Best English Salawaat

Soulful

Nader khan

Islamic Song

Nasheeds

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

English nasheed: Sunshine, Dust, and The Messenger. Dawud Wharnsby Ali

01 Sing Children of the World

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

"Qad Kafani `Ilmu Rabbi" (My Lord's Knowledge Suffices Me) is a powerful statement of reliance and trust on Allah, authored by Imam Abdullah b. Alawi al-Haddad (1634 CE [1044 Hijri] - 1720 CE [1132 Hijri]), the great Islamic scholar and spiritual guide from Hadhramawt, Yemen. Imam al-Haddad was a distinguished poet, and this particular qasida (devotional song) is one of his most-recited poems. A brief bio of the Imam may be found here: http://www.alhaddad.org/blog/?p=382.

(Accompanying picture of the Imam's mosque in Yemen is taken from http://thedowra.com.)

This particular rendition of the qasida is something I'd first heard performed at the Seekers Retreat in Melbourne (April 2011), by "The Singaporean Haqqani Ensemble" - Sidi Abdul Shakor Hadi leading the vocals, along with drumming and choral support from Sidi Muhammad Nassir, and the rest of the ensemble.

I was fortunate enough to recite this rendition of the qasida to Habib Umar bin Hafidh, at a private gathering in Melbourne Australia, in May 2011, before returning to Canada.  Many thanks to Sidi Usama Canon for facilitating this auditioning.


TECHNICAL NOTES:
I've recorded it here in Apple's GarageBand, using a Blue Yeti USB microphone (reviewed here at wired.com: http://www.wired.com/reviews/2009/11/pr_yeti/), a recent gift from a good friend that I'm putting to good use.

[NOTE: Booking requests are not processed through this website.  To book Nader Khan, please contact "bookings@naderkhan.com"]

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
(the lyrics in Arabic, along with the translation, may be downloaded from: http://www.halaqa.org/Media/Docs/Qad%20kafani%20english.pdf)

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
 from asking or choosing
For my du’a and my agonising supplication
 is a witness to my poverty.
For this secret (reason) I make supplication 
in times of ease and times of difficulty
I am a slave whose pride 
is in his poverty and obligation
----------
O my Lord and my King
 You know my state
And what has settled in my heart 
of agonies and preoccupations
Save me with a gentleness 
from You, O Lord of Lords
Oh save me, Most Generous 
before I run out of patience (with myself)
----------
O One who is swift in sending aid
 I ask for aid that will arrive to me swiftly
It will defeat all difficulty 
and it will bring all that I hope for
O Near One Who answers 
and All-Knowing and All-Hearing
I have attained realisation through my incapacity, 
my submission and my brokenness
----------
I am still standing by the door, so please my Lord
 have mercy on my standing
And in the valley of generosity, I am in i’tikaf (solitary retreat)  
So, Allah, make my retreat here permanent
And I’m abiding by good opinion (of You) 
 For it is my friend and ally
And it is the one that sits by me and keeps me company  
All day and night
----------
There is a need in my soul, O Allah 
so please fulfill it, O Best of Fulfillers
And comfort my secret and my heart
 from its burning and its shrapnel
In pleasure and in happiness  and 
as long as You are pleased with me
For joy and expansion is my state  
and my motto and my cover
----------

Qad Kafani - My Lord is Sufficient - by Imam Haddad, sung by Nader Khan

The Qasida Burda is arguably the most often recited and widely memorized poem in the world, in any language.The first chapter is about love, and the soul's sincere yearning for the beloved.  It has been rendered here in the Arabic Maqam of Hijaz, in a tune inspired from a popular rendition of Yunus Emre's song in Turkish, "Cagirayim Mevlam Seni".

TECHNICAL NOTES:I've recorded it here in Apple's GarageBand, using a Blue Yeti USB microphone.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:Coming soon...

For booking inquiries, please contact bookings@naderkhan.com

Qasida Burda: Chapter 1 - On Love & Yearning. Sung by Nader Khan.

This is a set of lyrics that I've been trying to set a tune to, for well over 3 years now.It was originally intended to be on the first album, but to a very different tune.It's a good thing I waited - this is the most satisfied I've been.

The lyrics were originally composed by Shaykh Abdul-Hakeem Murad and he had titled the poem as "Lamiyyat Al Ajam".Those who know what a "Lamiyya" is, will get the subtle wit of his title.

