Peace, one and all…
‘Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire?’ (al-Furqan 25:43)
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Archive for February, 2007
Have You Seen…?
February 28, 2007Bosnian Naqshbandi Nasheed
February 28, 2007Peace, one and all…
As part of my ongoing series on Islamic music, I’d like to present this Bosnian Naqshbandi nasheed. I’ve worked with Bosnians in the past, and have a good Bosnian friend (and a Bosnian brother-in-law), so this reminds me of them.
Enjoy and may Allah make it beneficial.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Allahu Allah
February 27, 2007Peace, one and all…
Here’s another piano version of Mesut Kurtis’ Allahu Allah. This one is performed with Sami Yusuf. Enjoy…
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Mesut Kurtis in Jeddah
February 27, 2007Peace, one and all…
As part of my ongoing series of Islamic music/zikr/ilahi videos, I have the good pleasure to present Mesut Kurtis’ recent concert in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
As Allah has willed, I happen to know Mesut. He was a student at the college I used to work in. I can honestly say that he is as humble in person, as he is inspiring as a singer (he’s also an excellent football player). His nickname was bulbul (nightengale). Enjoy, and may Allah lift all our hearts in these trying days.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
The Jawziyyah Institute
February 27, 2007Peace, one and all…
This is just a quick post to ask you to check out the website of The Jawziyyah Institute. This has been set up by Surkheel (Abu Aaliyah) Sharif, someone I count as a personal friend of mine. Ma sha Allah, Abu Aaliyah is one of the most spiritual people I have ever had the good fortune of meeting. The kind of brother that makes your heart leap when you spend time with him.
His website has useful articles on a wide range of topics. Check it out.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Words & Sunlight
February 26, 2007Peace, one and all…
I’ve posted some of my most recent poetic reflections over at The Corner Reloaded. This evening’s offering is entitled Words & Sunlight. Enjoy, and may Allah make it useful.
Speak to Me
Beloved, speak to me
and do not stop speaking.
Let Your words fall
into the ear of my heart,
like honey falling slowly
into a bowl of cream,
and let me taste this hidden sweetness,
this intoxicating fire,
in the very core of my being,
the very centre of my self,
the very root of my soul.
Speak, Beloved
and let Your words
be as the rising of moonlight,
in this small night-clad vale of me.
When You speak, Beloved,
I can see the path beyond myself
revealed at last.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Sacrifice & Harvest
February 26, 2007Peace, one and all…
I’ve posted some of my most recent poetic reflections over at The Corner Reloaded. Today’s poems deal with sacrifice and harvest. I hope you enjoy them and may Allah make them beneficial.
Here’s a sample…
Sacrifice
Write here upon this paper
what you find inscribed upon your heart.
Let all your worries and fears
be spilt upon the page,
like a sacrifice upon an altar.
Sacrifice means to give up something,
in the hope of something better.
So, let your narrow self
be the offering you present,
and let your anxieties all be washed away.
Place garlands around your ego’s neck,
and lead it gently towards the Temple’s open gates,
and remember,
these doors open only by Love.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
A Muslim A Day
February 21, 2007Peace, one and all…
Just a quick note to say check out the new A Muslim A Day site. Lots of colourful photos, etc. More importantly, another reminder to ourselves and the rest of the world that we’re just people.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
The Bonds of Travel
February 21, 2007Peace, one and all…
I’ve posted some of my most recent poetic reflections over at The Corner Reloaded. Today’s reflections centre on this business of life, and navigating a path through it.
I hope you enjoy them. May God make them beneficial, and may He remove all pride and arrogance from my weak heart. Amin.
Neglected Children
The bonds of travel are dear to me,
and I will answer when I am called.
Since you have asked for plain speech,
let me speak plainly at last.
When you learn a thing,
you become its mother.
And, like any mother,
you become responsible
for its path through the world.
Thus, take care and
keep your thought-children
close to you,
lest they stumble
into darkness.
