Aljamiado Poem in Praise of Muhammad

Aljamiado Poem in Praise
of Muhammad
Introduction and Translation by Vincent Barletta
Professor of Iberian and Latin American Cultures
Stanford University

Despite the steadily declining political         Of course the speedy, mostly nominal
power of Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula        conversion of Iberian Muslims to Chris-
and the overall importance of Granada’s          tianity (the Muslims and Jews of Portugal
fall in 1492, the end of Muslim rule in the      had been expelled from that kingdom in
Iberian Peninsula did not mean the end           1497) does not tell the whole story. Be-
of Muslim life and culture there. At the         cause the overwhelming majority of these
beginning of the sixteenth century, eight        conversions were performed by coercion
years after Granada’s fall, nearly half a mil-   and under duress, whole communities of
lion Muslims were still living under the         Muslims (now nominally Christians) con-
Catholic Monarchs’ power (out of a total         tinued to practice Islam as they had before,
Iberian population of roughly nine mil-          some even doing so openly.
lion). These mudéjar (i.e., Muslims living
under Christian rule) communities were           One important and effective means by
centered to a great extent in and around         which the moriscos were able to maintain
Granada and Valencia, though there were          their religion and culture was the pro-
also sizeable communities in Aragon and          duction of handwritten books that were
smaller, more assimilated groups scattered       actively recopied despite their illegality.
throughout Castile.                              Many of these books were copied out in
                                                 Castilian and Aragonese (with varying
Shortly after the start of the sixteenth cen-    amounts of intercalated Arabic) using an
tury, however, the fortunes of Castilian         adapted form of Arabic script known to
and Aragonese Muslims began to change.           modern scholars as aljamiado. Texts in
In 1502, King Fernando and Queen Isabel          aljamiado, produced in a wide range of
issued an order requiring all Muslims in         forms and genres (including lyric poetry),
Castile and León to convert to Christian-        played a number of very complex and im-
ity or leave at once. The same law would         portant roles within morisco communities,
reach Navarre in 1515 and Aragon in 1526.        roles that were neither negatively defined
The royal order was widely enforced (ex-         nor instantiated without a keen first-hand
ecuted in large part by mass baptisms and        sense of the frequently dire situation in
coercive tactics), and by the end of the         which the readers of these texts, and their
first quarter of the sixteenth century, the      scribes, found themselves.
official Muslim population of Spain had
been reduced from nearly half a million to       The following text is an anonymous
nearly zero. The converted Muslims were          poem in praise of Muhammad. It is
commonly referred to as moriscos.                found in a handwritten codex held in
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Madrid by the Biblioteca de la Real Aca-                    and hidden away under the floor of a
demia de la Historia (MS 11/9414 (olim                      house at the time of the Moriscos’ expul-
T-18) ff. 189v-192r). The codex is a mis-                   sion in 1609. It was rediscovered in the
cellany that was copied out in Western                      late nineteenth century as workers were
Aragon during the late sixteenth century                    demolishing the house.

All praise goes to God, on high
All praise goes to God, on high;
He is true, honorable and complete, a righteous Lord,
Lord of all the world, one alone and illustrious,
a generous, powerful, and sound orderer of things;1

It is to Him that I turn to request help and favor,
and forgiveness for my sins, for my grave shortcomings and errors;
may He also forgive the errors and sins of my father,
my mother, and all my brothers and sisters.2

And turning back to speak, what I intend
to do is praise and exalt he who so merits it,
as because of his birth we were redeemed,
and we were all released and saved from perdition.

I do not feel adequate to declare all this,
because I am very clumsy and coarse to be speaking
of such a high creature, a clear and beautiful moon.
He, the one of great beauty, sun of highness and clarity.

But I wish to recite what is well established
and to be the truth that was prophesied.
For our Lord on high swore, on that great day,
that if not for our beloved,3 nothing would have been created.

