One Poem, Three Forms: Textual, Visual, and Ritual Uses of Qaṣīdat al-Burdah in Ottoman Literary Culture

Ottoman literary culture was inherently multilingual, interweaving Arabic, Persian, and Anatolian Turkish without requiring audiences to translate or decode source texts. This paper examines the reception and resonance of one of the most celebrated poems in the Islamic world, Qaṣīdat al-Burdah (The Poem of the Mantle) by al-Būṣīrī (d. 1294–97), with a particular focus on its role in Ottoman culture. The Burdah’s transmission unfolded across three interconnected dimensions: textual, visual, and ritual. Through richly adorned multilingual manuscripts, architectural inscriptions, and liturgical performances, the poem circulated widely, evoking both reverence and aesthetic admiration. The Burdah’s association with the Prophet Muḥammad—especially the belief that al-Būṣīrī was miraculously healed after composing it—further reinforced its spiritual significance. Rhythmic recitations and collective singing of the poem became integral components of devotional gatherings. By analyzing this multifaceted reception, the paper demonstrates how Ottoman multilingual manuscripts and ritual performances preserved and revitalized Arabic and Persian poetic traditions, thereby deeply embedding them in Ottoman religious and literary life.