Burda - Ahbab al Mustafa

Qasidas

Islamic nasheeds

spring

burdah

Qasidah

naat

Gul Azro Khata Mukhta [Naat] Sara Raza Khan

The Shimmering Light by Habib Umar bin Hafiz

Chapter 2 Qad Kafani Ilmu Rabbi

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

Burda Shareef Chapter 6

Burda Shareef Chapter 5

Burda Shareef Chapter 4

Recorded in Cambridge on Friday the 7th of March, 2014

Consider expressing your enjoyment of this qasida by donating to the Cambridge Mosque Project: http://www.justgiving.com/muslimacademic/donate

Na't al-Baratina

Flamenco Salawat- by Al Firdaus Ensemble 
Event organised by Rumi's Cave
Sunday 9th March 2014
Kilburn
London

Flamenco Salawat- by Al Firdaus Ensemble

رفعت أستار البين ** وبدت أنوار العين
تنجلي من غير أين ** فاشهدوها يا صوفية

أنا مرآة حبيبي ** في هواه نفسي طيبي
عن سواه نفسي غيبي ** واطرحي الأشيا الردية

مذ بدا في ذي المشاهد ** صرت راكعا وساجد
شاكرا له وحامد ** إذ طواني في الهوية

يا هنائي في لقائي ** يا بقائي في فنائي
يا ضيائي في سمائي ** يا حياتي الأبدية

أقبل الساقي علينا ** قدم الكأس إلينا
فاحتسينا وارتوينا ** من كؤوس الهاشمية

صاح فاغنم المعاشا ** كم ميْت أتاهم عاشا
حاشا أن يخيب حاشا ** من أتى بصدق النية

أخل قلبك للتجلي ** واجلِ عينك للتملي
والسوى يا خلي خلّي ** وافن في الذات العلية

واشرب الكأس جهارا ** لا ترى في الشرب عارا
وهمْ واخلع العذارا ** في المعاني الأقدسية

جدّ سيرا للمنازل ** وانتهج نهج الأوائل
لا تصغ لقول عاذل ** إنما الإصغا بلية

هي كل الكل أصلا ** ليس للعاذل فعلا
ما عذول الحب إلا ** مرسل من ذي العطية

ثم صل ذا الجلال ** على باب الاتصال
طه والصحب والآل ** ما حدا حادي المطية

قصيدة رفعت أستار البين للشيخ عبد الرحمن الشاغوري

Celtic Salawat

This track was recorded for the background of an upcoming fundraising video for Islamic Relief.
The poetry is from one of Pakistan's most famous contemporary Na'at composers, Hazrat Muhammad Ali Zahoori.  The tune is in the Arabic mode of Bayat.The rhythm and beat are unusual for the Western Ear - it's a 7/8, and is used in Indian and some Arabic music.
The beat had to be recorded live (I used a Nepalese Tribal Madal drum for this).

[NOTE: Booking requests are not processed through this website.  To book Nader Khan, please contact "bookings@naderkhan.com"]


Salam Upon The Prophet

Ahbab al Mustafa Burda Track 1

Ahbab al Mustafa Burda Track 2

Ahbab al Mustafa Burda Track 3

This set of lyrics was originally composed as a poem by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.

This recording is from a live performance at the Ta'leef Collective in Fremont California, in November 2009.

It was recorded live using a Canon Powershot SX 20i - not sure about the specs of the sound system at Ta'leef that day.

For booking inquiries, please contact bookings@naderkhan.com

Nader Khan Sings "Springs Gift", By Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

For those who requested the recording in mp3

As we bid Farewell to the Holy Month of Ramadan, We Bring you an Athkar affectionately known in Cape Town as "AL WIDA YA RAMADAN"......

Kindly recorded by Wahied Kannemeyer and Mogamad Hendricks

Please feel free to download and we wish each and everyone a Ramadan Mubarak!!!

Al Wida Ya Ramadan mp3

Qasidah Burdah

LANGUAGE: Urdu

SONGWRITER: Muhammad Iqbal Naqibi

INSPIRATION:
This qawwali was masterfully delivered time and again by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It is rendered here more as a song than a pure qawwali. The various tangential improvisations that are expected in a qawwali have been kept to a minimum. I’ve also opted to use an opening verse that was presented in a television rendition by the Indian singer Toshi Sabri.
___________________________________

LYRICS:
Hava khilaf thi, lekin chiragh khub jala
Khuda bhi hone ke kya kya sabut deta hai

Tere hi nam se har ibteda hai
Tere hi nam tak har inteha hai
Teri hamd o sana, alhamdu liLlah
Ke Tu mere Muhammad ka Khuda hai

Ye zamin jab na thi, ye jahan jab na tha
Chand suraj na thay, asman jab na tha
Raz-e-haq bhi kisi par ayan jab na tha
Tab na tha kuch yahan, tha magar Tu hi Tu

Kawnain ka masjud hai, ma’bud hai Tu
Har shai Teri shahid hai ke mash-hud hai Tu
Har ek ke lab par hai Teri hamd o sana
Har soz mein, har saaz mein mawjud hai Tu

Tu jo har aan nai shaan dikha deta hai
Dida-e-shawq ko hairan bana deta hai
Dali dali Teri takhliq ke gun gati hai
Patta patta Teri qudrat ka pata deta hai

La ilaha Teri shan ya wahdahu
Tu khayaal-o-tajassus, Tu hi arzu
Ankh ki roshni, dil ki avaz Tu