This recording was done to test out the sound setup at the new SeekersHub (http://seekershub.org) in Mississauga, Ontario.I've used a wired Shure SM-58 microphone, plugged into a Fender Passport 500 PA system - probably the best one there is for a musician on the road, in the affordable range.

It was recorded on Shaykh Faraz's iPhone 4 as a movie.I extracted the sound file in Apple's GarageBand, added in a "Live Performance" affect, and voila.

For booking inquiries, please contact bookings@naderkhan.com

NaderKhan - Pray My Lord by Shaykh Abdul-Hakeem Murad - Unplugged Acapella

This piece was written immediately following the RIS 2009 conference in Toronto, in December 2009.  It was inspired by Imam Zaid Shakir.

I'd originally composed it as a poem, but Shaykh Faraz encouraged me to set it to a tune and record it.  I recorded it with Blue Microphones' Yeti Pro - the best USB microphone I've used thus far.  It's rich capture of sound is ... very cool.

I've kept this recording Acapella on purpose, as I intended for the listener to focus on the lyrics.  I also wanted to hear the recording quality of this new microphone up close without distractions.

::: For booking inquiries, please contact bookings@naderkhan.com :::

Nader Khan :: Audience

Guantanamo Bay (feat. Dawud Wharnsby)

FEB 14/2012 :: Nürul Huda - a traditional qasida sung here in a classical Syrian tune.  This is a rough recording from earlier tonight.  Hope you all like it.

For booking enquiries please contact bookings@naderkhan.com

Nader Khan - The Light of Guidance [Nürul Huda]

I’m looking back throughout the years 
To breathe is hard and my eyes are choked with tears 
Your face and hair are full of light 
But it'll soon be time to go 
I feel you feeling calm now 
Did the angel let you know? 


For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me 
Let me offer something now 
So warm and comforting and sweet 
Can you hear me whisper to you as you sleep? 

La ilaha illallah 

Did you always understand? 
Can you feel me take your hand? 


Flowers, houseplants and I you helped us grow 
Now, as I hold your cup how are you and I to know 
I’ve care for you and looked for ends of paradise 
As I bend to wash your feet 
Our minutes fade like photographs 
Of crowds from an evening street. 


For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me 
Let me offer something now 
So warm and comforting and sweet 
Can you hear me whisper to you as you sleep? 

La ilaha illallah  

Did you always understand? 
Can you feel me take your hand? 


I dreamt we sat in the kitchen 
Like we used to having tea 
The apparition vanished as in life’s reality 
We will meet again 
Is what I’m sure I felt her say 
On the day when veils and secrets of the heart will be torn away. 


For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me 
Let me offer something now 
So warm and comforting and sweet 
Can you hear me whisper to you as you sleep? 

La ilaha illallah 

Did you always understand? 
As I let go of your hand. 


For all the wisdom and tea you gave to me 
Let me turn to something now 
So warm and meaningful and sweet 
Allah give us peace in our final sleep 

La ilaha illallah 

Give us patience to understand 
Ya ghafuru ya rahman. 

What is finally in the heart? 
What is the final choice? 

Allah knows and all that we can claim 
Are just memories endeavour. 

Wisdom and Tea (Dawud Wharnsby Cover)

Hijab - Dawud Wharnsby Ali

JANUARY 12/2013 :: Little Mustafa ibn Nader Khan writes his first song in praise of The Beloved of God.

It was recorded the very next day.

I think it's the scent of Rabi' Al Awwal in the air. Ever since early afternoon, he'd been insistent on writing and recording a song about the Prophet, peace be upon him.

May Allah make him a means to guide people to Him, and to the love of His Beloved, peace be upon him.

RasulAllah - by Mustafa Khan

This recording is the third one in my #iPhoneStudio series, and the very first one in which live drumming is recorded with the singing.  Just like the previous one, this was recorded on an iPhone 5 placed about 12 inches away from me. The *only* postproduction that I've done on this is a fade-in and a fade-out.  Everything else here is intact from the original raw audio.

It was recorded at the most recent weekly "Circle Of Light" gathering of remembrance and reflection at SeekersHub Toronto [http://SeekersHub.org].

"Jalla man qad sawwarak" is a classical Levantian devotional piece, sung in the "Bayati" mode, with what's to the Western ear, an unusual 7/8 beat (referred to in Arabic music as "dawar Hindi").  Personally, I *really* enjoy singing in this beat and in this mode.  Singing a piece with both of these together, is something else.

The English translation of the Arabic lines was done by Sidi Amjad Tarsin (Muslim Chaplain at The University of Toronto), and proofread by Sidi Ghuydar Bashmaf, a gifted singer of Islamic devotional songs, and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, a scholar of Islamic law, Executive Director of SeekersHub Global, and someone whom I regard as my best friend.

I've added lines in Urdu and English to this piece.  The lines in Urdu are from two separate poets: the first two are from Muhammad Zahuri, and the last two are from Syed Iqbal Azîm.

The first two lines in English, are an attempt at conveying the translation of the famous couplet by the Prophet's Companion, Sayyidna Hassan ibn Thabit, while remaining within the meter of the song:
“More beautiful than you, my eye has never seen,
And more perfect than you, no woman ever gave birth to;
You were created free from any flaw whatsoever,
As though you were created just the way you wanted”.  
[Diwan Hassan ibn Thabit]

The last two lines came to me as part of a larger poem, while attending an event in Toronto where two eminent scholars were talking about the Prophet, May God bless him and give him peace, always and eternally.


ARABIC:

Glorious is He, Who's fashioned you, A radiant full moon, out of water and clay.
And He enabled in your appearance, A joy for all those who behold it.

Be gentle and merciful to your lover, Who has melted in the heat of his painful groans.
I ask God to protect you, From the eyes of the envious.

O my Beloved I ask you by the Prophet, Put an end to this fondness,
What has befallen me is enough, Of your barring and delaying.

My mind is captivated in your love, And my heart is drawn to you,
And your love, O my master, A joy for all those who behold it!

URDU:

I send salutations to the daybreaks and the evenings of the Prophet's mosque
O Prophet, I send salutations to the ones who serve your servants.

It's not at all possible to describe your character with this tongue of mine,
O emperor of the masses, O crowned one of the emissaries.

ENGLISH:

No eye has seen such beauty as thine, no dame has born such a one so fine
You're created free of flaw, as if by your own design

More generous theres never been, more beautiful was never seen
I surrender at your doorstep, all my dunya and my deen

© Translation Copyright Nader Khan 2013, All Rights Reserved

Nader Khan [ #iPhoneStudio ] - "Glorious is He, Who's Fashioned You"

This recording is the fourth one in my #iPhoneStudio series. Just like the previous one, this was recorded on an iPhone 5 placed about 12 inches away from me. The *only* postproduction that I've done on this is a fade-in and a fade-out, and a very slight echo/reverb effect. 

It was recorded at the most recent weekly "Circle Of Light" gathering of remembrance and reflection at SeekersHub Toronto [SeekersHub.org].

This is a set of lyrics that I'd been struggling to set a tune to, for well over 3 years -- this tune was composed as my wife and I stood in line with Imam Afroz Ali for a coach to take us to the airport in Melbourne, Australia after the SeekersRetreat back in April 2011.  It was originally intended to be on the first album, but to a very different tune.  It's a good thing I waited - this is the most satisfied I've been with a tune for it.

The lyrics were originally composed by Shaykh Abdul-Hakeem Murad and he had titled the poem as "Lamiyyat Al Ajam". Those who know what a "Lamiyya" is, will get the subtle wit of his title.

I'd posted an earlier recording of this track on this SoundCloud page.  I believe that the recording quality on this rendition is much better.  You're welcome to judge for yourselves: https://soundcloud.com/naderkhanofficial/naderkhan-pray-my-lord.

The first line from the opening words was penned by the gifted poetess Mona Haydar [https://soundcloud.com/monahaydar], who gave me permission to use her words without hesitation.

For booking inquiries, please contact bookings@naderkhan.com

Nader Khan [ #iPhoneStudio ] - PrayMyLord - Live Acapella

LANGUAGE: English

SONGWRITER: Nader Khan

INSPIRATION: 
A song of repentance, based on the very first couplet of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi`s famous poetic compilation, the “Mathnawi”; a section of the litany “Hizb al Kabir” composed by the founder of the Shadhili Sufi order, Imam Abul-Hasan al Shadhili; the “Ode of Repentance” from the poetic compendium of the renowned Sufi scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn Al-Habib (where the first two Arabic lines come from); and a few other readings.

The “covenant” being referred to in this song, is found in the seventh chapter of the Holy Qur’an, "The Heights" ("Al A'raf") , verse 172, but can also be taken to refer to any oath, promise, or responsibility. This event is sometimes referred to in Persian Islamic literature as “Ruz-e-alast” (the day of “alast”). The prayer at the end of the song is the prayer of Adam and Eve as they accept responsibility for their misjudgment, also from same chapter of the Qur’an, in verse 23.

LYRICS:
Visit http://naderkhan.com

06 - The Sound Of Tears (TAKE MY HAND, rel. 2008)

LANGUAGE: English

SONGWRITER: Nader Khan

INSPIRATION: 
A song based on a story cited by Imam Ghazali in his book “Duties of Brotherhood in Islam”, translated into English by Muhtar Holland. The story is of two friends from a pre-Islamic Jewish community, and deals with their lifestyle of devotion and worship, how one of them goes astray, and how his friend takes him by the hand, back to his original path.

LYRICS:
Take my hand, come with me
Take your time, but don’t you see
That your ways, won’t set you free
Take my hand, come with me

Take a look, inside the door
Of my heart, you’ll see for sure
That my love, for you is pure
Take my hand, come with me

I won’t judge, won’t put you down
While you lie, down on the ground
Take your time, I’ll hang around
Take my hand, come with me

I don’t know how I would fare
If your trials, I was to bear
But your burden, do let me share
Take my hand, come with me

Take this hate out of your heart
It’s alright that we’ve grown apart
Let’s give this thing a brand new start
Take my hand, come with me

Turn your anger, your glowing rage
Against yourself, break out of the cage
Write your story, on a brand new page
Take my hand, come with me

I won’t shout, I’ll stay composed
This is where, you need me most
It’s not too late, the door hasn’t closed
Take my hand, come with me

And if i stumble, as I walk with you
I’ll take your hand, oh I’ll come with you
I’ll need your strength, to pull me through
But now take my hand, and now come with me
___________________________________
© Nader Khan 2008 All Rights Reserved

04 - TAKE MY HAND - PreviewClips - Take My Hand [English]

LANGUAGE: Urdu/Arabic/Farsi

SONGWRITER: Popular

INSPIRATION:
An Urdu song in praise of the Prophet and well-known in the Indian subcontinent. Current rendition is based on a version composed by the Indian music director Ravindra Jain and sung by Mohammad Aziz for the popular 1990 Indian movie “Henna”. The familiar opening rubai was reportedly composed by Shaykh Sa’di Shirazi.
___________________________________

LYRICS:
Ya sahibul jamalu wa ya sayyadul bashar
Min wajhikal muniro laqad nawwarul qamar
La yumkinuth thana`uka ma kaana haqquhu
Ba’daz Khuda, buzurg toi, qissa-e-mukhtasar

Marhaba Sayyadi, Makki Madaniyy-ul Arabi
Dil-o-jaan baad fidayat che ajab khush laqabi

Hoke mayus tere dar se savali na gaya
Khali haath aaya magar lawt ke khaali na gaya
Hai tu hi afzal-ul-insan tu mehbub-e-khuda
Ae Quraishi, O Bani Hashmi, O Muttalabi
Sayyadi anta habibi wa tabib-e-qalbi

Marhaba Sayyadi, Makki Madaniyy-ul Arabi

Kab ata hoga mujhe zawq-e-sanakhwan-e-nabi
Ae qamar, ye meri koshish kisi qabil to nahin
Meri khatir to ye nisbat bhi bohot hai mawla
Mae kahaan, varna kahaan zikr-e-khuda, naat-e-nabi
Dil-o-jaan baad fidayat che ajab khush laqabi

Marhaba Sayyadi, Makki Madaniyy-ul Arabi
___________________________________

TRANSLATION:
O possessor of beauty! O leader of mankind
It is from your enlightened countenance that the moon is illumined
It is not possible to praise you in a befitting manner
In short, after God, you are the greatest

Welcome, my Leigelord, O Makkan and Medinan of the Arabs
How wondrous! May my heart and soul be your ransom, O sweet-titled-one

Never has a questioner turned away from your threshold in a state of despair
Though he arrived empty handed, he didn’t depart empty handed
You are the best among men, the beloved of God
O Quraishite, O Hashimite, O Muttalabite
My Leigelord, you are my beloved, and the healer of my heart

Welcome, my Leigelord, O Makkan and Medinan of the Arabs

When will I taste the refinement of being one who truly praises the Prophet
O Qamar, this meagre attempt of mine is not worth anything at all
For my sake, this association is sufficient, my Lord
Who am I to be endowed with the remembrance of God, and the praise of His Prophet
How wondrous! May my heart and soul be your ransom, O sweet-titled-one

Welcome, my Leigelord, O Makkan and Medinan of the Arabs /
___________________________________
Translation © Nader Khan 2008 All Rights Reserved

02 - TAKE MY HAND - PreviewClips - Marhaba [Urdu, Arabic, Farsi]

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: Arabic

INSPIRATION:
This recitation of the 99 revealed names of God in the Islamic tradition was placed at the beginning of this album as a practical expression of BismiLlah ar-Rahman as-Rahim, the oft repeated formulaic beginning of all chapters of the Qur’an, save one. The phrase is popularly translated into English as “In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful“, and has been devoutly repeated by Muslims throughout the ages and across the continents at the beginning of any undertaking.

This recitation is also the very first one that I had ever done in a formal gathering of dhikr, at the December 1997 Deen Intensive Program at a winter campsite 2 hours north of Toronto. It was a clear, cold night. The multitudinous stars of an Ontario country sky lit up the crisp foot-high snow all around us. We were in a large, log cabin with subdued lighting, in the company of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Jamal Dhahabi, Shaykh Abdullah Al Kadi, and Shaykh Talal Ahdab. Also present were Sidi Nazim Baksh, Sidi Abdul-Rehman Malik, and many devoted students of sacred sciences and spiritual matters in the Islamic tradition. My recitation was followed by Shaykh Jamal’s recitation of the second chapter of the Burdah, and Shaykh Hamza’s moving commentary on it. It was a very special evening that remains vivid in the minds of all those present.

A recording of my performance from that session is still floating around somewhere on the internet.
___________________________________

TRANSLATION:

He is God, besides Whom there’s no other god

The All Beneficent, The Most Merciful, The King, The Sovereign, The Most Holy, The Source of Peace, The Guarantor, The Guardian, The Almighty

The Powerful, The Tremendous, The Creator, The Maker

The Fashioner of Forms, The Ever Forgiving, The All Compelling Subduer, The Bestower, The Ever Providing

The Opener, The All Knowing, The Restrainer, The Expander, The Abaser, The Exalter, The Giver of Honor, The Giver of Dishonor, The All Hearing, The All Seeing, The Judge, The Supremely Just, The Subtly Kind

The All Aware, The Forbearing, The Magnificent, The All Forgiving, The Grateful, The Sublimely Exalted

The Great, The Preserver, The Nourisher, The Reckoner, The Majestic, the Generous, The Watchful, The Responsive

The All Encompassing, The Wise, The Loving, The All Glorious, The Raiser of the Dead, The Witness, The Real

The Trustee, The Strong

The Steadfast, The Protecting Friend, The All Praiseworthy, The Accounter

The Initiator of all, The Reinstater Who Brings Back All, The Giver of Life, The Bringer of Death, The Ever Living, The Self Subsisting Sustainer of All, The Perceiver, The Magnificent, The All Inclusive One, The Indivisible, The Self Sufficient

The All Powerful

The All Determiner, The Expediter, The Delayer, The First, The Last, The Manifest, The Hidden, The Patron, The Self Exalted

The Most Kind and Righteous, The Ever Relenting, The Avenger, The Pardoner, The Compassionate, The Owner of All Sovereignty, The Lord of Majesty and Generosity

The Equitable, The Gatherer, The All Rich, The Enricher, The Withholder, The Distressor, The Benefactor, The Light, The Guide, The Originator, The Ever Enduring, The Inheritor of All, The Infallible Teacher

The Timelessly Patient, Sublime be His Majesty.
___________________________________
Translation © Nader Khan 2008 All Rights Reserved

01 - TAKE MY HAND - PreviewClips - The Most Beautiful Names [Arabic]

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]

LANGUAGE: Arabic

SONGWRITER: Popular

INSPIRATION: 
Imam Muslim narrates in his Sahih, that Imam Ali said, “By the One Who split the grain (with growth) and created man, the Unlettered Prophet’s promise (Allah bless him and grant him peace) to me is: none shall love me except for a believer and none shall hate me except for a hypocrite.” Shaykh Muhammad Zahid, out of concern that I could be misunderstood, advised me to add the line “Kullu man sara `ala darbihimu” to the song when he first heard me perform it. It took him almost 10 seconds to compose a line that matched the song both in rhythm, and in propriety. This has been the first song that all my children have heard as soon as they were born, and today it’s their lullaby of choice.
___________________________________

