Eulogy on Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

(Selection from Armoghan-e-Naat)

Compiled by Shafiq Barelvi

Book Review by Shumaila Munib Shumail

Shafiq Barelvi is a prominent Pakistani scholar, poet, and editor, known for his work in the compilation and translation of Islamic literature. He wrote a few books in his life, and he was also an editor of a women’s magazine.  “. He has rendered significant services in the preservation and promotion of Urdu sacred poetry, especially Naat. Barelvi’s skills as a poet and composer we have seen in his book. Barelvi’s efforts in bringing together respected translators of the sacred poetry of Armaghan Naat into English are a testament to his dedication to spreading the message of the Prophet’s love beyond linguistic boundaries. His work has had a lasting impact on Islamic literature, ensuring that the beauty of Naat poetry has always been appreciated by readers around the world.

Eulogy on Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

(selection from Armoghan-e-Naat)

Shafiq Barelvi worked very hard to draw the attention of his few friends from English literature to the translations of Naat, and thus the translation of selected Naats from “Armaghan Naat” came to be seen. In this collection, Naats of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu have been translated into English in a very smooth manner, which can be easily understood by a reader who understands English. It includes 14 hundred years of Naatiya poetry in which the Naats of the companion of Rasool Allah (pbuh), Taabieen, Auliya (R.A.), and some poets who belong to Urdu literature have been combined. In this sense, this book “Eulogy on the Holy Prophet” with the poetic translation of Shafiq Barelvi is very crucial.

I do not deny the importance and usefulness of the book, but I strongly object to its name. The term “eulogy” is not typically used to describe a Naat. Let me explain why:” Eulogy” in a general sense; this word is often used as someone who obituaries or martyrs after the death for his or her praise, but for Naat, terms like “praise, veneration, reverence, acclaim, panegyric, homage, glorification, devotional poetry, or even tribute “are more commonly used this word for Naat, but it is not accepted when translating or describing its nature in English. This word “eulogy” might not convey the deep reverence and spiritual connection that the term “Naat” embodies.

Translation work:

As a translator, Naat’s translations have been made by famous writers of English literature, but their translations are simple and easy, which can be a reason for ease for a reader who understands English but cannot reach the international standard. It is the earliest form of poetry in Naat’s series in English literature, and I appreciate his effort and passion.

The fact that he combined the poetry of Naat of the early period of Islam and later Companions on the canvas of Naat with the zeal, hard work, dedication, and love of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is ap”preciable. But this work of them and of Mutrajmeen will continue to be a source of pride and reward for them till the end of the world, God willing him.

Poet’s names are listed below with the translator:

1-Hadrat Abu Talib b. Abd Al-Muttalib (S.M.A. Imam)

2.Hadrat Hamzah b. Abd Al-Muttalib b. Hashim(M.H. Sayyid)

3. Hadrat Abd-Allah b. Rawaha(Dr. Jameel Jalibi)Hadrat Fatima Al-Zehrah (S.M.A. Imam)

5. Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Jalil Kidwai)

6. Hadrat Abu Sufyan b. Al-Haris b. Abd Al-Muttalib(Dr. G. Allana)

7.Hadrat Umar Farooq(Jalil Kidwai)

8.Hadrat Abbas b. Abd Al-Muttalib(Dr. G. Allana)

9. Hadrat Uthman Ghani (Dr. G. Allana)

10. Hadrat Ali Murtaza(S.M.A. Imam)

11. Hadrat Kaa’ab Bin Zuhair(Dr. G. Allana)

12. Ummul Mo-minin Hadrat Ayishah Siddiqa(Dr. G. Allana)

13. Hadrat Hassan Bin Sabit(Dr. G. Allana)

14. Imam Zain Ul Abedin (Ali Sajjad b. Husain)(Dr. G. Allana)

15. Imam Azam Abu Hanifa Koofi (Noman Bin Sabit)(Dr. G. Allana)

16.Firdausi (Abul Qasim Hasan b. Sharaf Shah Toosi)(M.H. Sayyid)

17. Sanai Ghaznavi (Mujduddin Abul Mujd)(M.H. Sayyid)

18.Khayyam (Umer Bin Ibrahim)(M.H. Sayyid)

19.Ibn-Al Arabi (Abu Bakr Mohiuddin)(Dr. G. Allana)

20.Sa’adi’ Shirazi (Shaikh Musleh Uddin)(M.H. Sayyid)

21. Busiri (Sharafuddin Abu Abdullah Muhammad b. Zaid)(Dr. G. Allana)

22. Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya Badayuni, Later Dehlavi(M.H. Sayyid)

23. Hadrat Amir Khusro Ibn Abil-Hasan Lachin(Prof. Ahmad Ali)

24. Hafiz Shirazi (Shamsuddin Mohammad) (Dr. Jameel Jalibi)

25.Ibn Khaldun (Waliuddin Abdul Rehman) (Dr. G. Allana)