He was later sent with relief and blessings
to the people and was a great consolation,
and with a very clear law declaring the truth,
undoing the lie regarding the Trinity.

And as he came into the world, he demonstrated his great goodness,
and later he knelt down before the true King on high;
he then raised his head, signaling with his finger that He was one,
and that He alone was the true King on high.

He also asked his Lord for forgiveness on behalf of his people,
and he spoke with much care and love.
He kept us in mind with all of his petitions,
and this is reason enough for us to place him in our hearts.

He wished to show Him in all his high majesty;
these are things that are so excellent that they defy narration:
all idolatry was soon torn down,
and the house in which he was born surrounded by angels.
1
  As is apparent from the original, this poem was composed in cuaderna vía, a stanza form composed of
four monorhymed, fourteen-syllable verses known as alexandrines.
2
  This stanza is a translated Arabic du’a, or supplication to God.
3
  A reference to Muhammad, whose name in Arabic literally means “beloved.”
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The birds took wing, the mountains resounded,
heaven opened up, and the angels descended.
And the fish of the sea, in the waves where they were,
and the brute animals in the forests where they lay.

All of these are around him, too many to count,
saying: ‘May He who has sent him be exalted;
through his birth we were all put right
by this beloved, holy, and blessed friend.’

He was quickly taken without delay,
circling the entire world over land and sea,
so that all would see that he was the one sent,
the one who was promised, written of, and prophesied.

He was then returned with great respect
when his journey was complete.
All the women came wishing to raise him,
but in the end it was Halima, she of that high place.

She heard a voice that cried out and said:
‘Praised be the woman who gives him her milk;
People, if this blessed light enters among you,
we will all be freed and saved from perdition.’

Then everyone quickly left the town
and a went to Mecca happily and with great haste.
And none of them saw this blessed one
save the noble Halima, as it was ordered to be this way.

When she arrived with him in Mecca,
she went without delay to her mother’s house.
Her grandfather was content that they should
raise this beloved prophet [ . . . ]

Halima then took him to let him suckle her;
she gave him her left breast, but he refused to drink from it.
He had been sent to the world to lead from the right;
she had a son who would drink from the left.

To recount the virtuous way in which he grew up
is a pleasure for the eyes and a happiness for the heart;
never did any obscenity or rudeness come from him.
He was as beautiful as the moon, but from his goodness and virtue.

Turning to relate what happened afterward,
it breaks my heart and greatly disturbs me
that I should be so daring as to speak of these matters;
but with His power and help, I must speak of a few of them.

Muhammad returned the world with great rightness to the Truth,
and removed the blindness of falsity and evil.
He left the world well situated;
although he found it alone, he left it highly praised.

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His heart was without doubt removed from his body.
Washed and cleaned, it was then returned to its place;
and the moon came to him smiling and in all humility,
praying before him, it said: ‘Muhammad,

Tell me what you want me to do without delay,
my beloved friend, who has honored this place;
for the true King on high has ordered me
to be obedient to you in all things and completely.’

In the cave he was saved when he was being persecuted:4
the spider spun a web over where they had entered
and the dove made a nest to hide the opening5
so that he and his good companion6 would not be found.

The rock spoke to him, telling him to speak to it;7
the tree uprooted itself, telling him to look at it;
the trunk flattered him, saying: ‘Much Beloved!
Why have you left me, leaving me so sad?’

The lizard spoke to him and said that
all those friends and beloved ones that followed
and loved his path and course would achieve glory.
Many heard him say this, and it was proven to be true.

The wolf spoke to him smiling and with great happiness
and said to him: ‘Messenger of God, a shepherd to whom
I have shown the truth will come to you; he will believe in your Lord,
and may he come happily and with no fear.’

Soon afterward, the shepherd came to our friend
who loved of rightful speech, and said to him
that he wished to convert to the faith,
because it was the greatest law sent from the Essence.

Now to recount the miracle of his great purification,
with great respect, in the celestial court.
He passed through the seven heavens in one moment
and arrived to his Lord where they spoke of great things.

