Peace, one and all…
‘Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself’
(Chinese Proverb)
Courtesy of the Book Foundation
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
Archive for March 23rd, 2008
Teachers Open the Door
March 23, 2008Songs of the Saints of God 3: Ganj-i-Shakar
March 23, 2008Peace, one and all…
This selection of qawwals refer to Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar (may God sanctify his secret), one of the most important saints (awliya) of the Chishti tariqa. Baba Farid was also a poet. His verses were deemed important enough to be included in the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh understandings of Baba Farid can be found here and here). A complete collection of his verses is available online (although they are all in Punjabi: if anyone can translate them for me, I would be most grateful).
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Allah Mohammad Char Yaar
ganjshakar walian da raja
badar miandad fareedi qawwal
Rahat Ali Khan Qawwal – Ganj-e-Shakar
Maulvi Haider Hassan Qawwal – Ganj Shakar
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
A Musical Trip Down Memory Lane
March 23, 2008Peace, one and all…
I found these songs on You Tube recently. It’s the first time I’ve heard them for years. They strongly remind me of the mid to late 80s, when I was at Hackney Downs Secondary School (it closed down years ago). Subhan Allah! Has it really been 20 years?!
At any rate, enjoy this brief trip down my very own memory lane.
George Benson: Shiver
Loose Ends: Slow Down
Loose Ends: Hangin’ On A String
Luther Vandross: Stop to Love
Eric B & Rakim: Paid in Full
This song as one of my earliest experiences of Hip Hop and Islam, and so this one was quite important at the time (Rakim, the rapper, is a member of the 5% Nation of Islam/Nation of Gods & Earths)
Eric B & Rakim: I Ain’t No Joke!
I used to stay up into the early hours of the night in the late 80s to listen to Tim Westwood’s rap show on Night Network. This was one of my favourites from back then.
Galliano: Prince of Peace
A bit later in time (1992), but still a song I remember with much affection (and the lyrics are good too).
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
