SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

of religion shall inherit the esoteric function of the
Prophet, it is appropriate for the Sufis to venerate such
men as those who have been chosen by the Divine Mercy to
guide other men. Hence the Sufis honour the Prophet and
the saint,s.

52.

Among the literary works in Arabic produced by Somali

Sufis praise poetry predominates! There are numerous

poems written in praise of God, praise of the Prophet and

the saints, and in the diction and formal characteristics

: this poetry is clearly based on Arabic models brought

from outside Somali culture. The exact identification of

these models is not yet available and requires extensive

research both within the classical religious literature

shared by the world-wide Arab community and in that which

is characteristic of Southern Yemen and Aden in particular.

The imagery of Arabic Sufi poetry written by Somalis

is also obviously inspired by Arabic sources and differs

sharply from that of both the secular and religious poetry

in Somal'i.

Among the most celebrated collections of Somali Sufi

poetry are MAJMDcAT AL-QA~A~ID ('A Collection of Poems')

compiled by Sheekh Qaasim Muxyadiin (QASIM MUIjYADIN) and
AL-MAJMUcAT AL-MUBARAKAH, a general work on Sufism which

contains many poems edited by Sheekh Cabdilaahi Yuusuf (SHAIKH

In the first of these collections

we find a poem well known among Somali Sufis MARQAT AL-WUSUL

ILA ijA~RAT AL-~ASUL ('The Ladder of Access to the Presence

of the Messenger') a panegyric addressed to the Prophet

and written by the renowned Sufi saint Sheekh Cabdiraxmaan

Cabdilaahi "Sheekh Suufi:". In the same collection there