Nobody can imagine the excellent secrets that
his Lord shared with him on that night,
as he had arrived at a place where no one had arrived before,
and everything that was there was shown to him very certainly.

4
  A reference to a popular legend, contained in Abu al-Hasn al-Bakri’s Kitab al-anwar [Book of Lights] (ca.
1275 CE), the most direct source for this poem, which recounts the journey of Muhammad and his com-
panion Abu Bakr to Medina. While on their way, the two men were told that some polytheists from Mecca
were looking for them with the intention of harming them. Muhammad and Abu Bakr took shelter in the
Cave of Thawr. Once inside the cave, a spider spun a web across the entrance to hide them. When the
men from Mecca arrived at the cave they assumed that there was no one in the cave because the spider’s
web had not been broken. This episode is generally understood to be one more example of the ways in
which God protected his messenger from harm.
5
  Some versions of the cave story include a dove who covers the small opening of the cave with its nest.
6
  That is, Abu Bakr.
7
  In this stanza and the three that follow are found examples of legends revolving around Muhammad
that come from al-Bakri’s Kitab al-anwar (or, more directly, an Aljamiado translation of this work).
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And all the angels came with great honor and happiness
to receive him and keep him company;
he was visited by all with pleasure and given a great welcome,
and they said to him that he was certainly blessed.

They also said that Allah had not created anything of greater worth,
and that he was the prophet, the treasure, and the knowledge;
and that he was certainly the greatest of those that were in the world,
and the most praised one of faith that had ever been born.

The flowers and their smell were born of his sweat,
and on the day of judgment he will certainly pray for us;
without his prayers none of us will escape
and none of us will be freed from sadness.

From his hands were born springs of holy water
when he was in the desert and the people in perdition;
Oh, chosen one and beloved, clear and happy moon!
My Lord, with you I defend myself at night and at day.

Since my sins come from my own lack and error,
and in all the land there is no sinner more graceless than I,
clumsy, miserable; may you forgive me
and through your prayer to Him may you wish to help me to escape.

And I find that there is no one who can sing
his graces and marvels, or recite them;
it is enough that he is the greatest that has been sent to the world,
the faithful one most devoted to prayer on the day of tribulation.

Let us, without delay, pray endlessly over him,
both at night and day; Let us pray to God that
He saves us together with him on the
Day of Judgment, behind him and among his followers.

And through his great excellence, may he wish to aid us
and allow us to develop fully in this excellent faith;
and at the end of our lives may he allow us to give testimony to
that noble word, so that we may be saved.

And upon entering the grave may he give us a strong heart
so as to respond well to temptation,
which is so difficult and bitter that I don’t dare to speak of it,
thinking of and looking to Munkar and Nakir.8

I do not want from this any payment from this world of sadness,
nor do I wish for excessive vanity or any sort of worldly beauty;
because what I have spoken is the grace of my Lord and
no wit of my own, clumsy sinner that I am.

It is enough payment for that company
that followed Muhammad in his torment,
and all of his followers, and to my honored Lord,
and to all Muslims for their honor and estate.

8
  Munkar and Makir are two angels that visit the deceased in the grave and interrogate her or him
regarding questions of faith. Those who answer correctly (in their hearts as well as in their words) will
spend the time before the Day of Judgment waiting patiently, while those who do not answer well will
spend their afterlife being punished until the Day of Judgment.
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Las loores son ad Allah, el alto, verdadero
Las loores son ad Allah, el alto, verdadero
honrado y conplido, Señor muy derechero,
Señor de todo el mundo, uno solo y señero,
franco, poderoso, ordenador sertero;

Al cual pido y demando su ayuda y favor,
y perdón de mis pecados, de mi gran falta y error,
y a mi padre y a mi madre y a todos mis hermanos
Él nos quiera perdonar nuesas yerras y pecados.

