MashaAllah !

I love it, keep it coming. 

I would love to hear " As subuhu bada min" from you, please...

Wasalaam,
--Fasih 

spring

Ala Balad El-Mahbob

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

Pre-dawn invocations with Shaykh Ibrahim Osi Efa at the Sanctuary Retreat for Micro Madrasa students, Mustafa Mount 2022

Wird Latif, Shaykh Ibrahim Osi Efa

Bahebbak

Ala Baladil Mahbub

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

ya imam rusli

Hadrah with Qari Tawfiq

Mustafa Jane Rahmat- with English

Qamarun, Rakkat Aynaya, Al Fiyyashiya 2024

Qamarun Rakkat Aynaya Al Fiyyashiya 2024

This album has been a long time coming. It showcases a very specific form of Islamic devotional singing from South Asia / The Indian Subcontinent, commonly referred to as “Na’at”, literally “description” in the Arabic origin of the word, and specifically in praise of The Prophet (ﷺ). Most of the more commonly spoken languages in this region have a na’at tradition – Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, and others. For this album, I’ve selected a few from my most favourite Urdu ones that I’ve heard and sung growing up. (There’s more than a few that I’ve deferred for future releases.)

For those who are new to the Na’at genre, it comprises of poems recited in solo acapella, without any dependence as such on any accompanying percussion or backup vocals. This is a difficult genre to excel in – there’s nothing whatsoever for the vocals to hide behind, and it takes a certain amount of fearlessness to do this live. Many talented and accomplished contemporary reciters have experimented in recent years by adding a vocal chanting percussion, but I wanted to go totally old school with this rendition.


DEDICATIONS:
I’m specifically dedicating this album to first to the elders in my family – both sets of my late grandparents, and both sets of my wife’s late grandparents. My wife’s grandmother, Nani Ammi, was the most recent to pass away from among our grandparents. Whenever we would visit her, after our meals, she would make the entire family go silent (all 536 of them!), sit me down by her knees, and announce, “Everyone will be silent now! My son will recite some na’at!” I now make it a habit to recite a na’at every time I visit her grave in Sheffield UK, and have hope in my Lord’s generosity that He allows her to hear it.

This album is also dedicated to my parents and to my parents-in-law, who have always appreciated these na’ats every time I’ve recited them in their presence.

And lastly, this album is also dedicated to our dear recently departed sister, Sr. Parween Baksh, who would often request these Urdu recitations whenever we would visit her home and would enjoy them greatly.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Many thanks go to my wife, Dr. Bano Murtuja, who had been encouraging me for over a decade to record and release a na’at album. She was also instrumental in the actual recording process by being my soundboard and director in the studio. Like many of my professional achievements, this wouldn’t have happened without her involvement and encouragement.

Thanks are also due to my dear friend Mohamed Adel Rassoul, who snapped the picture on the cover art when we visited the Best Of Creation (ﷺ) in March of 2022, and to my producer in Toronto, Norm Sabourin, who did an amazing job with the final production, creating just the right ambience for a sound that’s entrancing, contemplative, and sacred.

All album credits, lyrics, and translations, will insha’Allah be posted on the Discography page when this album becomes publicly available on Monday, Dec 12, 2022.


Please recite the Fatiha** and send prayers on the Beloved Messenger (ﷺ) on behalf of everyone who has worked to bring this song to you.

__________________________
** The first chapter of the Holy Qur’an

Dayāré Mustafā

Kyā Khabar (Who Knew?)

Kyā Khabar Kyā Sazā (Who Knew) - Nader Khan - Dayāré Mustafā

Madiné Kī Galiyāń

Madiné Kī Galīyān (Madinan Streets) - Nader Khan - Dayāré Mustafā

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

Recorded at SeekersHub (<a href="http://SeekersHub.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://SeekersHub.org</a>): Nader Khan singing "Balaghal Ula Bi Kamalihi"&#13;
A translation of the first verse reads:&#13;
"The destinations are not distant from anyone,&#13;
Nor is it a matter of proximity&#13;
It ennobles whomever it wishes to&#13;
Such is the matter of the Beloved's threshold."&#13;
&#13;
For a full English translation, see http://naderkhan.com/2011/12/02/nader-khan-singing-balaghal-ula-bi-kamalihi/

Nader Khan: Exaltation Through Perfection [Balaghal Ula Bi Kamalihi]

Listen to Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad’s song ‘A Pardon-Plea For The Ruthful'.

Ruthful: adjective
1. Compassionate or sorrowful.
2. Causing or apt to cause sorrow or pity.
3. Feeling remorse or self-reproach.

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A Pardon–Plea For The Ruthful

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]

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.

Nader Khan: Exaltation Through Perfection [Balaghal Ula Bi Kamalihi]

Nader Khan's SoundCloud

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fasih

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