpiece “Jawaahir al-Kalaam” (The Jewels of Speech).Continue reading “al-Qaseedah al-‘Ayniyyah”
Imam Ali al-Hadi to Mutawakkil
It is narrated by Al-Mas’oudi in Murooj-adh-Dhahab that al-Imam ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi (as) was called into the court of the Abbasid caliph Mutawakkil while the latter was indulging in alcohol and merrymaking. He was called to partake of it, but the Imam abstained stating “My flesh and blood can never mingle with alcohol.” ThenContinue reading “Imam Ali al-Hadi to Mutawakkil”
Ahlulbayt Poetry 