Children's Category (ages 7 - 11)
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The content of the poem is praise of the Prophet Muhammad, the Beloved of God (His blessings and peace be upon him).
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As in all things, the niyyah or "intention" is the most important. We are not looking for the best rhymes or most eloquent language for our children's competition, but the most sincerity and expressions of the heart.
- The length of the poem may not exceed 32 lines of whatever length.
The poems will be judged for the following qualities:
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Portray love and/or admiration for the Prophet (Allah bless him and
give him peace).
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Describe the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) accurately.
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Poem should be pleasing to the heart.
Tie breakers:
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Use of descriptive words.
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Pleasing to the ear.
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Title relates well to poem (Not just "Muhammad," or "The Prophet")
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Language appropriate to age of child (in spoken language).
Spelling errors would cause contestant to lose points.
Parents remember, we are not looking for the best "technical" poem, but
the most sincere and moving poetry. This is best demonstrated when the
children work on their own as they have such pure hearts. Poems will be
disqualified if they are not written by the children themselves. Poetry
Contest Staff may conduct phone interviews of young poets to better
understand their motivation in writing.
Adult (ages 18+) and Teen (ages 12 - 17) Category
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The content of the poem is praise of the Prophet Muhammad, the Beloved of God (His blessings and peace be upon him).
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All are allowed to enter the contest in their respective categories.
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The length of the poem may not exceed 32 lines of whatever length.
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Each participant may submit no more than three poems.
The language of the poems must be in English.
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If you submit an English translation it must be a translation of your own work. Translations of the original works of others in whatever language and from whatever time are disallowed.
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The poem must be the original work of the entrant and must never before have been published in a book or anthology, though they may have been previously published in a magazine, journal, periodical, or website.
Poems may be simultaneously submitted for consideration in a magazine, journal, or periodical but not for consideration for a book or anthology.
Other helpful points to consider (but not required)
God, damn poetry! How many
a dim poet have we not met?
They put forth the vague rather than what
the listener would find clear and plain.
They deem the absurd a wise idea,
and vulgar talk a thing of merit.
They have no clue as to what is just, and
top their ignorance with ignorance of it.
–Ibn Rashiq
A poem by Ibn Rashiq, grammarian, linguist, scholar, poet and critic as quoted by Ibn Khaldun in his Muqaddima, in the book on poetry.
- Style and language will be taken into consideration. For instance, avoid at all costs mock-Elizabethan. Unless you are very familiar the diction of Marlowe or Shakespeare and are able to use it naturally, do not.
- It may take the form of a haiku, ghazal, sonnet, qasida or “free” verse; this last with the caveat that “No verse is free verse” (T.S Eliot); there must at minimum be rhythm, coherence and purpose to it. (If you are uncertain, read it out loud.)
- There is nothing wrong with using known and tried metaphors as long as the use is new and striking in some way, and does not go completely against reason and good manners.
- Rhyme schemes are of no import as long as the rhymes are not hackneyed.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.
