Madih (praise) is the concluding section of a classical Arabic qasīda in which the poet offers laudatory verses to the subject of the poem, most commonly the Prophet Muhammad in devotional works. In the Acehnese kasida tradition, the madīḥ functions similarly, providing a climactic affirmation of the Prophet’s virtues and often concluding the Mawlid (dikië jadjandji) ceremony.
The madīḥ in Acehnese performances may incorporate local linguistic flourishes, rhythmic patterns, and instrumental accompaniment, yet it preserves the essential Arabic rhetorical devices of hyperbole, metaphor, and theological affirmation. The section frequently ends with a supplication for the Prophet’s intercession and a request for divine reward for the poet and the listeners.
Role in Acehnese devotional practice
- Liturgical climax – The madīḥ marks the high point of the Mawlid celebration, after the nasīb and raḥīl have prepared the audience.
- Cultural synthesis – By embedding Acehnese idioms within the madīḥ, performers demonstrate the adaptability of Arabic poetic forms to local religious expression.
See Also
- Kasida (Acehnese poetic form)
- Nasib (poetic prelude)
- Al‑Burda (poem)
- Mawlid in Aceh
- dikië jadjandji (dhikr Barzandji)
Source
20260707_232246_DLP-54-Een_16de_eeuwse_Maleise_vertaling_van_de_Burda_van_al_Bu_s_i_ri_OCR.txt, pp. 24–28.