The 'Mantle' Poets

THE 'MANTLE' POETS Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith Ka'b ibn Zuhair (died 7th century A.D.) was a famous poet who at first opposed Prophet Muhammad. Finally, he secretly went to Medina and approached the Prophet to ask if one who repented and embraced the faith would be forgiven. Mohammed answered yes and the poet asked, "Even Ka'b ibn Zuhair?" When he affirmed this, Ka'b revealed his identity and read a poem, his Banat Suad (of 55 couplets), which would become his most famous poem. As a reward Prophet Mohammed took off his mantle (cloak) and put it on Ka'b's shoulders. The second was composed by the eminent Sufi, Imam al-Busiri (1210-1297). The poem (161 couplets) is entirely in praise of Prophet Mohammed, who is said to have cured the poet of paralysis by appearing to him in a dream and wrapping him in a mantle. The third poet was Ahmed Shawqi (1869 - 1932) the great Egyptian poet and dramatist who pioneered the modern Egyptian literary movement. His 'Mantle' qasida is 190 couplets. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept and meaning of these beautiful, powerful, spiritual poems. Pages 116 ~Introduction to Sufi Poets Series~ 'AISHAH Al-BA'UNIYAH, AMIR KHUSRAU, ANSARI, ANVARI, AL-MA'ARRI, 'ARIFI, 'ATTAR, ABU SA'ID, AUHAD UD-DIN, BABA FARID, BABA AZFAL, BABA TAHIR, BEDIL, BULLEH SHAH, DARA SHIKOH, GHALIB, GHANI KASHMIRI, HAFIZ, HALI, HASAN DEHLAVI, HALI, HUMA, IBN 'ARABI, IBN YAMIN, IBN AL-FARID, IQBAL, INAYAT KHAN, 'IRAQI, JAHAN KHATUN, JAMI, JIGAR, KABIR, KAMAL AD-DIN, KHAQANI, KHAYYAM, LALLA DED, MAHSATI, MAJNUN, MAKHFI, MANSUR HALLAJ, MIR, MU'IN UD-DIN CHISHTI, NAZIR, NESIMI, NIZAMI, NUND RISHI, OBEYD ZAKANI, PAUL, RAHMAN BABA, RUMI, SADI, SA'IB, SANA'I, SARMAD, SEEMAB, SHABISTARI, SHAH LATIF, SHAH NI'MAT'ULLAH, SULTAN BAHU, YUNUS EMRE, EARLY ARABIC SUFI POETS, EARLY PERSIAN SUFI POETS, URDU SUFI POETS, AFGHAN SUFI POETS, TURKISH SUFI POETS ETC... 90-120 pages each. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir and others, and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books & screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa