Question

Regarding the famous poem, طلع البدر علينا, I have come across it beginning with different wordings such as طلع، طالع، أشرق etc. What is the correct wording of the poem?

Similarly, I have heard this poem in varying lengths of 3 or 4 lines, especially those sung as naats or anashid. What is the correct length of the poem?

Answer

In the primary sources I have referred, I only came across the version beginning with the word طلع. The word أشرق has appeared in non-primary (secondary) sources.

(Dala-ilun Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pg. 507 and vol. 5, pg. 266, and Al-Fawaid of Khila’i, Hadith: 1194; Also see: Ar-Rahiqul Makhtum, pg. 184, Dar Ibn Kathir edition)

Furthermore, in the primary sources, only the first two lines/stanzas have appeared. They are:

طَلَعَ الْبَدْرُ عَلَيْنَا * مِنْ ثَنِيَّات الْوَدَاعِ

 وَجَبَ الشُّكْرُ عَلَيْنَا * مَا دَعَا لِلَّهِ دَاعِ

(Dala-ilun Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pg. 507 and vol. 5, pg. 266, and Al-Fawaid of Khila’i, Hadith: 1194)

Both ‘Allamahs Salihi and Zurqani (rahimahumallah) have mentioned a third line/stanza and referenced it to “Razin”; with the following words:

أَيُّها الْمَبْعُوثُ فِينا * جِئْتَ بِالْأَمْرِ الْمُطاع

(Subulul Huda War Rashad, vol. 3, pg. 386, and Sharhuz Zurqani ‘Alal Mawahib, vol. 2, pgs. 165-166)

Besides the aforementioned three stanzas of this poem, I have not yet come across any further stanzas [that have been recorded in either primary or secondary sources].

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Farhan Shariff

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar