Imaam Sharaf al Din Al Busiri by Moulana Mohammed Saleh Joosab Arbee

Name/ Title

Imaam Abu Abdullah Sharaf al Din Muhammad Ibn Sa’id Al Busiri al Sanhaji

DOB/DOD

Born in 608 A.H (1211) and passed away in 691 A.H (1294) at the age of 83.

Region

He was from the Banu Habnum clan, a branch of the North African Berber Sanhaji tribe. Born in Egypt.

Synopsis Intro

Imam Busiri memorized the Quran at a young age and then moved to Cairo to further his studies. He mastered a number of Islamic sciences, but used to earn a living by writing calligraphy upon tombstones. He then became famous in the region for his poetic prowess and lyrical skill. He was also hired as a clerk and court poet with the job description of composing poetry in praise of the Sultan. This continued until the transition in life upon meeting his Shaykh in Tariqah .

Teachers/ Shaykh in Tariqah

He was the Mureed (Disciple and student) of Shaykh Abul Abbas al Mursi e (The student and successor of Shaykh Abul Hasan al Shaadhili e). Some of his contemporaries and fellow students of his Shaykh were; Shaykh Ibn Ataa’ullah al Iskandari e and Shaykh Izz al Din Ibn Abd as Salaam e. Shaykh Abul Hassan e was still alive when Imam Busiri entered the Tariqah. He wrote a Qaseeda in honour of Imam Abul Hasan e upon his demise.

Students

Imam Abul Hayyaan al Gharnaati and Imam Fath al Din ibn Sayyid al Naas

Brief Bio

The most important occurrence in the life of Imam Busiri  is the reason behind his composition of the Qaseedah Burdah. In authentic biographies of Imam Busiri  an excerpt is attributed to him in which he describes his experience as follows;

“I was suddenly paralysed down one side of my body by a stroke. I decided to compose this ode, the Burdah. I hoped that it would be a means unto Allah, by which He would cure me. So, I recited in again and again, weeping, praying and petitioning God Almighty. I fell asleep, and in a dream, I saw the Blessed Prophet a. He moved his noble hand across my face and placed his cloak (Burdah) upon me. When I awoke, I found that I had recovered my health.”

Books authored

Most of his poetic works were compiled and published as Diwan al Busiri, (Published by Sayyid Kaylani, Cairo,1374/1955)

His most famous work is commonly known as Qasida Burdah which originally named “al Kawaakib al-Durriya fi Madh Khayr al Barriyyah

Mazar Location

Imam Busiri Mosque, 38 al Sheikh al Banna, al Mazar, Qesm al Gamrok, Alexandria Governorate, on the seashore of the al Anfoushi neighbourhood.