Qad Kafani (Qul Ma Nadayta Yahu)

CMC September - Sidi Usama Canon

The very first Al Maqasid (2014) was a powerful experience.  Set in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania, it was a spiritual awakening for people new to such experiences, and a deep revival for old hands.

In a moment before one of the evening sessions, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus asked me to sing something in Urdu.  Before I could begin, he asked me to share the refrain with everyone, and translate it for them. I shared the refrain of a very famous Urdu naat by Ustadh Muzaffar Warsi, "Tu Kuja Man Kuja" (Translation and transliteration of the refrain is shared below. A full translation and transliteration of these words that had everyone swaying, can be found at https://naderkhan.com/discography/water/ ).

There was something very special going on in this moment - everyone was as if drunk in the love of the Prophet (ﷺ).  After I shared the refrain, nobody had to encourage anyone to join in - it was a spontaneous eruption of love, where everyone sang together.  People of every conceivable racial background were swaying back and forth singing in Urdu, in love of the Prophet.  Some were weeping in longing.  Others were smiling ear to ear in celebration.

I am very grateful to have shared this beautiful moment with them.  And I am very grateful to Sidi Ahmed Zaman for having the presence of mind to capture it, and to Sidi Mohammad Najeeb Ahmed for sharing it with me.

If you listen carefully, you can clearly make out voices of Shaykh Yahya Rhodus, Maulana Abdurrahman, Shaykh Muhammad Adeyinka Mendes, and others.

My wife had a creative epiphany and suggested I try out a specific Yemeni tune for this Naat.  I played around with it for a couple of weeks, decided to sing it here.  Those who've heard others reciting it will find this rendition to be *very* different - I hope they still like it.

A studio version of this track is available on the WATER album (rel. 2015), on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, etc.

This was the longest I'd spent translating *any* Urdu naat.  I found it exceedingly difficult, and I couldn't have done it without my wife and superhero manager Dr. Bano Murtuja.

---
Tu Amir-e-Haram, mae faqir-e-ajam
Tere gun, aur yeh lab, main talab hi talab. 
Tu ataa hi ataa, mae khata hi khata
Tu kuja man kuja, tu kuja man kuja

You: The Leader of the sacred sanctuary, Me: the needy of the ignorant.
Your praise and these lips? I crave and crave. 
You give and give. I err and err.
O, where are you, and where am I! O, where are you, and where am I!

Urdu original by Muzaffar Warsi
Translation © Nader Khan & Bano Murtuja 2013, All Rights Reserved

Image of the Prophet's tomb and mosque from http://alfatihoun.edaama.org/

Nader Khan -- "Where Are You, and Where Am I" -- Al Maqasid Retreat

Moroccan Nasheed - Allah Mawlana

Ahbab al Mustafa Burda Track 3

Moroccan Qasidah - Glad Tidings (Bushra Lana)

