Question

When was the famous poem “Tala’al badru ‘alayna” recited? Was it when Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) arrived in Madinah Munawwarah at the time of Hijrah, some other occasion, or on multiple occasions?

Answer

The ‘Ulama have differed with regards to when this poem was recited.

Some ‘Ulama felt that it was recited when Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) arrived in Madinah for the first time (i.e., at the time of Hijrah).

After citing this poem, Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has mentioned: “Our ‘Ulama (generally) mention this (poem) when discussing Nabi’s (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) arrival in Madinah from Makkah (i.e., at the time of Hijrah), not when he returned from Tabuk…”

(Dala-ilun Nubuwwah, vol. 5, pg. 266)

Others such as Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullah) were of the opinion that this poem was recited upon Nabi’s (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) return to Madinah after the battle of Tabuk.

(Zadul Ma’ad, vol. 3, pg. 482)

Many ‘Ulama, however, felt that this poem could very possibly have been recited during both occasions (i.e., at the time of Hijrah as well as after the battle of Tabuk).

(Refer: Dala-ilun Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pg. 507 and vol. 5, pg. 266, Al-Bidayah Wan-Nihayah, vol. 3, pg. 465 and vol. 4, pg. 678, Fathul Bari, Hadith: 3925 and 4426, Irshadus Sari, Hadith: 4426, Subulul Huda War Rashad, vol. 3, pg. 386 and vol. 5, pg. 673, and Sharhuz Zurqani ‘Alal Mawahib, vol. 2, pgs. 165-169 and vol. 4, pgs. 101-102; Also see: Al-Maghanimul Mutabah, pgs. 80-81)

See here for the authenticity of this poem.

For further detail, kindly refer to the aforementioned sources along with the Hadith commentaries, books of Tarikh and Sirah.

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Farhan Shariff

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar