Sufi Surfing on Air

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, Urdu, and Arabic qasida about the oneness of God and the honorable ones who testified to it. Ta’leef Chicago, 6/9/22.

The Kalima Anthem

Ya Jamaalu + Qamarun ~يا جمال+ قمر
The Shimmering Light Weekly Mawlid.
Masjid Noor-ul-Islam. 
Salawat Sundays.
Bolton.

🎵 Ya Jamaalu + Qamarun ~يا جمال+ قمر

🎵 Qasida al-Burda (Chapter 10) ~ قصيدة البردة
 (الفصل العاشر)
The Shimmering Light Weekly Mawlid
Noor-ul-Islam
Bolton

🎵 Qasida al-Burda (Chapter 10) ~ قصيدة البردة (الفصل العاشر)

Morning Invocations from the Khulasa of Habib Umar, led by Shaykh Ibrahim Osi Efa
Recorded at the Trodden Path Retreat 1436 (2015)

Recording by brother Javid Khan https://soundcloud.com/javidkhan1

See the following link for Arabic Khulasa with English Translation:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rao0ph6r0q7rpxk/Al-Khulasa_Habib%20Umr_Final_2014.pdf?dl=0

13 Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyummu La Ilaha Illa Anta X 40 & Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum Ihyil Quluba Tahya... X18

01 Morning Invocations (Full) - Trodden Path 1436 (2015)

Give life to your heart with the remembrance of Allah’s Name.  “The likeness of he who remembers Allah and he who does not remember Allah is like the living and the dead,” said the Noble Prophet peace be upon him.  The dhikr includes group Quranic recitation in the ancient ‘tahazzabt’ style, supplicating by the 99 Names, various salawat upon the Prophet peace be upon him, qasidas (poems of praise sung in melodious voice), and adhkar from the Book and the Sunna. 

http://www.nbic.org/dhikr-night/

Inna Fil Jannah

This poem in praise of The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, is one of my favourites.  This past Thursday (October 6th, 2011), we sang it again at SeekersHub Toronto, in an East African style.

NaderKhan: The Muhammadan Ode ("Qasida Muhammadiya") in an East African style

Bulbul_ _Sufi Music Of Turkey - Call Of Heaven (Cennetin Çagrisi) CD 2

Yunus__Sufi Music Of Turkey - Call Of Heaven (Cennetin Çagrisi) CD 2

Uyan__Sufi Music Of Turkey - Call Of Heaven (Cennetin Çagrisi) CD 2

UPDATE - AUG 10/2012

Many apologies for the delay in posting the translation - I've managed to complete an initial draft (*only of the 6 verses recited here - it's actually a very long poem) and am only posting it here to give the listeners a taste of the sublime meanings behind these blessed words that were composed about a century ago.  So, this translation is a work in progress.  I'm going to try and refine it further in the coming weeks.  Your comments and suggestions on improving it are welcome.


LYRICS - REFRAIN:
subha taiba mein hui bat-ta hai baada nur ka
sadqa lene nur ka aaya hai taaraa nur ka

LYRICS - VERSES:
baagh e taiba mein suhaana phool phoola nur ka
mast buein, bulbulein padti hain kalima nur ka

tere hi maathay raha ae jaan sehraa nur ka
bakht jaaga nur ka, chamkaa sitaara nur ka

taray hi janib hae paanchon waqt sajda nur ka
rukh hai qibla nur ka, abru hai ka’ba nur ka

tere aagay khaak par jhuktaa hai maathaa nur ka
nur nay paaya tere sajday say seema nur ka

chaand jhuk jaata jidhar ungli uthaate mahd mein
kya hi chalta thaa ishaaron par khilona nur ka

teri nasl-e-pak mein hai bachchaa bachchaa nur ka
tu hai ‘ayn-e-nur tera sab gharaana nur ka



TRANSLATION - REFRAIN:
Dawn has broken in Taiba, grants of light are being handed out
A star is spotted arriving to receive it’s alms of light

TRANSLATION - VERSES:
An enchanting flower has just bloomed in the garden of Taiba
As heady, intoxicating fragrances permeate, the Bulbuls chant the Proclamation of Light (Muhammadun RasüluLlah)

To you, O Beloved, belongs the credit for all the blessings of this light
Through you, light’s destiny was made fortuitous, light’s fame spread everywhere

Towards you, light prostrates itself all five times
Your visage is its Qibla, your brow, its Ka’ba.

