Although the Quran and Hadith in their original, full form are core faith texts within Islam, there are other literary and devotional works that have been produced to supplement a believer’s daily devotions. For example, the Dala’il al-Khayrat exhibits a renowned collection of prayers for the prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This marks the first major text in Islamic history which compiled invocations of peace and blessings upon Muhammad ﷺ. Written by the Moroccan Shadhili scholar, Muhammad al Jazuli, this text has been prominently used throughout the Islamic world, particularly within the regions of South Asia, North Africa, Turkey, the Caucasus, and the Levant. This text is divided into sections for daily recitation, starting with the ninety-nine names of Allah (SWT), followed by over one hundred names of the prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Whilst some Sunni Muslims may adhere to this devotional text as a daily practice, others utilise this text on a supplementary basis whenever they may desire. Since its production in the 15^th century, the Dala’il al- khairat has been established as a key devotional text that has been utilised as a daily testament of love and adherence to the beloved prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Another well-known text that has been widely used to praise the prophet ﷺ includes the Qasida al-Burdah which translates to ‘the poem of the mantle’. Composed in the 7^th century by Al Busiri, this poem consists of 12 chapters that cover praising the prophet ﷺ, observing the prophet Muhammad’s life through his journeys and jihads, as well as requesting the prophet’s intercession for his believers, towards the end of the poem. This devotional text can be utilised through reading, reciting, and singing its verses. There is a tradition amongst many Islamic cultures to sing the Burdah in weekly, monthly, and annual gatherings. The Qasida al-Burdah is most recognised by its famous line mawalaya sali wa salim da’iman abadan, a’li habiybika khayri khalqi khullihim. Ultimately, this spiritual text establishes a means to strengthen a Muslim believer’s love for the prophet Muhammad ﷺ and is therefore also a way of invoking Allah’s mercy and pleasure. The Qasida al-Burdah is one of the most famous poems across the Muslim world and it forms another example of a devotional text that is used to strengthen a believer’s connection to Allah through its regular recitation, in conjunction with the Quran and Hadith.

Alongside the Burdah, poetry has also been utilised to produce devotional texts dedicated to the Sahaba. This can be demonstrated through Qasida manuscripts that are dedicated to Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was the fourth Rashidun caliph and the cousin of the prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Collectively, the Quran, Poetry and Durud’s (salutations to the prophet ﷺ) all establish the various modes of daily devotional practice in Islam. The creation of miniature mobile manuscripts that contain a variety of these texts within one book, illustrates how these devotional texts have been utilised to strengthen a believer’s daily spiritual connection. Ultimately, it is through the creation of these manuscripts that we can observe the significance of these texts in daily Islamic practice throughout the history of Islam.