Kasida na Maudhua (MS 380556a)
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Material Information

Title:
Kasida na Maudhua (MS 380556a)
Series Title:
Knappert Collection :
Creator:
Sheikh Abdallah Muhammad al-Husni ( Author, Primary )
Publication Date:
Language:
Swahili
Materials:
Paper ( medium )
Technique:
Handwritten manuscript : In blue and black ink on ruled paper, with stanzas numbered in blue

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Swahili poetry ( LCSH )
Islam ( LCSH )
Religious belief
Religious practice
Imani za kidini
Uislamu
Kiswahili mashairi
Faith ( LCSH )
Mazoezi ya kidini
Islam -- Customs and practices ( LCSH )
Spatial Coverage:
Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Eastern Africa -- Mombasa
Coordinates:
-4.05466 x 39.66359

Notes

Abstract:
‘Maudhua’ in the rather difficult title of this manuscript derives from the Arabic word maudhuu’, which refers to a subject or theme. To which section(s) of the manuscript ‘maudhua’ was meant to refer and to which section(s) ‘kasida’ is difficult to know. The manuscript is divided into 11 closely related poems, with the most distinct section being a waadhi by Sheikh Muhammad al-Husni. The pages have been numbered in the order in which they were discovered, although this results in frequent shifting of subject. Even within poems the poet changes focus surprisingly. In the first stanza of the first poem, for example, the poet names the five pillars of Islam; but the rest of the poem is concerned with the first and second of the six pillars of faith. The poet praises God at length and then mentions God’s angels. The second poem (pp. 7-10) focuses on obligatory tithes. The poet explains at length the amount and type of wealth that would be expected from people of different occupations, including merchants, farmers, herders and miners. The poet urges Muslims to fulfil this duty. The next poem (pp. 11-13) describes the Prophet Mohammed. The next poem, identified as a prayer (pp. 15-17), develops an admonitory tone; it emphasises the importance of studying religion. The next poem (pp. 19-20) praises the Prophet Mohammed, and the following poem (pp. 21-22) retains the same subject. The next poem (pp. 23-25) discusses the tithes, in the form of food, that are given at the end of Ramadan. The poet describes who should give and who receive this charity, and how much the former should contribute. The next poem (pp. 27-29) is a religious admonition that concentrates on the importance of thanking God in all situations, of patiently enduring hardship and of refraining from abetting Others who sin. The next poem (pp. 31-33) discusses sins associated with various parts of the body. But although Islam identifies seven parts of the body in this way, the poet writes specifically only of the stomach. The next poem (pp. 35-44) is a waadhi by Sheikh Muhammad al-Husni. The stanza that complains of the dance known as ‘chakacha’ appears to be an addition by a scribe or another poet. The final poem (pp. 45-48) focuses on fasting, particularly on actions that violate the fast. The scribe of this manuscript and of 380557 appears to be the same, and the contents of these manuscripts are so similar as to make their division seem arbitrary. They are perhaps best examined together. ( en )
General Note:
Biographical information: Sheikh Abdallah Muhammad al-Husni lived in Mombasa, where he was a well-known preacher. He travelled in East Africa in that capacity and was editor of the Mombasa newspaper al-Islah. His two versified waadhi, of which this is one, became very popular in Mombasa
General Note:
Date of Composition is unknown
General Note:
Languages: Swahili (Arabic script)
General Note:
Extent: 48 pages
General Note:
Incipit: Nguzo za uislamu, zote ni tano timamu, shahada swala swaumu, zaka na hija kwandama
General Note:
For another waadhi by Sheikh Abdallah Mohammed al-Husni see SOAS University of London manuscript MS 380740a
General Note:
Africa -- Eastern Africa -- Kenya -- Mombasa County -- Mombasa
General Note:
Purchased from Dr. J. Knappert, March 1993
General Note:
Publication information: Muhammad al-Husni. 1963. Maudhua. Ed. by Jan Knappert. Kiswahili 33 (2): 25-27.
General Note:
Publication information: Knappert, J. 1971.Swahili Islamic Poetry, II E.J. Brill, Leiden, pp.165-221

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 380556 ( SOAS manuscript number )
MS 380556a ( SOAS manuscript number )