Y tornando a declarar, lo que tengo en intinción
de alabar y ensalzar a quien es tanta razón,
pues que por su nacimiento fue nuesa redención,
y fuimos todos librados y quitos de perdición.

No me siento yo complido para esto declarar;
porque soy muy torpe y rudo para haber de hablar
en tan alta criatura, luna clara y de beldad.
El de la gran hermosura, sol de alteza y claridad.

Pero quiero declarar lo que está bien asentado
y se halla por verdad que estaba profetizado;
que juró nueso Señor, el alto, de la gran día,
que si no por nueso amado, cosa criado no habría.

Así fue luego enviado con descanso y bendición
al reparo de las gentes y muy gran consolación,
y con ley muy clara declarando la verdad,
desfaciendo la mentira de toda la Trenidad.

Y como al mundo salió, demostró su gran bondad,
que luego hizo obediencia al Rey alto de verdad;
alzó luego su cabeza, aseñando con su dedo
que era solo y sin segundo el Rey alto, verdadero.

Y tambien pidió perdón por su al-umma a su Señor,
lo segundo que habló con cuidado y con amor.
pues que nos tuvo en memoria en todas sus peticiones,
razón es que lo tengamos puesto en nuesos corazones.

Pues lo quiso demosar en su alto puiamiento,
son cosas tan excelentes, que no tienen ningún cuento;
que toda la idolatría fue luego derribada,
y la casa en que nació de almalaques rodeada.

Y las aves revolando y los montes relumbrando,
y los cielos bien abiertos almalaques deballaban.
y los peces de la mar, en las ondas donde estaban,
y las alimañas brutas, en los bosques do posaban.

Todos están al rededor, que no se pueden contar,
diciendo: ‘Sea ensalzado Él que lo quiso enviar;
que por su nacimiento fuimos todos reparados
de este amigo amado, santo, bienaventurado.’

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Fue tomado muy aprisa sin tardanza ni vagar,
rodeando todo el mundo por la tierra y por la mar;
porque todos lo viesen que era el enviado,
el que estaba prometido, escrito y profetizado.

Fue luego tornado con muy grande acatamiento,
cuando fuere complido todo su excitamiento;
todas a él venían por haberlo de criar,
mas al fin fue Jalima, la de aquel alto lugar;

Que oyeron un clamante que clamaba y decía:
‘ensalzada será la que leche le daría;
pueblo, si en ti entrara esta luz de bendición,
seremos todos librados y quitos de perdición.’

Luego salieron aprisa del pueblo que ha hablado,
y todas se fueron a Mecca de gran prisa y de grado.
y nenguna lo vido a este bienaventurado,
sino Jalima la noble, que esto le fue mandado.

Como fue llegada a Mecca , fuese luego sin tardar
a la casa de su madre, ad haberlo de tomar.
fue contento su agüelo de este profeta amado
que lo hubiese de criar [ . . . ]

Tomóle luego Jalima para darle a tetar;
púsole en la teta izquierda, mas non la quiso tomar;
mosando con la derecha al mundo fue enviado,
que tenía un hijo que venía de aquel lado.

Pues contar aquella limpieza que fue en su criazón
es descanso a los ojos y alegría al corazón;
jamás de él salió suciedad ni rudeza.
de la luna de beldad, mas de bondad y limpieza.

Tornando a declarar lo que se siguió adelante,
se me rompe el corazón y me pone solevante,
en ser yo tan atrevido en sus cosas de hablar.
mas con su poder y ayuda algunas he de contar.

Que volvió con gran derecho la tierra de gran verdad,
y quitó aquella ceguera de falsía y de maldad.
hasta en tanto que dejó la tierra bien asentada;
aunque la halló sola, la dejó muy alabada.

Su corazón fue sacado de su cuerpo sin dudar.
lavado y alimpiado, luego vuelto a su lugar;
y la luna vino a él riendo y con humildad,
haciendo el sala sobre él, diciendo: ‘Ya Muhammad,

Dime lo que quieres que haga luego, sin demás tardar,
ya mi amigo amado, quien honró este lugar;
que mandado me ha sido del Rey alto, verdadero,
que te sea obidiente en todo y por entero.’