In your presence, light lowers its forehead upon clay and dirt
It’s through this prostration, that light attains its glow.

The moon would lower itself as you’d point to it while in your cradle
What a wonderfully obedient toy of light it was, obeying your every gesture

In your blessed, pure progeny, every child is a child of light
You’re the very essence of light, indeed your entire household is one of light

Translation © Nader Khan, August 2012, All Rights Reserved.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

FEB 23/2012 :: A clip from the weekly gathering of Celebrating The Beloved at SeekersHub Toronto [http://SeekersHub.org], of Nader Khan [http://naderkhan.com] singing the well known classic naat, The Ode of Light [Qasida-e-Nur].

The gathering takes place every Thursday at 8:30PM EST, and is also webcasted live through SeekersHub's online classroom. For more information, check [http://SeekersHub.org/programs].

SeekersHub is an Islamic learning centre in the Greater Toronto Area, committed to providing a wide spectrum of free learning opportunities and spiritual activities that are open and welcoming to all individuals.

Help us continue to provide education without barriers through your ongoing monthly support or a one-time donation: http://seekershub.org/support-us/

Nader Khan - The Ode Of Light [Qasida-e-Nür]

AUG 10/2012 :: Nader Khan ( http://naderkhan.com ) singing "Jashné Amadé Rasül" at Celebrate Mercy's Ramadan 2012 webcast.

"The Emissary Comes" [Jashné Amadé Rasül] is a Naat that is almost never missed out on in Mawlid gatherings during Rabi' Al Awwal - the month of the birth of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

LYRICS (Urdu):
Jashne Amade Rasul, Allah hi Allah
Bibi Amina ke phul, Allah hi Allah

Haqq La ilaha ill Allah, La ilaha ill Allah
Haqq La ilaha ill Allah, La ilaha ill Allah

Jab kay sarkar tashrif laane lagay
Hur-o-ghilman bhi khushiyan mananay lagay
Amina dekh kar muskuranay lagin
Havva maryam bhi khushiyan manaanay lagin
Amina bibi sab say yeh kehnay lagin
dua ho gai Qabul

Chehra e Mustafa jab dikhaya gaya
Chhup gae taaray aur chand sharma gaya
Har taraf nur ki raushni chha gai
Mustafa kya milay, zindagi mil gai
Ae Halima teri gode mein aa gae
Dono aalam kay rasul 

Shadiyaanay khushi kay bajaae gae
Shaad kay naghmay sab ko sunaae gae
Har taraf shor Sallay Alaa ho gaya
Aaj paeda Habib-e-Khuda ho gaya
phir to Jibril nay bhi yeh Aelaan kiya
Yeh Khuda kay hain rasul


TRANSLATION:
Celebrate the arrival of the Emissary
The delicate flower of Lady Aminah

Truth: There's no deity besides The One God
There's no deity besides The One God

As our master was about to arrive
The maidens and attendants of paradise started to cheer
Amina, upon seeing him, began to smile
Even Eve and Mary joined in the celebration
Lady Amina announced to all:
"A prayer has been answered."

When the face of Mustafa was finally unveiled 
The stars hid themselves, and the moon shied away
Rays of light spread in all directions, overpowering everything
Through having Mustafa, our lives became worthwhile 
O Halima, in your lap has arrived
An Emissary to both worlds

Tunes of joy were played everywhere
Songs of happiness were sung for all to hear
In all directions echoed the call of "Sallay 'Alaa" 
For today was born the Beloved of God
And Jibril himself then proclaimed to the universe:
"This is the Emissary of God"


For booking enquiries please contact bookings@naderkhan.com

Nader Khan - Celebrate The Arrival of The Emissary [Jashné Amadé Rasül] - from CM Video

RUMI ensemble & Salar Aghili – In the footprints of RUMI

Jané Ashegh

Javid Afsari Rad – Avaz

A'la Wa Arfa'u (Chad Nasheed)

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.

"I, by the light of my soul, realize that the beauty of the heavens and the grandeur of the earth are the echo of Thy magic flute."

Nader Khan - The Ode Of Light [Qasida-e-Nür]

Nader Khan's SoundCloud

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