In Praise of the Prophet

Peace, one and all…

Here are two beautiful qawwals in praise of the Prophet (alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam), both sung by the wonderful Sabri Brothers.  Enjoy and may all that you do this day be blessed…

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Life Unfolding

Peace, one and all…

Walking in sunshine,
near the scent of flowers;
everywhere life is unfolding,
as am I.

(Abdur Rahman, 16th June 2010)

My Love is Mandatory

Peace, one and all…

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may God be pleased with him) reported: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam) say, ‘Allah Almighty said, ‘My love is mandatory for those who love each other for My sake and those who sit with each other for My sake, and those who visit each other for My sake and those who give to each other for My sake’
(recorded in Imam Malik’s al-Muwatta)

For they are your Two Companions

Peace, one and all…

‘You should not neglect your time or use it haphazardly; on the contrary, you should bring yourself to account, structure your litanies and other practices during each day and night, and assign to each period a fixed and specific function.  This is how to bring out the spiritual blessing (baraka) in each period.  But, if you leave yourself adrift, aimlessly wandering as cattle do, not knowing how to occupy yourself at every moment, your time will be lost.  It is nothing other than your life, and your life is the capital that you make use of to reach perpetual felicity in the proximity of God the Exalted.  Each of your breaths is irreplaceable and, once gone, can never be retrieved.  Do not be like the deceived fools who are joyous because each day their wealth increases while their life shortens.  What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever shorter?  Therefore, be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works, for they are your two companions who will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children, and friends stay behind’
(Imam al-Ghazali, Bidayat al-Hidaya)

The Shirt of Blame

Peace, one and all…

‘This shirt of blame that I’m wearing,
I chose it for myself.
The empty bottle of self-importance
has melted down to glass – ahh, what does it matter? -
has melted down to glass.

I was lifted beyond the known world
to a place from which to see.
When I came back to this soil,
the whole world looked at me – ahh, what does it matter? -
the whole world looked at me.

There’s a rain that is falling
on the garden of the soul
and the bushes that will grow there
yield roses as well as thorns – ahh, what does it matter? -
yield roses as well as thorns.

Some are praying in the churches,
others prostrate in the mosques.
The only prayer that I offer
is at the threshold of my love – ahh, what does it matter? -
at the threshold of my love.

Are you happy with your Beloved?

People often want to know.

If I’m happy or I suffer,

my Beloved is still mine — ahh, what does it matter? –

my Beloved is still mine.

The wine of love has been forbidden

by those who never loved.

But I pour it and I drink it,

this love is all I know — ahh, what does it matter? –

this love is all I know’

(a traditional Turkish Ilahi, adapted by Shaykh Kabir Helminski: source)

Naat-i Serif & Words for Contemplation

Peace, one and all…

Here is a rendition of the Naat-i Serif, a beautiful prayer in praise of the Prophet (alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam).  It is used at the beginning of the Mevlevi sema (loosely, ‘whirling’) ceremony.

Having listened to the Naat, here are some profound words of Mevlana (God sanctify his noble soul).

‘What is it to honour the Lord?
To know yourself as nothing more than dust.

And what is it to know God’s unity?
It is to burn our self before His Oneness.

If you want incandescence like the day,
then scorch the sombre darkness of your selfhood.

Like alchemy dissolve yourself as copper
into the Being of Him Who nurtures being.

Both hands are holding tight to ‘I’ and ‘We’,
this misery is from, duality’.

(Masnavi 1.3021-3025)

Sufi Music

Peace, one and all…

Here are two beautiful Sufi songs.  The first is from Turkey, and is a traditional ilahi (religious song).  The second is from Iran.  Enjoy and may all who pass by be blessed.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Your Sacred Love-Algebra

Peace, one and all…

Addition and subtraction
used to be so simple:
one plus one equalled two,
and everything seemed so clear.

But now,
Your mathematics of love,
have turned all my calculations
upon their head.

I don’t understand these new sums!
For no matter how hard I try
all my calculations
dissolve into oneness!

In Your sacred love-algebra
one plus one
equals naught but one:
what, then, am I to do?

Maybe I’ve forgotten how to add up,
or perhaps all those nights of longing
have at last
robbed me of all sense!

Love comes and says,
‘Stop all this crazy talk.
Be Silent! Raise a finger to your lips.
Who needs form when spirit knocks upon the door?’

Abdur Rahman, 6th June 2010

Yar Yuregim Yar

Peace, one and all…

I wanted to share another beautiful song with the wider world.  This song is from Turkey, and is sung by Sami Ozer.  May your evenings be blessed, and all your days filled with light.

Sunday Evening Qawwali

Peace, one and all…

Here are some beautiful qawwals that I wanted to share with the wider world.  Enjoy, and may Allah bless us all.