LYRICS:
Inna fil jannati nahran min laban
Li `Aliyyin wa Husainin wa Hasan

Kullu man kana muhibban lahumu
Kullu man sara `ala darbihimu
Yadkhulu ljannata min ghairi hazan

Hubbu ahlil bayti fardun `indana
Wa bi hathal hubbi la nakhshal mihan
___________________________________

TRANSLATION:
Surely, in paradise, is a river of milk
For Ali, and Hussain, and Hasan

Whosoever loves them
Whosoever goes forth upon their path
Enters paradise without experiencing any sadness

Love of the People of the Prophetic Household is incumbent upon us
And because of this love, we do not fear tribulations
___________________________________
Translation © Nader Khan 2008 All Rights Reserved

03 - TAKE MY HAND - PreviewClips - Ahl Al Bayt [Arabic]

LANGUAGE: English

SONGWRITER: Nader Khan

INSPIRATION: 
A song based on the quoted couplet by Maulana (Mevlana) Jelaluddin Rumi. This song was first conceived of as a poem. Its tune is based on a Turkish song that I’d heard being performed by Tevfik Baba and The Jerrahi Society of Canada at a devotional concert many years ago in Toronto.

LYRICS:
“My heart, like a mirror, is silent and speaking, in the hands of an Amazing Mirror Holder, 
For when moment by moment, there shines in the mirror, an amazing figure of beauty.”
- Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, The Mathnawi

As a show of love and fidelity, to my beloved, so sublime
I sought to give the most beautiful gift, that had ever been seen in our time
I searched and searched in all the lands, for that very special gift
I trekked the valleys of the earth, and the mountains, and the cliffs

And all the while I kept saying, “Sall Allahu `ala Muhammad”
Praying that Allah would unveil the gift to me

So many things I saw in the earth, which with beauty were endowed
But when I drew close to pick them up, I was spoken to from a cloud
“Why to the presence of the sun, do you take a candle frail?”
“Why to the ocean deep and blue, do you take a water pail?”

And all the while I kept saying, “Sall Allahu `ala Muhammad”
Praying that Allah would unveil the gift to me

Despair would’ve got the better of me, had I not turned to my lord
He sent mevlana to my help, and hope was then restored
Mevlana came to me and said, “Take this advice, my son
The gift you seek you’ll never find, except with your beloved one”

And all the while I kept saying, “Sall Allahu `ala Muhammad”
Praying that Allah would unveil the gift to me

He said “if she is, to your own eye, the most beautiful one around
Greater in beauty than her own image, such a thing shall never be found”
“Take to her this mirror do, and make your poem terse”
“Make your gift a better gift, with a couplet from my verse”

And all the while I kept saying, “Sall Allahu `ala Muhammad”
Praying that Allah would unveil the gift to me

He cleaned my mirror of mud and grime, and etched in with his hand
The verse I quote before my own, a verse with wisdom grand
So praise Allah, and peace and blessings do send on his chosen one
Praise him again for a “nader” gift he unveiled to a lowly one

And all the while I kept saying, “Sall Allahu `ala Muhammad”
Thanking Allah that He had unveiled the gift to me

___________________________________
© Copyright Nader Khan 2008 All Rights Reserved

08 - TAKE MY HAND - FullSong - The Quest [English]

Nader Khan (नादेर खान / نادر خان) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, recording artist, producer, arts educator, and musicologist, with a specific focus on traditional and contemporary Islamic devotional/Sufi music. Over the last 25 years, he has toured and performed across the world (Canada, United States, Mexico, South Africa, United Kingdom, Norway, Guyana, Trinidad, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore), in solo performances, and on tours with other internationally renowned artists. Nader has also spearheaded various social justice initiatives that promote local and international relief efforts through Islamic devotional music, arts, and youth engagement.

Nader is also an executive producer for STORIES FROM THE SEERAH, a new podcast covering the entire Seerah of The Prophet (ﷺ) in a rarely-experienced level of detail, expertly narrated by the renowned Seerah teacher, Dr. Bano Murtuja. It’s designed for 6-15 year olds, but people of all ages are getting hooked on it. Subscribe today at http://StoriesFromTheSeerah.SuperCast.com.

To book Nader, individually or with the Blacksmiths, or to get more information about his albums, performances, workshops and upcoming projects, email Bano@naderkhan.com.

08 - TAKE MY HAND - FullSong - The Quest [English]

Nader Khan's SoundCloud