Popular Practice: Songs in Praise of the Prophet: Qasidah
The choir of the Kilimani Muslim School in Zanzibar (East Africa) reciting a Swahili qasida, or praise poem, celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's birth. Each verse is followed by a refrain - the salawat in Arabic - invoking God's peace and blessings on Muhammad. Note the phrasing of the salawat is identical to that in first selection, allahuma salli ala Muhammad ya rabbi salli alaihi wasallim. Other words are:
as-salatu as-salam alaika ya rasul allah
prayer and blessing on you, O messenger of God
as-salatu as-salam alaika ya habib allah
God's servant, Muhammad's name is on everyone's lips
Even his praises are widely known
allahuma salli ala Muhammad ya rabbi salli alaihi wasallim
To his east and to his west
People were made happy by the news of his birth
allahuma salli ala Muhammad ya rabbi salli alaihi wasallim
(from: Music from Tanzania and Zanzibar 3, producer Sten Stendahl)
