El Camaron de la Isla: La Virgen Hizo Una Sopa

Peace, one and all…

A beautiful example of flamenco music.  Enjoy, and may you do and see this day be blessed.

Ask olsun,
Abdur Rahman

A Belated Seb-i Arus Offering

Peace, one and all…

A small, and belated, Seb-i Arus offering.  Ya Hazret-i Mevlana Hakk Dost!

Ask olsun,
Abdur Rahman

Honouring Imam Ali

Peace, one and all…

I wanted to share two beautiful qawwals in praise of Imam Ali (God ennoble his countenance), both sung by the inimitable Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Ali Mawla, Ali Mawla, Ali Dam Dam

Haq Ali Ali, Mawla Ali Ali

Ali Da Malang

There You Are

Peace, one and all…

I hide Your beauty in my eye;
Whatever I look at,
There You are.

I hide Your presence in my heart;
How could a stranger live there?
There You are.

You are my foundation and my all;
My intimate one and the word on my tongue;
You bring the greeting from my darling one;
Within that greeting,
There You are.

All the blossoms and tender leaves
They hide their beauty in reds and greens
In night’s darkness and the dawn’s first beams.
As each one awakens,
There You are.

You are the one who made creation,
who gave life and strength to every being.
There is no ending except for You
I believe and accept what I am seeing:
There You are.

The flute moans ‘Huuu’ in ecstasy
The waves are roaring, the seas are rushing,
The sun appears to veil the stars
In its rays’ vast shining,
There You are.

You are the one who makes Veysel speak;
You are the tree and I am your leaf.
The unconscious fly right by what they seek.
In both the fruit and seed,
There You are.

Asik Veysel, translated by Jennifer Ferrarro and Latif Bolat

The Young Disciples: Step Right On

Peace, one and all…

Some positive Hip Hop from the early ’90s.  Enjoy and may all who pass by be blessed with goodness.

Ask olsun,
Abdur Rahman

Desiderata

Peace, one and all…

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

(Max Ehrmann 1927, source)

Koi Bole Ram Ram Koi Khudhaae

Peace, one and all…

I wanted to share a beautiful qawwal, sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.  The lyrics comes from a hymn of Guru Nanak and is found in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scriptures.

Enjoy and may all that you do this day be blessed with goodness.

Love Survives

Peace, one and all…

There is an old and venerable tradition of re-interpreting songs and poetry in Sufi thought.  For the past 1,000 years (at least) Sufis have used ‘popular music’ to point to the Truth beyond words.  Personally, I find this one of the most profound elements of Sufism – the idea that meaning exists within all things, and that through contemplation, these meanings can be revealed and explored.

I love all sorts of music, for all sorts of reasons, and I particularly love Michael Jackson’s song Rock With You.  It has a mellow, easy feel and some beautiful harmonies.  The lyrics are also beautiful.  My favourite line being this one:

And when the groove is dead and gone,
You know that love survives

There is a deep truth hidden within this.  When the groove, the beating heart of our lives, has gone and we leave this world, love alone survives – in the hearts of our loved ones, and in the very fabric of the universe itself.  Love survives, and gathers us all into Its bosom.  And, when the song of this life is over, then another song entirely shall begin….and who (Hu) knows what songs we shall sing then?

Ask olsun.

May all that you do this day be blessed.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

The Jungle Brothers

Peace, one and all…

I wanted to share some of the music of the Jungle Brothers, one of my all time favourite rap groups.  Enjoy, and may all you do this day be blessed.

Straight Out The Jungle

Beyond This World

Sunshine

Good Newz Comin’

Done By The Forces of Nature

J Beez Comin’ Through

Spittin’ Wicked Randomness

A Virtual Mehfil-i Sema

Peace, one and all…

‘When I die and you wish to visit me,
do not come to my grave without a drum,
for at God’s banquet mourners have no place’
Mevlana, Divan-i Shams 683

Today is Seb-i Arus, the festival marking the return of Hazret-i Pir Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi to the Divine Beloved.  To mark this auspicious occasion, I wanted to offer a virtual Mehfil-i Sema, or sema gathering, in honour of Mevlana.  The spiritual music offered here includes many of my personal favourites.

