Banat Su'ad (the Burda of Ka'b ibn Zuhayr)

قصيدة بانت سعاد (بردة كعب بن زهير)

Ka'b ibn Zuhayr's celebrated apology-ode beginning 'Su'ad has departed, and today my heart is love-sick', recited before the Prophet ﷺ in Medina; it pleads for pardon and praises the Prophet as a light and an unsheathed sword of God.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Arabia
Review
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Literature

Summary

Ka'b ibn Zuhayr's famous qasida "Su'ad has departed, and my heart today is love-sick", which he recited before the Prophet in excuse and praise — it came to be known as the Burda 1.

The poem's account

Ka'b recited it to the Prophet in the mosque after declaring his Islam and seeking safety 1. In it he excused his former lampooning and praised the Prophet, describing him as "a light by which guidance is sought, and a drawn Indian blade of God's swords" 2. In it he praised the Muhajirun of Quraysh and hinted at the Ansar — for one of them had sought leave to strike his neck — then made amends with them after his Islam in a poem of praise 2.

For young visitors

A long, beautiful poem by a famous poet, excusing himself to the Prophet and praising him; it became one of the Arabs' most famous poems.

Connections

Explore the connections

Authored by
Ka'b ibn Zuhayr
Mentioned in
Ka'b ibn Zuhayr's pardon and recitation of Banat Su'ad
About
Muhammad· Ka'b ibn Zuhayr

People and things also explored

Ka'b ibn Zuhayr's pardon and recitation of Banat Su'ad· Ka'b ibn Zuhayr· Medina· Muhammad· The delegation of Banu Tamim and the boasting contest· Khuza'a's appeal to Medina· Salim ibn Umayr's mission to kill Abu Afak· Umayr ibn Adi al-Khatmi's mission to kill Asma' bint Marwan

Sources

  1. al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , pp. 446-447
  2. al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p. 447
  • al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Banat Su'ad (the Burda of Ka'b ibn Zuhayr)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/work/qasidat-banat-suad/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-16.

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Related

Ka'b ibn Zuhayr's pardon and recitation of Banat Su'ad

Warned by his brother Bujayr after the Prophet's return from al-Ta'if, the poet Ka'b ibn Zuhayr came to Medina, announced himself in the mosque, was spared despite an Ansari's request to strike his neck, and recited his apology-ode Banat Su'ad before the Prophet.