The Similes Regarding Prophet Mohammed In Hadaik-I Bahşiş Of Ahmet Rıza Han Barelvi

Na’at, poetry in praise of prophet Muhammad (pbuh), has been popular in Urdu literature since the inception of this literature, and it was practiced in the traditional sense until the end of the twentieth-century. With twentieth-century, qualified and independent works have been written in the literary context. While Na’ats in the traditional period were more interested in physical characteristics of the Prophet (pbuh), modern day poets, who considered the situation of Muslims in Indian subcontinent, have begun so emphasize prophet’s exemplary character in every area of his life. Although Urdu Na’at originally imitated style and themes of Persian literature, the poets of the later period succeeded in creating originality by adding local elements. The purpose of rehabilitating community through Na’at, which started with Muhammed Ikbal and Mawlana Zafer Ali Han, was adopted by Mawlana Ahmet Rıza Khan Barelvi as well. Barelvi was religiously well-educated, glossator, judiciary, and narrator of prophet Muhammed’s all sayings. Barelvi received high recognition throughout India with his Na’at. Especially, his book Hadaik-i Bakhsish is the most accepted one on poetry. In addition to being accepted by the public, Barelvi is widely admired by almost all Urdu literary critics. After this work, he was nicknamed as Barelvi as Hassan-i Hindi and the Sultan of Na’at poets. It is possible to find every form of Na’at in this work. In this study, we will discuss Urdu Na’at traditions, Ahmed Rıza Khan’s place in this tradition and will attempt to analyze similes about our prophet in his work Hadaik-i Bahşiş (Gardens of Forgivenes)