My friend,
there is no such thing
as bad knowledge.
There are only neglected children.
(for our worthy sister Safiyah)
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Demedim Mi: Lyrics
February 20, 2007Peace, one and all…
In a recent post, I mentioned that I wanted to post the lyrics to one of my favourite ilahis, Demedim Mi (which means ‘Didn’t I Tell You?’). So, here it is. Ma sha Allah, I absolutely love this ilahi. May God ease our weary hearts with these beautiful lyrics.
Demedim Mi (translation & lyrics courtesy of Hakkani)
Guzel asik cehrimizi cekemezsin demedim mi
Bu bir riza lokmasidir yiyemezsin demedim mi
O beautiful lover, you can’t bear our countenance, didn’t I tell you?
This is a morsel of acceptance, you cannot swallow it, didn’t I tell you?
Demedim mi demedim mi, Gonul sana soylemedim mi
Bu bir riza lokmasidir yiyemezsin demedim mi
Didn’t I tell you, didn’t I tell you, O my heart didn’t I say to you?
This is a morsel of acceptance, you cannot swallow it, didn’t I tell you.
Yemeyenler kalir nacar gozlerinden kanlar sacar
Bu bir demdir gelir gecer duyamazsin demedim mi
Those who do not eat will remain out, blood pours out from their eyes
This is a moment, it comes and goes, you cannot hear it, didn’t I tell you?
Demedim mi demedim mi, Gonul sana soylemedim mi
Bu bir riza lokmasidir yiyemezsin demedim mi
Didn’t I tell you, didn’t I tell you, O heart didn’t I say to you?
This is a morsel of acceptance, you cannot swallow it, didn’t I tell you.
Pir Sultan ALI Sahimiz HAKKA ulasir ahimiz
On iki imam katarimiz diyemezsin demedim mi
Pir Sultan Ali is our King, our sigh reaches to the Truth
The twelve Imams are our train, you can’t say, didn’t I tell you?
Demedim mi demedim mi, Gonul sana soylemedim mi
Bu bir riza lokmasidir yiyemezsin demedim mi
Didn’t I tell you, didn’t I tell you, O my heart didn’t I say to you?
This is a morsel of acceptance, you cannot swallow it, didn’t I tell you.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
The Carnival of Islam in the West (6)
February 20, 2007Peace, one and all…
The Carnival of Islam in the West (6) has now been published, following a small delay. I have an article myself in this collection (and from God comes every success).
The Carnival is a real showcase of contemporary Muslim blogging talent. Al hamdu lillah, it seems clear to me that there’s a lot of real talent out there. May God guide us all and use us in any way He sees fit.
Although the details are still to be worked out (mostly because I’m not a technically gifted individual), insha Allah I’ll be hosting next month’s edition of the Carnival here.
I would just like to say thank you to our most worthy and hardworking brother Hakim Abdullah. May God bless him and all that he does.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Painter of Worlds
February 19, 2007Peace, one and all…
I’ve posted some of my most recent poetic reflections over at The Corner Reloaded. Today’s offerings are entitled Painter of Worlds. Enjoy…
Here’s a sample…
The Ship of Love is Departing
Come my friends,
happy fools that we are,
the Ship of Love is departing.
In our quest for the Beloved’s Face,
we are leaving these narrow waters.
The soft hand clappings
of friends close by
become oars,
urging us on,
driving us home.
The waves rise and fall,
our ship guided through these waters
by the rolling timbre of the qawwali’s voice.
When in such company,
standing still is,
at best,
impolite.
So, let us go forth together,
as friends into the night.
Somewhere out there,
the Beloved’s moon
is rising in stillness,
and shivering rain of silver beauty
falls upon the Sea’s becalmed face.
(for Abdul Muneer bhai)
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
The Breath of Zekr
February 19, 2007Peace, one and all…
I’ve recently posted the lovely poem of our most worthy brother Irving (aka Darvish) over at The Corner Reloaded. I thought I’d post it here too.
