Introduction: In Praise of Mohamed

Of kind disposition and nature refined !The Prophet and Pleader of all human-kind!The Chief of the Prophets ! the Guide of the road!Place of Gabriel's alighting! the Trusted of God !Mediator of men ! Lord of raising the dead!The Chief of the Guides and the Judgment Court's Head !A communer with God, circling Heav'n in his flight;All lights that have shown are but rays from his light.The orphan who showed in his reading defect,Abolished the churches of many a sect.When the sabre of dread he resolved to draw out ;With ease, he bisected the scabbard of doubt!When the mouth of the world was replete with his fame,To the palace of Cyrus a shivering came.With "la-illa" he Lat into particles crushed,And before the grand faith Uza's lustre forth gushed.Not alone Lat and Uza beneath his feet fell,He the "Gospel" and "Pentateuch" wiped out as well!One night riding forth, he passed Heav'n's lofty sphere,And in glory and pomp left the angels in rear.In the desert so warmly to God he inclined,That Gabriel was left in his mansion behind.To him spoke the chief of the Kaba divine :—"Oh Gabriel! may higher enjoyment be thine !When you found honest friendship in me to exist,Why did you the reins from my fellowship twist?"He answered, " To me no more power pertained ;I stopped, for no strength in my pinions remained.If but one hair's-breadth higher to fly I presumed,By the blaze of your light had my wings been consumed."From sin unredeemed not a soul can abide;Who has such a leader before him as guide.What suitable praises to you can I pen ?Upon you be safety, oh, Prophet of men !May the blessing of God on your spirit remain !On your comrades and all who belong to your train !First, the aged disciple, Abu-Bakar, stands ;Second, Omar, who twisted a proud Devil's hands ;Third, Osman, the wise, who made vigils his rule;And fourth, Ali-Shah who rode Duldul the mule.Oh God ! by the sons who from Fatima rose !On the word of the Faith ! I now draw to a close.If my pray'r Thou accept or my prayer Thou shun,My hand and the "prophet's" son's skirt shall be one.Oh leader of fortunate step ! what declineTo the height of your glory at God's holy shrine,If a few who belong to the mendicant race,Should be guests and not pests at the kingdom of grace?The Lord has commended and raised you up so,That in front of your pow'r, Gabriel bows his head low.Confronting your power the heav'ns shame display;You had being when Adam was water and clay.At first, as the root of existence you came,And all who have lived, you as branches can claim.I am doubtful what words unto you to address,For you're higher than I can find words to express.In your honour the glory of Laulak will do ;And Tah and Yasin will be suitable too.What praises can Sadi, the faulty, give thee?Oh, Prophet! may mercy and peace on you be !