Sharh al-Hamziyyah شرح الهمزية

"Sharh al-Hamziyyah" (شرح الهمزية) by Imam Ahmad ibn Abd al-Haqq al-Sunbati (d. 990 AH / 1582 CE), published by Dar al-Fath (Dar al-Fath for Publishing and Distributing, Jordan), is a highly regarded classical commentary on one of the most celebrated Arabic poems in praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Al-Kawakib ad-Durriyyah fi Madh Khayr al-Bariyyah, commonly known as Al-Hamziyyah by the famous 7th-century Sufi poet Imam Sharaf al-Din al-Busiri (d. 696 AH / 1294 CE) (the author of the famous Burdah).

The Original Poem: Al-Hamziyyah by Al-Busiri

Imam al-Busiri is renowned for his poetic mastery, particularly in the genre of Madih Nabawi (Prophetic encomia). While his Burdah is his most famous work, the Hamziyyah is considered by many scholars and linguists to be even more poetically sophisticated and rhetorically advanced. It is called Al-Hamziyyah because every single couplet in the poem ends with the letter Hamzah (ء) resting on an Alif, Waw, or Ya. The poem spans over 450 verses, detailing the birth of the Prophet ﷺ, his lineage, his physical and moral attributes, his miracles (including the Isra’ and Mi’raj), his struggles, his companions, and sincere supplications to Allah through his high station.

The Commentator: Ahmad ibn Abd al-Haqq al-Sunbati

Imam Ahmad ibn Abd al-Haqq al-Sunbati was a prominent Egyptian scholar of the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence and a master of the Arabic language during the Ottoman era. He was a teacher at Al-Azhar Mosque, known for his deep knowledge of jurisprudence (fiqh), Arabic grammar (nahw), and rhetoric (balaghah). 

His commentary on the Hamziyyah is celebrated because he does not merely explain the meaning of the verses; he dissects the linguistic beauty, explains complex grammatical structures, untangles rhetorical devices, and provides necessary historical and theological context.

Characteristics of Sharh al-Sunbati

Al-Sunbati’s commentary is considered one of the finest explanations of the Hamziyyah for several reasons:

Linguistic Depth: He breaks down difficult and rare Arabic vocabulary (gharib al-lughah), explaining their root meanings and derivations.

Grammatical Analysis (I’rab): He provides grammatical analysis for complex lines, making it an excellent resource for students of Arabic grammar.

Theological and Historical Context: When the poem references historical events (like the battles of the Prophet ﷺ or the miracles), al-Sunbati provides the background history from reliable books of Seerah (Prophetic biography).

Spiritual Insight: He addresses the spiritual and devotional themes inherent in Al-Busiri’s poetry, aligning them with orthodox Sunni creed (Aqidah).

The Dar al-Fath Edition

Dar al-Fath (دار الفتح للدراسات والنشر) in Amman, Jordan, is highly respected in the Muslim world for its scholarly rigor, especially in publishing works of classical Sunni Islamic scholarship (Ash’ari/Maturidi theology, traditional jurisprudence of the four schools, Sufism, and Arabic language).

The Dar al-Fath edition of Sharh al-Hamziyyah is characterized by:

Rigorous Verification (Tahqiq): The text is carefully cross-referenced with multiple manuscript copies to ensure the closest possible fidelity to al-Sunbati’s original text.

Critical Notes: The editors often add footnotes to clarify obscure references, identify the sources of Hadiths cited by al-Sunbati, and provide brief biographies of historical figures mentioned.

High-Quality Print and Layout: Known for excellent typesetting, high-grade paper, and clear formatting, making the dense text highly readable for students and scholars alike.

Is This Book for You?

If you wish to study the Hamziyyah of Imam al-Busiri, Sharh al-Sunbati (published by Dar al-Fath) stands as one of the most authoritative and meticulously produced editions available. Renowned for its linguistic depth and scholarly precision, it serves both as a guide to spiritual reflection and as an advanced resource in classical Arabic language and grammar.