Enjoy, and let the breath of zekr lift you into skies of hamd.
The Breath of Zekr
The breath of zekr inhales love
and exhales kindness
The heartbeat keeps time
to the rhythm of intention
Steady the breath with silence
and good works
Listen to the heart beat
La illa ha illa Allah!
O seeker, the traveler on this path
takes no provisions but love
(Irving Karchmar, 2006)
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
A Thinking Bird
February 17, 2007Peace, one and all…
I wanted to post a really amusing story from our worthy brother Lulando over at Mullah Nasruddin. You can find the original post here. I’m tipping my hat as I type.
Enjoy…
A Thinking Bird
One day, Mulla was in the market and saw birds for sale at 500 reals each.
“My bird” he thought “which is larger than any of these, is worth far more.”
The next day he took his pet Hen to market. Nobody would offer him more than 50 reals for it. The Mulla began to shout:
“O people! This is a disgrace! Yesterday you were selling birds only half this size at ten times the price.”
Someone interrupted him.
“Nasrudin, those were parrots – talking birds. They were worth more because they talk.”
“Fool!” said Nasrudin “those birds you value only because they can talk. This one, which has wonderful thoughts and yet does not annoy people with chatter, you reject.”
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Mount Uhud
February 17, 2007Peace, one and all…
I’ve been trying to write this poem for a long time. Al hamdu lillah it came to me all unexpectedly this afternoon as I was on my way home. May Allah accept it as an expression of love, in all sincerity. I hope that you all enjoy it too…
Mount Uhud
Some things get me.
Some things reach into my inner core,
unleashing the hidden flood of tears
stored in the secret reservoir of my heart.
Muhammad,
alone on the slopes of Mount Uhud,
surrounded by a sea of foemen,
is one of those moments.
‘Who will go forth to meet this danger?
Who will give themselves,
so that this message might live?’
Tears and sorrow mingling
in the water of his bright eyes.
O that I could have been there
to wipe away those tears.
O that I could have said:
‘I will go, Messenger of God.
I will give myself for you’.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Sufi Dancing from Omdurman, Sudan
February 17, 2007Peace, one and all…
As part of my teaching commitments, I’m going to be posting some material relating to Sufi music, dancing, etc. This first offering comes from Omdurman, in the Sudan.
At this stage, I make no comments regarding my own opinons. I’ll reflect on my thoughts and possibly (by God’s grace) post something on this topic later on.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Journeyings
February 17, 2007Peace, one and all…
I’ve posted some new poetic reflections over at The Corner Reloaded. Today’s offerings speak of journeying. Enjoy, by Allah’s mercy.
Here’s a sample…
I Language I Cannot Understand
Some are saddened
by a language they cannot understand.
For myself, I am made glad
because my heart can carve such unfamiliarity
into any shape I choose.
Inside the wide realm of imagination
these tongues of mystery can become
sonnets of Love,
or robes of magic.
And, if I can fashion such thought-shapes
from this colourful myriad of words,
then so can we all.
Thus, if you would understand the hearts of others,
let them interpret their own words,
and tell their own stories.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Interesting TV Programmes
February 26, 2007Peace, one and all…
In recent weeks, there have been a number of interesting television programmes on things Islamic. Last week, I watched Travels with a Tangerine on BBC Four. This documentary series followed an Arabic speaking British Christian as he re-traced the steps of the world travelling Ibn Battuta. Fascinating stuff, and an enthusiastically positive account (for a change). Then there was Rageh Omar’s look at Islamic history in Europe, though at present I can’t seem to find any reference to it on the BBC website. Later, insha Allah. I enjoyed it anyway.
Tonight’s offering was perhaps the most interesting. It’s called The Retreat and follows six British Muslims on a four week retreat in a Sufi lodge in Southern Spain. Unfortunately, I missed most of the tonight’s programme (though there are another three episodes). I’ll offer more thoughts next week, insha Allah.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
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