Shaddad (legendary king) is a figure from pre‑Islamic Arabian legend cited in the Malay translation of the Burda as the builder of the opulent city Iram (the “columns of the sea”). The poem recounts Shaddad’s hubris and subsequent divine destruction.
Legendary Narrative
According to Arab tradition, King Shaddad constructed the magnificent city of Iram to rival Paradise, only to be punished by God for his arrogance. The story is referenced in the Qur’an (e.g., Qur’an 89:5‑6) and in later Islamic literature.
Role in Acehnese Poetry
In the Acehnese version of the Burda, Shaddad’s tale functions as a cautionary example contrasting the humility of the Prophet Muhammad with the pride of earlier rulers. Its inclusion demonstrates the transmission of pan‑Islamic legends into Acehnese religious poetry.
See Also
Source
DLP‑54 – Een 16de‑eeuwse Maleise vertaling van de Burda van al‑Busiri, digitised manuscript, pages 73‑79, 20260707_232246_DLP-54-Een_16de_eeuwse_Maleise_vertaling_van_de_Burda_van_al_Bu_s_i_ri_OCR.txt.