En la cueva se salvó cuando fue reacosado,
la tarataña tesió luego por donde hubo entrado,
la paloma hizo nido por cerrar el agujero,
porque no fuesen hallados él y su buen compañero.

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La peña le voceó, diciendo que le hablase;
el árbol se arrancó, diciendo que le mirase;
el tronco le halagaba, diciéndole: ‘¡Muy amado!
¿por qué te has ido de mí, que tan triste me has dejado?’

El ardacho le habló y dijo de esta manera:
que siguiendo y amando su camino y carrera,
que la gloria alcanzarían todos amigos y amados,
donde muchos lo oyeron que estaba cierto probado.

El lobo con él habló riendo y con alegría,
y le dijo: ‘Mensajero, a ti un pastor vernía,
que yo lo he desengañado, que creerá en tu Señor,
y que a ti venga de grado, luego sin nengún temor.’

Luego vino el pastor sin nengún detardamiento
a nueso amigo amado a muy gran razonamiento,
diciendo que él quería tornarse a la creencia,
porque era la ley mejor enviada de la Esencia.

Pues contar aquel milagro de su alto puiamiento
a la corte celestial con grande acatamiento,
que todos los siete cielos los andó en un momento,
y llegó a su Señor a muy gran razonamiento;

Que nadie puede pensar el secreto tan excelente
que con su Señor pasó en aquella noche presente;
que llegó a una grada donde nadie había llegado,
y todo lo que allí había le fue cierto demosado;

Y todos los almalaques con honor y alegría
lo salieron a recebir y hacerle compañia;
de todos fue visitado con placer y albriciado,
diciendo que él era cierto el bienaventurado.

Y que Allah no jalecó cosa de más valer,
y qu’él era el Profeta y el tresoro y el saber,
y qu’él fue cierto el mayor de los que en el mundo fueron,
y el fiel más ensalzado de todos los que nacieron.

Las flores y las olores nacieron de su sudor,
y el día del judlcio cierto él será rogador;
que sino por su rogaría nadie fuera escapado,
y de su tristeza de él nadie seyera librado.

De sus manos nacieron fuentes de agua de bendición
cuando estaba en el desierto y la gente en perdición;
¡oh, escogido y amado, luna clara y de alegría!
Señor, con ti me defiendo en la noche y en el día.

Que según son mis pecados de mi gran falta y error,
que en todas las belades no hay más torpe pecador
que yo, torpe, desdichado; tú me quieras perdonar,
y por su rogaría dél tú me quieras escapar.

Y pues hallo de mi cuenta que no hay quien pueda cantar
sus gracias ni maravillas, poderlas declarar,
basta que él es el mayor que al mundo fue enviado,
el fiel más rogador en el día atribulado.

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Hagamos el sala sobre él, que no se pueda contar,
en la noche y en el día, luego, sin demás tardar;
roguemos ad Allah nos saque juntos con él
en el día del judicio, cabo él y en su tropel.

Y por su alta excelencia él nos quiera amparar,
y en esta alta creencia nos deje bien acabar,
y al fin de nuesas vidas nos deje testimoniar
aquella noble palabra, que nos podamos salvar.

En la entrada de la fuesa nos dé fuerte corazón
para bien le responder en aquella tentación;
que es tan recia y tan amarga, que no lo oso decir,
pensando y mirando en Moncarón y Nathir.

No quiero de esto paga de este mundo de tristura,
ni tampoco vanagloria ni nenguna hermosura;
porque lo que yo he hablado es gracia de mi Señor,
y no cierto agudeza de mí, torpe pecador.

Y cumple de apaganza ad aquella compañía
que siguieron a Muhammad en aquella agonía,
y a todos los seguidores y a mi Señor honrado,
y a todos los muslimes por su honra y estado.

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