Chapter One: THE GREATNESS OF QASIDAT AL-BURDA Sharaf al-Din Muhammad al-Busiri's (608-696?

) illustrious poem, al-Kawakib aldurriyya fi madh khayr al-bariyya (The resplendent stars in the praise of the Best of Creation), which became known asQasidat al-Burda, is one of the literary treasures of the Arabic language. It is a model of true and excellent praise for the Prophet, which contains the rarest pearls and lessons on the etiquette of humility and respect before the Elect One of creation and the Beloved of the Lord of the worlds. This poem was taught, copied, distributed, recited, transcribed on mosque walls, memorized, commented on, studied, and considered required reading by countless scholars, including the hadith masters Sakhawi and Suyuti, and their students. Hafiz Abu Shama wrote a commentary on it that is yet unpublished. Ibn Taymiyya, in the book attributed to him under the title al-Sarim al maslul `ala shatim al-rasul(The drawn sword against those who disrespect the Prophet), said: The foundation of the religion of Islam is built on praising, glorifying, and treating with dignity the Leader of all the Prophets, may peace be upon them all. Such praise, glorification, and treating with dignity is praise for the entire Religion; and its removal is the end of the Religion. By not giving such respect to the Prophet, all religion comes to an end.