Chinese Emperor’s beautiful poem about the Holy Prophet Muhammad

The Great wall of China

Source: Twitter: by Qasim Rashid: Written and translated by Sh. Musa Cerantonio

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:

It was recorded that “His Majesty ordered to have mosques built in Xijing and Nanjing [the capital cities], and in southern Yunnan, Fujian and Guangdong. His Majesty also personally wrote baizizan [a eulogy] in praise of the Prophet’s virtues.”^[2]

Chinese

至聖百字讃

乾坤初始

天籍注名

傳教大聖

降生西域

授受天經

三十部册

普化衆生

億兆君師

萬聖領袖

協助天運

保庇國民

五時祈祐

默祝太平

存心真主

加志窮民

拯救患難

洞徶幽冥

超拔靈魂

脱離罪業

仁覆天下

道冠古今

降邪歸一

教名清真

穆罕默德

至聖貴人

穆罕默德

清真北寺

Chinese (with punctuation in paragraph form)

《百字讚》寫道：“乾坤初始，天籍注名。傳教大聖，降生西域。授受天經，三十部冊，普化眾生。億兆君師，萬聖領袖。協助天運，保庇國民。五時祈祐，默祝太平。存心真主，加志窮民。拯救患難，洞徹幽冥。超拔靈魂，脱離罪業。仁覆天下，道冠古今。降邪歸一，教名清真。穆罕默德，至貴聖人。”(《百字讚》^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

English

Since Creation of Universe
Heaven has already appointed,
Faith Preaching Giant Saint,
From West He’s Born,
To receive Holy Scripture,
With thirty part Book,
To guide all creations,
King of all Kings,
Leader of Holy Ones,
With Support from Divine,
To Protect His Nation,
With five daily prayers,
Silently hope for peace,
With heart toward Allah,
Empower the poor ones,
Save them from calamity,
See through the Unseen,
Pulling souls and spirits,
Away from all wrongdoings,
Mercy to the World,
Walking ancient Crowned Path,
Evil vanquished to One,
Religion Pure and True,
Muhammad,
The Noble High One.

العربية

منذ خلق الكون
وقد عين السماء بالفعل،
إيمان دعوة العملاق القديس،
من الغربية التي كانت ولادته،
في الحصول على الكتاب المقدس،
مع كتاب من30 جزء،
لتوجيه جميع المخلوقات،
ملك كل الملوك،
زعيم كل القديسين،
بدعم من الالهي،
لحماية أمته،
مع خمس صلوات يوميا،
نأمل بصمت من أجل السلام،
مع القلب نحو الله،
تمكين الدول الفقيرة،
انقاذهم من كارثة،
نرى من خلال الغيب،
سحب النفوس والأرواح،
بعيدا عن كل الأخطاء،
رحمة للعالمين،
المشي القديمة مسار المتوج،
المهزوم الشر لأحد،
الدين الصافي وصحيح،
محمد،
واحد نوبل السامية.

References

^ Tan Ta Sen, Dasheng Chen (2000). Cheng Ho and Islam in Southeast Asia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 170. ISBN 981-230-837-7. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
^ () The history of women’s mosques in Chinese Islam: a mosque of their own (illustrated ed.). Psychology Press. 2000. p. 77. ISBN 0-7007-1302-6. Retrieved December 20 2011. “For instance, in the early years of Emperor Hongwu’s reign in the Ming Dynasty ‘ His Majesty ordered to have mosques built in Xijing and Nanjing [the capital cities], and in southern Yunnan, Fujian and Guangdong. His Majesty also personally wrote baizizan [a eulogy] in praise of the Prophet’s virtues’. The Ming Emperor Xuanzong once issued imperial orders to build a mosque in Nanjing in response to Zheng He’s request (Liu Zhi, 1984 reprint: 358-374). Mosques built by imperial decree raised the social position of Islam, and assistance from upper-class Muslims helped to sustain religious sites in certain areas.”
^ http://www.zwbk.org/zh-tw/Lemma_Show/1026.aspx
^ http://www.islamhk.com/ICOI_2012/cn/13/Islam_in_China.pptx
^ http://tc.wangchao.net.cn/baike/detail_1718541.html
^ http://tc.wangchao.net.cn/baike/detail_744244.html

Ghulam Sarwar

February 12, 2013 at 4:42 am

Wonderful. May the name of that king live long. This poem needs to be printed and distributed in Chinese homes who are now celebrating the year of the snake.
Amtul Kafi Shaheen

February 13, 2013 at 3:40 am

Alhamdulillah! Jazakmullah AhsenalJaza for sharing.
Koya

February 13, 2013 at 5:51 am

Very lovely tribute to the Holy Prophet of Islam. It is clear that the great Chinese emperor studied the life of the Holy Prophet very closely.

His admiration of the Prophet and building of of several mosques put him in pale of Islam even though there is no evidence of his formal acceptance. May Allah bless.

LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE
jamil

February 17, 2013 at 11:10 am

Jazakmullah AhsenalJaza Alim sahib Allah bless you in all respect for this wonderful job which needs a lot of research to find such evidence from history
Ahmed

February 18, 2013 at 4:42 am

I see a great number of Chinese reciting Islamic creed very soon Inshallah.
Dami

March 6, 2013 at 3:22 pm

The first few para of the poem indirectly reference to the light of Muhammad (nur muhammad) proving the ancient chinese king received traditional teaching of Islam. How wonderful to know that! amidst so many version of Islamic sects nowadays. Thank you for the quality posting.
Safoora

March 16, 2013 at 4:50 pm

Jazakallah for sharing such a beautifully written poem. Jazakallah to the researcher who found this poem and decided to share it with all of us. And of course, Jazakallah to the translator, without whom we wold never have been blessed to share the moments of reading about our blessed leader, Hazrath Muhammed Mustafa(SAWS).
Please keep up the excellent work of research and publishing!
Mohammed A Lais

March 23, 2013 at 10:32 am

23/03/2013

Hello,

I wonder if you could help me. I am writing a book on Prophet Muhammad: Non-Muslims appreciations and interfaith unity. I have collected appreciations of the prophet made by scholars, politicians, religious leaders etc. from other faiths. I would like to use a couple of quotes of the former Chinese Emperor Wu, Hong (the Emperor of China, 1368 – 1398). Chinese Emperor’s beautiful poem about the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Published in the The Muslim Times. Saturday, 23rd March, 2013.
Read more: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/02/uncategorized/chinese-emperors-beautiful-poem-about-prophet-muhammad-sa#ixzz2OOG2lBTB. Source: Twitter: by Qasim Rashid: Written and translated by Sh. Musa Cerantonio

I am looking forward for your kind permission.

With best regards,

Dr. Mohammed Abul Lais
PG Dip CG, PhD, FRSA
National Career Research Award Winner
Principal & Career Consultant
Institute of Education & Careers Guidance
email: drlais@ecguidance.co.uk
Falak Rahman

March 24, 2013 at 12:36 am

THis is fine. You could perhaps also trace the original source. I could not so you could put a qualifier on that. Do let us know of completion of your book. We would love to see it.
jazakallah
Mohammed A Lais

March 24, 2013 at 1:49 am

Many thanks for your kind and prompt response. You will be happy to learn that, so far I have collected 900 non-Muslim appreciations for Muhammad (Pbuh) and I am working for 1000 Insha-Allah.

Jazak Allah

Mohammed