Even though there is no record indicating the date when
the sitaad was first used there is a strong conviction
among Somali women themselves that their religious genre
is of great antiquity. A close examination of some of
the available material of this genre shows that while
some of the poems are of recent composition and known
authorship, others might be very old since their author-
ship is totally unknown while the poems themselves are
widely known over large areas of the Somali speaking
terri torie.s.
Unlike all the Sufi poetry in Arabic and most of the
Sufi poetry in Somali which is composed for the praise of
the Prophet and the male saints by Sufi men only, the
sitaad is used to honour the Prophet and the most popular
women in the Islamic tradition, such as IjAWA:) (Eve),
FATIMAH (the daughter of the Prophet), and Kt~DIJAH
5.6.(the first wife of the Prophet), who are regarded as female
saints by Somali wome~. The following poems, one of which
is devoted to the praise of the Prophet and the other to
his daughter FATI~~H, are examples of the sitaad. The
first poem is addressed to the Prophet: ,Nebiga nuurkii Ilaah, laga abuurayow
Khayru khalqilaahi, khadar Ilaahayow
Kolkuu Nebi waliba diiday, dad uu lahaa
Maxamed nama diidin, ee waa na doonayaa
In badan 100 socay nin ku arkaa, ayaan laha,'a.o Prophet who is created of the light of G6d
o the most gracious of all the creatures of God, 0 KHIQR
of God