The Mevlevi Rose Prayer

May this moment be blessed.  May goodness be opened and may evil be dispelled.  May our humble plea be accepted in the Court of Honour; May the Most Glorious God purify and fill our hearts with the Light of His Greatest Name.  May the hearts of the lovers be opened.  By the breath of our master Mevlana, by the secret of Shams and Weled, by the holy light of Muhammad, by the generosity of Imam Ali, and the intercession of Muhammad, the unlettered prophet, mercy to all the worlds.  May we say Hu, Huuu….

Quranic Recitation: Surah al-Fatihah & Surah al-Baqara 1-5

Turkish Section
Ney Solo

Mevlevi Nat-i Serif
(Poem in Honour of the Prophet, alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam)

Ayini Selam

Daglar ile Taslar ile

Ya Mevlana

Dinle Sozumu

Qawwali Section
Hamd
(Qawwal in praise of God)
Sabri Brothers, Allah Hoo

Naat
(Qawwal in praise of Muhammad, alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam)
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Sare Nabian Da Nabi

Manqabat Imam Ali
(Qawwal in honour of Imam Ali)

Mevlana Qawwal, sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Imam al-Shushtari: My Sweetest Moments

 Mevlana, Andak Andak

Little by little, the group of the lovedrunk arrive
Little by little, the worshipers of wine arrive
They are on their way; Comforting and gentle
Like flowers from the flowerfield they arrive
Little by little, from this world of Being and non-Being
The non-existent leave and the existent arrive
They come with hands and clothes full of gold
For the poor and hungry they arrive
The gaunt, exhausted from the trials of Love
Strong and healthy they arrive
Like the rays of the Sun , the lives of the Pure
From those heights to the lowly valley they arrive
Green and fresh the garden for the pure
With new fruits from the love drunk they arrive
Their essence is grace and grace they unfold and expand
From the garden towards the garden they arrive

My Favourite Paul Weller Songs

Peace, one and all…

I have long enjoyed the music of Paul Weller, as a member of first the Jam, then the Style Council and finally as a solo artist.  His first solo album, entitled ‘Paul Weller’, has long been a particular favourite of mine.  So much so, in fact, that it has become something of an old friend.  Each time I listen to it a whole world of memories, associations and images come flooding back, to the point that it seems to have taken on a life of its own.

At any rate, here are some of my personal favourites.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.  May all that you do this day be blessed.

Clues

Above the Clouds

Amongst Butterflies

Bull Rush (Live in Milan)

Kosmos (Instrumental)

Sunflower

Changing Man

The Brand New Heavies on a Friday Afternoon

Peace, one and all…

Here is a small selection of the music of one of my all-time favourite bands, the Brand New Heavies.  Music has been important to me throughout my entire life (as the Soundtrack series of posts illustrates: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).  As I draw inexorably nearer to my 40th year, I’m increasingly convinced of the need to explore and engage with positive music much more fully.

At any rate, I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do.  May all who pass be blessed with goodness.

Sometimes (Ummah Remix)

Never Stop

Stay This Way (Remix)

Wake Me When I’m Dead (Feat. Masta Ace)

B N H

Put the Funk Back in it

O-Fa-Fu

Have a Good Time

Man Atkeya Beparwah De Naal

Peace, one and all…

Here is a beautiful qawwal, sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.  Entitled ‘Man Atkeya Beparwah De Naal’, it was written by the famous Sufi poet of Indian,  Shah Hussein.  The lyrics and a translation are also offered.  I found them here.  Enjoy, and may all who pass be blessed with goodness.  The original Punjabi lyrics are given in italics.

