The Formation of Panegyrical Discourse in Imam Sharaf al-Din al-Busiri’s Mīmiyyah: A Reading of Its Poetic Structure

Abstract

This study examines the Mīmiyyah of Imam Sharaf al-Din Muhammad ibn Saʿid al-Busiri as a poetic text that combines praise of the Prophet with the Sufi spiritual experience. It seeks to identify the manifestations of Prophetic love and the paths of spiritual purification within the poem’s intellectual and artistic structure. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical method, examining poetic passages in relation to Qur’anic and Prophetic references and the literature of Sunni Sufism. The findings show that love constitutes the central axis around which the other Sufi stations are organized. The poem’s structure follows a semantic progression that begins with ardent longing and culminates in emulation of the noble Messenger, while making artistic use of imagery, intertextuality, and rhythm. The study also demonstrates that the Mīmiyyah achieves a balance between literary beauty and doctrinal discipline, a quality that has contributed to its longevity and enduring presence in Islamic culture.