The Chinese
Emperor’s Poem about
The Holy Prophet Muhammad
(صلى الله عليه وسلم)
Hong-Wu (also known by
his given name Zhū Yuánzhāng) was the Emperor of China between 1368 – 1398 CE. He was the first
Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, leading an Army that conquered the country and
defeated away the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty.
Despite
being a non-Muslim, Hong-Wu
ordered the construction of several mosques in Nanjing, Yunnan, Guangdong and
Fujian. He rebuilt the Jinjue Mosque in Nanjing and large numbers of Hui (Muslim Chinese) people moved to
the city during his rule.
He had around 10 Muslim generals in his
army, including Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu,
Ding Dexing, Mu Ying, Feng Sheng and Hu
Dahai. In addition, Hong-Wu’s spouse, Empress Ma, descended from a Muslim
family while he was originally a member of a Muslim rebel group led by Guo
Zhixin.
Emperor
Hong-Wu
wrote a 100 word eulogy praising Islam,
Allah and the Prophet Muhammad which he had
placed in the mosques which he ordered to be built.
The eulogy is in the form of a poem, each
verse containing 4 words (characters) and 4 syllables.
In the translation below
I have strayed away from trying to keep the 4 word per verse translation in
favour of a more literal translation which conveys the full meaning in flowing
English.
The One-Hundred Word Eulogy:
Since the creation of the Universe,
God had decreed to appoint,
This great faith-preaching man,
From the West he was born,
He received the Holy Scripture,
A Book of thirty parts,
To guide all creation,
Master of all Rulers,
Leader of Holy Ones,
With Support from Above,
To Protect His Nation,
With five daily prayers,
Silently hoping for peace,
His heart towards Allah,
Empowering the poor,
Saving them from calamity,
Seeing through the darkness,
Pulling souls and spirits,
Away from all wrongdoings,
A Mercy to the Worlds,
Traversing the ancient majestic path,
Vanquishing away all evil,
His Religion Pure and True,
Muhammad,
The Noble & Great one.
Translation by Sh. Musa Cerantonio
---
