The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 576
AL-QAŞIDAH [An Ode in Praise of the Holy Prophet⁹as] This is a fine and elegant ode and it is filled with priceless pearls of the Arabic language. It is a eulogy for my beloved Master, the Sovereign of both worlds, the Seal of the Prophets, who has been praised by Allah the Exalted in His Eloquent Book [the Holy Quran]. O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace upon him until the Day of Judgment. This ode is not the product of my limited intellect, nor are my stultified wisdom and simple thoughts the heroes of this field, or the fountainhead of these mysteries. Rather, everything that I have said has come about through the succour of my Lord God, who is my Companion and Helper, who is with me at all times, who feeds me and gives me to drink, and guides me when I falter in my way and conveys me to the destination, and grants me health when I fall sick. I have not acquired the fine and interesting expressions by dint of hard work; nevertheless, Allah has made me dominant over versatile linguists, and this is a magnificent Sign from my Lord for those who possess knowledge. I have stated all this so that I may receive the reward of the grateful and not be deemed among those who are ungrateful.