4- Qamarun

The Nasiri Dua is from the pen of the renowned Susi Shaykh of the Shadhiliyya Tariqa. Shaykh ibn Nasir (d. 1085 AH) was a Shaykh of instruction who made an important impact not only on his time but ever since through his baraka(blessings), his learning, his writings and the great Zawiya(the Sufi place of worship) and Madrassah (Muslim School). His Zawiya in Fez became the fountainhead of the national awakening which led to the liberation of the entire Maghrib from French colonialism. Faced with the massive military strength of France, its trained and technologically equipped army as well as its air force, the ulama (the Muslim Scholars) recognised that in military terms there was no chance of victory. It must be remembered that during this time French planes were indiscriminately bombing and machine-gunning those villages and settlements that resisted the occupation. The French bombing of the Moroccan Muslims was the model which the fascist forces of Germany and Italy were later to use in the bombing of Guernica and, then, across Europe. It was in this situation that Shaykh ibn Nasir adopted his position of the most powerful resistance to the enemy. He created a Dua (Supplication)  which adhered to an uncomprimising Tawhid (The oneness of Allah), and at the same time that it declared the Muslims' utter helplessness, it confirmed the absolute, unrelenting and inescapable power of Allah, glory be to Him. He then embedded this declaration of absolute dependence in the luminous and dazzling confirmation that Allah, glory be to Him, was the Answerer of supplications. The Shaykh, being the true voice of the Muslims, called Allah, glory be to Him, to rescue the Muslim people from the tyranny of the French hordes. In the shortest time the Dua swept across the Maghrib until it was being recited in almost every Mosque. The decadent French provincial governors began to sense that a new wind of defiance and hope was lifting the Moroccan people into a pride and defiance they had not seen. Despite the alcoholism and depravity of the French High Command their intelligence forces quickly traced this new spirit to the recitation of the Nasiri Dua. In desperation they informed Paris of this new problem. An order came from the President of France authorising the French forces to issue an edict banning the public recitation in the Mosques of the Nasiri Dua. When news of this reached the ulama and Sufis in the Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez their hearts overflowed in recognition of The Nasiri Dua that conquered the military might of France. So it was that , from that day, an inspired people moved inexorably to independence from the French, and the restoration of a Sharifi kingship. What was the position of the Maghribi Muslims in the face of the occupation is now the position of the world's Muslims in the face of that tiny oligarchy which has swept aside national and international law, while deliberately bringing about the destruction of the planet in their ruthless control through the wealth of commodities, media and the usury finance system. It is important that the Muslims spread this Dua until its reverberation undermines the foundations of the current tyranny. It is not, however, a pyramid letter the spreading of which alone will secure success. The value of the Nasiri Dua is that, once understood and recited, the modern Muslim begins to think and plan and act in the clear recognition that the enemy are not strong, that their money is worthless, that their systematisation creates chaos and not order. By this Dua, we become the ones who can construct the future on the ruins now strewn across the deserts of humanism.
La ghalib illallah, Edited from the text of Shaykh Dr. Abdalqadir As-Sufi, http://www.shaykhabdalqadir.com, English translation available at this link https://bewley.virtualave.net/Nasiri_Dua.pdf

Nasiri Dua Produced By Ameen Harron

The Qasida Muhammadiya is a poetic ode dedicated to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is a classical form of devotional poetry in Arabic, praising the Prophet’s virtues, character, and significance in the Islamic tradition. The qasida (an Arabic term for a formal, structured poem) has been a powerful tool for expressing love, veneration, and spiritual longing for the Prophet.

 Core Themes of Qasida Muhammadiya

1. Praise of the Prophet (Madh-e-Rasool):  
   The poem glorifies the Prophet Muhammad as the greatest of all creation, a source of mercy, and the epitome of perfection. It often highlights his qualities, such as compassion, wisdom, and leadership.

2. Intercession (Shafa’a):  
   Many lines in the qasida appeal for the Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Judgment, reflecting the belief in his role as an intercessor for humanity.

3. Expression of Love and Devotion:  
   The poem is filled with deep expressions of love and longing for the Prophet. The poet often describes the spiritual connection and yearning to be near him, spiritually and physically.

4. Divine Light (Nur-e-Muhammadi):  
   Some versions emphasize the concept of Nur-e-Muhammadi (the light of Muhammad), presenting the Prophet as a pre-existent and eternal light created by Allah before the rest of creation.

5. Miracles and Superiority:  
   The qasida often recounts the miracles (mu'jizat) of the Prophet and his superiority over other prophets and creation.

 Famous Examples

While there is no single, universally recognized Qasida Muhammadiya, various poets have written poems that fall under this category. Among the most celebrated examples is Qasida al-Burda ("The Poem of the Mantle") by Imam Al-Busiri, which praises the Prophet extensively and is recited worldwide in Islamic gatherings.

 Purpose and Legacy

The Qasida Muhammadiya serves as a means of:  
1. Strengthening Faith: By recounting the Prophet’s attributes, it reinforces the believers' love and admiration for him.  
2. Spiritual Connection: Reciting or listening to the qasida is believed to bring blessings, peace, and a sense of nearness to the Prophet.  
3. Cultural Identity: These poems are often integral to Islamic devotional practices and are recited in gatherings, particularly during celebrations like Mawlid (the Prophet's birthday).

In summary, the Qasida Muhammadiya is a heartfelt and reverent expression of love for the Prophet Muhammad, intertwining theology, devotion, and poetry to inspire and elevate the faith of believers.

Moroccan Nasheed - Allah Mawlana

Bella Abdulrasheed

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