26. Jami (Maulana Nooruddin Abdurrehman) (M.H. Sayyid)

27.Urfi (Maulana Jamaluddin)(M.H. Sayyid)

28.Faizi (Abul Faiz)(M.H. Sayyid)

29.Naziri Nishapuri(Dr. Jameel Jalibi)

30. Qudsi (Haji Jan Muhammad)(M.H. Sayyid)

31.Maulana Shah Wali Ullah Mohaddis Dehlavi(Dr.. G. Allana)

32.Azad Bilgrami (Sayyid Ghulam Ali Husainy Wasti)(Dr. G. Allana)

33.Mir Hasan Dehlavi (Sayyid Ali)(Dr. G. Allana)

34.Maulana Shah Rafiuddin Dehlavi Ibn Shah Waliullah(Dr. G. Allana)

Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlavi Ibn Shah Waliullah(Dr. G. Allana)

36. Shah Niaz Barelvi (Niaz Ahmad Chishti Qadri)(Jalil Kidwai)

37.Maulana Mohammad Fazal-e-Haq Khairabadi(Rafique Khawar)

38.Ghalib (Mirza Asadullah Khan Dehlavi(Mohammad Hasan)

39.Shaifta (Nawab Mustafa Khan Dehlavi)(Dr. G. Allana)

40.Anis Lucknavi (Mir Bubber Ali)(Dr. G. Allana)

41.Dabir Lucknavi (Mirza Salamat Ali)(Dr. G. Allana)

42.Maulana Qasim Nanautvi(Dr. G. Allana)

43.Amir Minai Lucknavi (Mufti Amir Ahmad)(Dr. G. Allana)

44.Dagh Dehlavi (Nawab Mirza Khan)(Dr. G. Allana)

45. Hasan Barelavi (Maulana Hasan Raza Khan)(Dr. G. Allana)

46.Hali Pani Pati (Khawaja Altaf Husain)(Sir Ross Masood)

47. Akbar Allahabadi (Sayyid Akbar Hussain)(Dr. G. Allana)

48 Maulana Grami Jalandhari (Sheikh Ghulam Qadir)(S.M.A. Imam)

49. Iqbal (Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Sialkoti)(Dr. G. Allana)

50. Agha Shaer Qazilbash Dehlavi (Muzaffar Baig)(Dr. G. Allana)

51.Khulq (Nawab Bahadur Yar Jang)(Dr. G. Allana)

52.Hasrat Mohani(Sayyid Fazlul Hasan)(Mohamad Atique)

53. Arzoo Lucknavi (Sayyid Anwar Hussain)(Dr. G. Allana)

54. Maulana Sayyid Sulaiman Nadvi(Dr. G. Allana)

55. Allama Manazar Ahsan Gilani(Dr. G. Allana)

56. Nishtar (Sardar Abdur Rab)(Dr. G. Allana)

57.Abu Muhammad Taher Saifuddin(Dr. G. Allana)

58.Bahzad Lucknavi (Sardar Hussain Khan)(Mohd. Atique)

59.Maulana Mufti Mohammad Shafi(Dr. G. Allana)

60.Mahir-Ul-Qadiri (Manzoor Hussain)(Dr. G. Allana)

61. Rais Amrohvi (Sayyid Muhammad Mehdi)(Dr. G. Allana)

162.Ahmad Nadim Qasmi (Ahmad Shah)(Dr. G. Allana)

63.Sayyid Hashim Raza(Dr. G. Allana)

64.Noori (Sayyidah Musarrat Jahan Shafiq)(Μ.Ν.Α. Baig)

65.Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai(Dr. G. Allana)

66.Sayyid Bhulle Shah Qadri Shutari Kasuri(Dr. G. Allana)

67.Sayyid Waris Shah(Dr. G. Allana)

68.Khawaja Ghulam Farid(Dr. G. Allana)

69.Guru Nanak ji(Dr. G. Allana)

70.Shad (Sir Kishan Parshad)(Dr. G. Allana)

71.Kausari (Dillo Ram)(Dr. G. Allana)

72.Volfgang Von Goethe (E.A,Bowring)

Overall! A profound and beautiful compilation, Eulogies on Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Selection from Armoghan-e-Naat), introduces the rich history of Islamic sacred poetry to a global audience. This anthology is a literary and spiritual gem, the result of Shafiq Barelvi’s tireless labor and expert translations by well-known Pakistani poets. The book for all readers across the world to the timeless to increase the Prophet Muhammad’s affection by bridging linguistic and cultural divides. These types of translation books are evidence of the Naat’s passion, continuing to increase the ability to evoke affection for the Prophet and introspection in people.

Reference:

EULOGIES on Holy Prophet Muhammad (Selections from Armoghan-E-Naat), compiled & edited by SHAFIQ BARELVI, ROYAL BOOK COMPANY, P.O. BOX: 7737 SADDAR, KARACHI-3

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