Utendi wa Miraji (MS 306)
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Material Information

Title:
Utendi wa Miraji (MS 306)
Series Title:
Allen Collection : Photographic enlargments of M1008 (Swahili and Arabic manuscripts)
Creator:
Rudeni, Sharif ( Author, Primary )
Rudeni, Sharif ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript : Photographic copy of microfilmed poem; the poem is bound in a red cover volume

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Islam ( LCSH )
Religious history
Legends ( LCSH )
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Kiswahili mashairi
History -- Religious aspects ( LCSH )
Islam -- History ( LCSH )
Gabriel (Archangel) ( LCSH )
Jibril
Muḥammad, Prophet, -637 ( LCNA )
Prophet Mohammed
Genre:
Poem
Utenzi
Poetry ( LCTGM )
Spatial Coverage:
Asia -- Saudi Arabia -- Makkah Province -- Arabian Peninsula -- Makkah Al Mukarramah Governate -- Mecca
Coordinates:
21.416667 x 39.816667

Notes

Abstract:
In this section of MS 279888 there is the famous poem ‘Utendi wa Miraji’ by Sharif Rudeni. There is another version of this poem in the SOAS Archives, precisely in MS 53497 (Hichens collection). In the same MS 53497 we also find the Hadithi ya Miraji which is a narrative based upon the religious poem. This version was written, in Swahili Arabic script, by the famous Lamu religious scholar in 1963 and collected by Allen in 1965. The language of the poem is, in fact, modern with many Arabic influences. The Miraji is the holy journey made by the Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Jerusalem to reach Paradise. The story is not taken literally from the Qur’an but based upon a well known book of Sunni traditions entitled ‘Mishkatu ‘l-Masabih’. The first stanza opens with praise to God, and to the Prophet and his companions, while in the second stanza the poet thanks God for having written the poem. These are two common opening stanzas for religious poem. The author notes that there are various theories in dating the Miraji, and he supports the most common that dates it at the 27th of Rajab (holy month before Ramadam). ( en )
General Note:
Biographical information: Sharif Rudeni was a religious scholar from Lamu who wrote religious poems. He was very respected by his community for his pious religious attitude and he spent most of his time in the Mosque preaching and praying.
General Note:
Date of Composition: 1963 AD (1383 A.H.)
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
General Note:
Dialects: KiAmu
General Note:
Poetic Form: Utenzi
General Note:
Donated to SOAS in 1982
General Note:
Extent: 15 leaves
General Note:
Incipit: Nanda kwa isimu, ya ilahi kuhimidiya, isa muungamu kwa salati na msaliya, na wenye makamu maswahaba wake nabia na alize pia wafuasi twariqi njema
General Note:
Other copy: SOAS University of London microfilm: SOAS University of London microfilm: M1008, reel 10
General Note:
Asia -- Arabian Peninsula -- Saudi Arabia -- Makkah Province -- Makkah Al Mukarramah Governate -- Mecca
General Note:
Asia – Israel -- Jerusalem District -- Jerusalem
General Note:
Asia -- Palestine -- Jerusalem Governate -- Jerusalem
General Note:
Scribe: Rudeni, Sharif
General Note:
Publication information: Knappert, J. 1967. Traditional Swahili Poetry. Brill, Leiden, pp.201-238
General Note:
Publication information: Knappert, Jan. 1979. Four Centuries of Swahili Verse. London: Heinemann, pp. 210-217.
General Note:
Publication information: Knappert, Jan. 1999. A Survey of Swahili Islamic Epic Sagas. Lewiston, New York; Queenston, Ontario; Lampeter, Wales: Edwin Mellen Press; pp. 32-33.
General Note:
Publication information: Knappert, Jan. 1971. Swahili Islamic Poetry. Brill, Leiden.
General Note:
Publication information: Harries, L. 1962. Swahili Poetry. Oxford University Press, London, p.26

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
This item may be in the public domain. Its status has yet to be assessed.
Resource Identifier:
MS 279888-Vol.2 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 306 ( SOAS manuscript number )