Khaliq-e-kul hai Tu, is mein kya guftagu
Sare alam ko hai Teri hi justaju
Teri jalvagari hai ayan charsu
Tha bhi Tu, hai bhi Tu, hoga bhi Tu hi Tu
___________________________________

TRANSLATION:
The wind was hostile, but the lantern did burn ever so intensely
How wondrously strange are the affirmations that God presents, of His own existence

From Your name is every beginning
Unto Your name is every ending
To praise You is to say that all praise is for You alone
You are, after all, the God of Muhammad

When this land was not, and neither was this earth
When the moon and the sun were not, and neither was this universe
When the secret of Reality hadn’t yet been bestowed upon anyone
Then, there was nothing here, save You

You’re the one prostrated to, and worshipped in both existences
Every thing attests to Your existence, ergo You are The Witnessed
It’s Your praise and extolling that is on the lips of everyone
You are Existent in every rhythm and in every tune

You Who manifests a novel majesty ever so frequently
You thereby bewilder eyes that are anticipating an experience of Your manifestations
Every branch sings the praise of Your creative feat
Every leaf is a sign that points towards Your supreme power

That there isn’t another god is of Your majesty, O Peerless One
It’s but You Who occupy my imagination, my curiosity, my aspiration
You are the light in my eyes, the voice in my heart

You are the Creator of every thing, without doubt
The entire universe is busied with it’s seeking of You
Your sublime manifestations are evident in all directions
You were Beginninglessly Eternal then, are Ever Present now, and will forever be Endlessly Eternal
___________________________________
Translation © Nader Khan 2008 All Rights Reserved

07 - TAKE MY HAND - PreviewClips - Allah Hu [Urdu]

LANGUAGE: Urdu

SONGWRITER: Sayid Iqbal Azim

INSPIRATION: 
This naat was rendered to popular acceptance by the Pakistani Qur’an reciter and Naat performer, Qari Waheed Zafar Qasmi, and enjoys a strong emotional attachment all across the Indian subcontinent. The current rendition presents it in a typically Arabic tune of the hijaz mode.
___________________________________

LYRICS:
Faslon ko takalluf hai hum se agar
Ham bhi bebas nahin, besahara nahin
Khud unhin ko pukarenge hum dur se, 
Raaste mein agar paun thak jaaenge

Jaise hi sabz gumbad nazar aaega
Bandagi ka qarina badal jaaega
Sar jhukane ki fursat milegi kise
Khud hi aankhon se sajde tapak jaaenge

Hum madine mein tanha nikal jaaenge
Aur galiyon mein qasdan bhatak jaaenge
Hum vahaan jaake vaapas nahin aaenge
Dhundte dhundte log thak jaaenge

Naam unka jahaan bhi liya jaaega
Zikr unka jahaan bhi kiya jaaege
Nur hi nur sinon mein bhar jaaega
Saari mehfil mein jalve lapak jaaenge

Ae madine ke zaair khuda ke liye
Dastaan-e-safar mujh ko yun mat suna
Dil tadap jaaega. Baat badh jaaegi
Mere mohtat aansu chhalak jaaenge

Unki chashm-e-karam ko hai iski khabar
Kis musafir ko hai kitna shawq-e-safar
Hum ko Iqbal jab bhi ijazat mili
Hum bhi aaqa ke durbar tak jaaenge
___________________________________

TRANSLATION:
If distances prove themselves to be pretentious towards us
We are neither helpless, nor are we without support
We shall entreat Him ourselves
Should our feet grow weary along the path

The moment the green dome becomes visible
Slave hood shall manifest itself differently
Who will have respite to bow their heads
Prostrations, of their own accord, shall trickle from the very eyes

We will go out in Madina, bereft of familiar company
And deliberately lose our way in its streets
Having reached there, we shall not return
Be it that looking for us, people grow weary

His name, wheresoever it shall be mentioned
His remembrance, wheresoever it shall be made
Light, and yet more light, shall fill up the breasts of those gathered
Spiritual manifestations shall leap out upon the entire gathering

O Visitor of Madina, for God’s sake
Do not thus share your journey’s narrative
The heart will grow restless, anxious; the matter shall exceed all bounds
My guarded tears shall spill forth

His magnanimous insight is well informed
As to which traveler harbours how much aspiration for his journey
Whensoever it may be that we be granted permission, O Iqbal
We too shall pay a visit unto the court of the Liege-lord
___________________________________
Translation © Nader Khan 2008 All Rights Reserved

05 - TAKE MY HAND - PreviewClips - Faslon Ko Takalluf [Urdu]

Qasida Burdah written by Imam al-Busiri is recited by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Munshids from West Africa/ Al-Maghrebiyya.

Qasida Burda by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf w/ Moroccan Munshids

Castaway - Nihavend Ilahi - Abdal Hakim Murad

A resource for traditional qasidas (poems, odes), naats and nasheeds taken from around the world, most of which are written by various spiritual masters of the sacred path of sufism (tassawuf - the Islamic science of spirituality).

'The aim of qasidas or spiritual odes is to worship the creator, by turning the hearts to the Divine, who says 'And when My servants ask you of Me, truly I am close' (Quran 2:186).

The purpose of qasidas in the Sufi path is to convey the experiential gnosis of forebears to subsequent generations, for what comes from the heart goes into the heart, and most of the poets who wrote them where Shaykhs of the spiritual paths (tariqa) who addressed their words to those with experiences like themselves or to aspirants.

The person who can benefit from such qasidas is someone whose way lies with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and whose heart lies with Allah'

Source: Echoes from Eternity (Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller)

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“Truly, in some poetry, there is wisdom.” [Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud]

Burda Shareef Chapter 6

Mawlid Man