Man Atkeya Beparwah De Nal
Us Deen Duni De Shah De Nal

My soul is entangled with the indifferent one
Lord of all things visible and invisible

Wasdi Hardam Mann Mere Vich, Soorat Yaar Pyare Di
Apne Shah Nu Ap Rajawan, Hajat Nai Pasaray Di
Kahe Husain Faqeer Numanha, Theewan Khaak Daware Di

The image of the precious beloved lives constantly within my soul
I can please my love alone, I need no display
Says Hussain the worthless faqir, I am the dust on your doorstep

Man Atkeya Beparwah De Nal
Us Deen Duni De Shah De Nal

My soul is entangled with the indifferent one
Lord of all things visible and invisible

Qazi Mullah Matti Dainde
Kharay Siyyane Rah Dasende
Ishq Kee Lagay Rah De Nal

Judges and clerics are full of advice,
The righteous and wise show you the path,
But love itself needs no guidance

Man Atkeya Beparwah De Nal

My soul is entangled with the indifferent one

Nadiyon Paar Ranjhan Da Thana
Keetay Qol Zaroori Jana
Mintaan Karran Mallah De Nal

Ranjha’s dwelling is across the stream,
Having given my word, I must go
I will beseech the boatman

Man Atkeya Beparwah De Nal
Us Deen Duni De Shah De Nal

My soul is entangled with the indifferent one
Lord of all things visible and invisible

Sajan Bin Raatan Hoian Waddiyan
Ranjha Jogi Mein Jogiani
Kamli Kar Kar Saddyan
Sajan Bin Raatan Hoian Waddiyan
Mein Han Ayani Nooh Kee Jana
Birhon Tanawan Gaddiyan

Without my beloved the nights are long,
Ranjha is a saint and I am his follower
He has driven me senseless

Kahe Husain Faqeer Sayein Da
Darr Te Cholian Addiyan Mein
Uss Deen Duni De Shah De Nal

I am a novice, what do I know of committed love?
The separation pulls at my sinews
Says Hussain, Gods faqir, I spread my robe before you
Lord of all things visible and invisible

Man Atkeya Beparwah De Nal

My soul is entangled with the indifferent one

Kahe Husain Faqeer Numanrha
Sache Sahib Nu Mein Jana
Aurhak Kam Allah De Nal

Says Hussain, the worthless faqir,
I know the true Lord
In the end I will meet my Creator

Man Atkeya Beparwah De Nal
Us Deen Duni De Shah De Nal

My soul is entangled with the indifferent one
Lord of all things visible and invisible

Healing Music from Turkey

Peace, one and all…

Here is some beautiful healing music from Turkey.  God knows we could all do with love’s tranquil healing these days.  Enjoy, and may love be with all who pass by.

Baraka Blue: Love & Light

Peace, one and all…

Hu Dost!  This is truly beautiful, and a fine start to Ramadan.  May all who pass by be blessed.  May all who pass by be given all that this prayer asks the Beloved for…

Merhaba Ramadan!

Peace, one and all…

Welcome O Month of Fasting!  Welcome O Month of Mercy!  Welcome O Bright Moon of Ramadan!  Welcome, welcome, welcome…

Here are some beautiful ilahis to enjoy, as a welcome song for this blessed month.  May all who pass by be blessed with God’s mercy.

Bismillah

Merhaba

Gönül Ayinesin Sufi

Ya Mevlana

Sem-i Ruhuna

Chaap Tilak: Jafar Husein Khan Badayuni

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Jamiroquai

Peace, one and all…

Here are some songs of another favourite band of mine, Jamiroquai.  Good music, good lyrics, good vibes.  Enjoy and may all you do this day be blessed.

Stillness in Time

Too Young to Die

Space Cowboy

Virtual Insanity

Blow Your Mind

Didgin’ Out

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

57th Minute of the 23rd Hour!

Peace, one and all…

Here are some positive vibes from Galliano, one of my all-time favourite bands.  The music is beautiful and the words are true.  Enjoy, and may all that you do this day be blessed with every goodness.

57th Minute of the 23rd Hour

Welcome to the Story (Peace Go With You Mix)

Golden Flower (featuring Omar)

Prince of Peace

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman