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

"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

Here's the music video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xNWP_2JHSBo

A song of intense heartache that still retains some hope in the good conscience of people, “War And Peace” has been specifically rendered for the current (beginning 7th October 2023) humanitarian crisis inflicted upon the people of Gaza, it is sadly relevant to many such conflicts everywhere around the world.

This MP3 is being sold on a pay-what-you-can basis — simply specifiy the price in the box below and complete your purchase. As per our #ShareTheProphet model, we are directing 100% of profits from streaming and sales of this song toward aid in Gaza, through Action for Humanity.

The lyrics are based upon a poem that was penned and published by Imam Zaid Shakir in April of 2012.

------------------------------

CREDITS:

Vocals NADER KHAN; Lyrics IMAM ZAID SHAKIR, NADER KHAN, DR BANO MURTUJA, NORM SABOURIN; Songwriter NORM SABOURIN, NADER KHAN; Recording AQUASOUND STUDIOS; Editing, Mixing, Mastering AQUASOUND STUDIOS, FIRST SPRING STUDIOS; Producer, Sound Engineer NORM SABOURIN; Artwork FIRST SPRING RECORDS DESIGN TEAM; Executive Producer DR. BANO MURTUJA, NADER KHAN

Special Thanks STORIES FROM THE SEERAH, ALL JAZZ NEWS

------------------------------

LYRICS

A way of life, steeped in blood, from the river to the sea
Genocide, veils of lies, cloaked in liberty
We'll give an hours notice, such "astonishing restraint"
Then carpet bombs come pouring down, like torrential rain

Indiscriminate attacks, bullets through their hearts
Ignore children crying, as the ground offensive starts
The art of blame erases shame, for sanctity of life
Oppression loves a war machine, no matter what the price

Look into the mirror of my eyes, can you handle what you see?
Is this who you really are?  Is that all that you can be?

You’re either with us, or against us - there IS no in-between.
Extermi nate, or make them flee, just wipe them off the scene.
Let them reject their hateful creed, as if they ever would.
While we sell the world our exclusive right to victimhood.

O Pharaoh dressed as Moses, how many will it take?
How many children sacrificed at the altar of your hate?
How many babies will you kill, Before you realize,
Each time you kill an innocent, it’s your heart that dies. 

Look into the mirror of my eyes, can you handle what you see?
Is this who you really are?  Is that all that you can be?

The souls of those who sell us war have
deadened to the core
But the martyred victims will live on
forever in righteous lore

Resilience stood face to face 
with annihilation’s reign
Reminds us of Karbala, 
and the courage of Husain

Even dead hearts can be revived, with God's amazing grace
To find the enemy within, to see his wretched face
The only enemy I've found, is the fool inside of me
Being used with callous disregard, by overt hypocrisy

And that's the fool I must defeat, and that's the fool I fight
With God as my companion, And His message as my guide
"Thou shall not kill." is the only path to a peace that will last.
It's up to us to shed the violent shackles of our past. 

Look into the mirror of my eyes, can you handle what you see?
Is this who you really are?  Is that all that you can be?

© Copyright Nader Khan 2024, All Rights Reserved.
-----------------------------

WAR & PEACE

War And Peace

Buy this song

WAR and PEACE

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

Qasida Muhammadiya, East African style.  This is not my recording - I haven't recorded it, nor do I claim ownership.  I found this file in an old folder that I was cleaning out on a very old hard drive.

I don't know who the group is, or exactly where this is being performed.  All I know, is that *THIS* is what a mawlid should sound like.

Qasida Muhammadiya - East African Style

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

Na Pūchhô

Na Pūchhô (Don't Ask) - Nader Khan - Dayāré Mustafā

Térī Jāliyāń

Téri Jāliyāń (The Grille) - Nader Khan - Dayāré Mustafā

Madiné Kī Galiyāń

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

Madīné Kī Bātéń

Madīné Kī Bātéń (Stories Of Madina) - Nader Khan - Dayāré Mustafā

A clip from an all-Arabic mawlid medley by Nader Khan & The BlackSmiths, featuring the tail end of "Qamarun", followed by "Khairal Bariyya" and a spirited rendition of "Ya Imam Ar Rusli".

The BlackSmiths are: Taleb Ahmed on a 12 inch daff and backing vocals, Dean Morrison on the cajon, Salman Khan on a 22 inch daff, and Ahmed Ali on the tabla.

The clapping and ululating is from an enthusiastic and spirited audience.

Nader Khan & The BlackSmiths performing live 03/2015 -- Qamarun, KhairalBariyya, YaImamArRusli

After working on this selection of songs for six and a half years, I'm incredibly excited and grateful to be able to share them with you.  This album reflects a significant growth for me, as a singer and songwriter.  Combining my lyrics with those of my teachers, and drawing on diverse musical genres from Jazz, Blues and Hard Rock, to Arabic, Indian, Turkish and East African music, I have pushed myself way out of my comfort zone into unfamiliar genres and completely new territory as an artist.  I hope you enjoy listening to them even more than I did composing them, arranging them, and recording them.  

---------------------
WATER

100% OF THE SALES REVENUE FROM THIS ALBUM WILL GO TO WATERAID CANADA.

Until 2016, revenue generated will be directed specifically to their current project in the Monze region of Zambia. This project hopes to reach 42,000 people with access to safe water, and over 40,000 people with access to improved sanitation and hygiene education. Upon the completion of this project, WaterAid Canada will redirect any further funds from the sale of this album based on their expertise.

THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO BE A SADAQA JARIYA FOR ALL WHO PARTICIPATE INCLUDING ALL WHO PURCHASE THE CD. SOME KEY INDIVIDUALS INVESTED AS SADAQA JARIYA FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR LOVED ONES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Please make fatiha and send Salawat on the Beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) on behalf of; the Muslims of Edmonton Canada, The late Tahira Arif Hussain, Syed Hussain, Rabia Sultan, Abdul Majeed Khan, Ghulam Omer, Nayeem Unissa Begum, Syed Taher Mohamed, Sardar Begum, Haji Mohammad Hussain Bhatti, Mustafa Abdul Rahim Assaqqaf and Anonymous Donor.

---------------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Thanks go to my parents Nasir Mohammed Khan and Sultana Fatima, my parents-in-law Hafiz Muhammad Sagir and Nasreen Akhtar, my brothers Yasir and Zaker Khan, my sister-in-law Sufia Lodhi, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Sidi Nazim Baksh, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Muhammad Mendes, Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad, Shaykh Nuh Keller, Shaykh Tevfik Aydoner, Syed Mustafa Gilani, Sidi Muhtar Holland, Nermin Moufti, Umar Shahzad, Hamid Abdurrahim, Yasin Dusuroth, Tom Hamza Robertson, Mona Hayder, Mostafa Azzam, Sulayma Hassan, my niece Zara-Noor Khan, my children Nurah, Mustafa, Fatima and Zahra who get me to practice again and again, and my wife Dr Bano Murtuja - who has made all of this happen. A full list of Acknowledgements, Associate Producers and prayer requests can be found at WWW.NADERKHAN.COM

Album Sponsors include Bukhari Institute and SeekersHub Toronto.

---------------------
ALBULM CREDITS:

LYRICS: Nader Khan (Presence, Echoes, Witness, Take My Hand - Part II, As Though You See Him), Imām Ahmad Razā Khān (Qasīda é Nūr, Jashn é  mad é Rasūl), Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (Spring’s Gift), Imam Zaid Shakir (A Moment In Your Love), Yunus Emré / Muhtar Holland (My Lord On Thee), Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad (Pray My Lord), Shaykh Muhammad Mendes (Zikr In Minor Pentatonic), Shaykh Umar Al Yāfi (Supplication for Rain), Imām Al Busīrī (Qasīda Al Muhammadiya), Ustad Muzaffer Warsi (Tū Kujā Man Kujā)

VOCALS: Nader Khan 
PRODUCER: Hamid Abdurrahim (OK-HAAM)
MIXING ENGINEER: Hamid Abdurrahim
MASTERING ENGINEER: Hamid Abdurrahim
ASSISTANT MASTERING ENGINEER: Rodney C Daniel aka Yoda
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Dr. Bano Murtuja, Nader Khan
ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Altonio Bateman (A Moment In Your Love)
RECORDING, MIXING, MASTERING: 44 Pennyweight Studio, Morphius Records / Lord Baltimore Recording studio
ALBUM COMPOSITION: Nader Khan
ARRANGEMENT: Nader Khan, Hamid Abdurrahim, Eboni Coger (harmonies on Presence)
PERCUSSION AND RHYTHM: Nader Khan, Hamid Abdurrahim
ALBUM ARTWORK: Nermin Moufti
WEBSITE: Nermin Moufti, Usman Khalid, Umar Shahzad
PHOTOGRAPHY: Yasin Dusoruth

WATER

A Moment In Your Love

01 - A Moment In Your Love (WATER, rel. 2015)

Qasida Muhammadiya

02 - Qasida Muhammadiya (WATER, rel. 2015)

03 - Tu Kuja Man Kuja (WATER, rel. 2015)

04 - Take My Hand II (WATER, rel. 2015)

05 - WATER - Echoes (WATER, rel. 2015)

08 - Zikr In Minor Pentatonic (WATER, rel. 2015)

12 - Jashne Amade Rasul (WATER, rel. 2015)

14 - Presence (WATER, rel. 2015)

15 - Supplication For Rain (WATER, rel. 2015)

The Qasida Muhammadiya is one of the most famous shorter compositions by Imam Busiri, in praise of The Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and give him peace.

This recording is from the weekly gathering of celebrating The Prophet, at SeekersHub Toronto [http://www.SeekersHub.org], on September 15th 2011.

I've used an Edirol R-09 recorder, mounted on a tripod about two feet away from me. The microphone on this was excellent at capturing the feel of the gathering in stereo sound. In post-production, I've just added the "Live Performance" effect in GarageBand.

Nader Khan: The Muhammadan Ode ("Qasida Muhammadiya")

#BurdaBlues -- Nader Khan​ & #TheBlacksmiths
The Keighley Munshids​ are keenly involved in celebrating and promoting #TheMainstay -- the first ever English translation of one of the most celebrated commentaries on the Qasida Burda. They've been inviting and encouraging artists around the world to submit their renditions of a few verses from The Burda. 

I was honoured to be a recipient of one such invite. Tonight, The Blacksmiths were over at my place for our weekly practice session. So, we decided to shoot a brief video of a rendition of the first chapter of the Burda that we've been working on for the next album. Here's a sneak peak.

The opening words in English are from an epic poem that my dear friend Amir Sulaiman​ is composing on The Prophet (ﷺ).

BurdaBlues -- A sneak-peak from Nader Khan​ & TheBlacksmiths

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

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]

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]

A rough second-draft of a planned rendition for sometime in the near future.

This classic and popular Urdu piece in praise of the Beloved Medinan Emperor is very dear to me for many reasons.  Hope you all enjoy it.

Nader Khan -- The Emperor of Madina [Shah-e-Madina]

THIS TRACK IS DOWNLOADABLE FOR FREE!  Go ahead and download it, and share it with as many people as you want.  Scroll down for the Arabic text, English transliteration, and English translation.

-------------------------------------------

Here's a little gift for all of you as Ramadan/Ramzan enters my blessed city - Brampton, and the Greater Toronto Area.

This is a 34-minute track of 100 repetitions of the Salat Al Fatih -- one of the most well known and beloved forms of salawat/durud, for sending peace and blessings upon The Prophet (ﷺ).

The purpose for this was manifold -- to assist people in doing a litany (wird) of 100 repetitions while, say, driving, when they are unable to actively keep count; to have a track of blessed remembrance that our babies can fall asleep to; to assist people in memorizing it in home and school settings; etc.

The tune has been based on the Tijani recitation of Salat Al Fatih that I had first heard from my dear friend and awesome poet, Amir Sulaiman.  Also featured on this track is another dear friend, the Muslim Chaplain at the University of Toronto, Sidi Amjad Tarsin.

If this has been done with sincerity, and I hope that it has, then this will insha'Allah find uses among its listeners that I had never expected or anticipated.  I would *love* to hear from all of you as to how you have used this track.

-------------------------------------

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ
الفاتِحِ لِمَا أُغْلِقَ و الخاتِمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ
نَاصِرِ الحَقِّ بَالحَقَّ 
و الهَادِي إلى صِرَاطِكَ المُسْتَقِيمِ 
و عَلَى آلِهِ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ و مِقْدَارِهِ العَظِيم

Allāhumma ṣalli ᶜalā Sayyīdinā Muḥammad
Al-Fāṭiḥi limā ughliq wa ‘l-khātimi limā sabaq, 
nāṣiri ‘l-ḥaqqi bi ‘l-ḥaqq
wa ‘l-hādī ilā ṣirātika ‘l-mustaqīm 
wa ᶜalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa miqdārihi ’l-ᶜaẓīm.

O Allāh! Bless our Master Muḥammad 
The opener of what was closed and the seal of what has passed; 
The victor of the truth, by the truth 
and the guide to Your Straight Path, 
and bless his Household as it befits his immense stature and splendour.

Nader Khan: Recitation of 100 Salat Al-Fatih

Mawlid Mabrukations to all of you. Here's a gift for the 12th of Rabi' 1440 to all of you.

 This is an experimental recording, not exactly a polished studio finish.  Singers and drummers from multiple cities have worked it - Jason Labrecque from Montreal, me and The Blacksmiths (Faisal Shaheen and D Morisson) from Brampton, Abu Baker Al Kaff from Toronto, Ahson Ahmad from San Francisco, and Mikaeel Lateef from Seattle.

The Shaykh who composed the lyrics is Muhammad Ibn Yallis At-Tilimsani (1264–13461 H / 1847–1927 G), and this Qasida is very, very dear to me for many reasons.  I hope you enjoy listening to it and singing along with it, even more than I do every single time I sing it.

CHORUS:
صَلِّ يَا سَلامْ عَلَى الْوَسِيلَة
وَشَمْسِ الْاَنَامْ طَلْعَةِ لَيْلَ

Salli ya salam A’lall waseelah,
Washamsil anaam tal A’aati layla

Send blessings, O Source of Peace, upon the Intermediary
The Sun of mankind, Layla’s visage
_____

يَا سَاقِي الْعُشَّاقْ اَمْلَ الْكُوُوْسَا
مِنْ خَمْرِ الْاَذْوَاقْ يُحْي النُّفُوْسَا
حَضْرَةِ الِاطْلَاقْ اَبْدَتْ شُمُوسَا
مَحَتِ الرَّوَاقْ عَنْ وَجْهِ لَيْلَى

Ya Saqil Ushaaq amlil ku’oosaa
Min khamril adhwaaq yuHyinufusa
Hadratil itlaaq abdat shumoosaa
Mahatirawwaaq A’an wajhi layla

O cupbearers of the lovers, fill up the cups
with the wine of spiritual tastes that revives souls
From the Infinite Presence, suns arose
Effacing the passage away from Layla’s countenance
_____

مُبْتَغَى الْعُشَّاقْ حِيْنَ تَجَلَّى
فِيْ ذَاتِ الْخَلَّاقْ الْمَوْلَى جَلَّ
مِنْ بَحْرِ الْاِطْلَاقْ حِيْنَ تَجَلَّى
بِكُلِّ رَوْنَقْ جَمَالُ لَيْلَى

Mubtaghal Ushaaq heena taddalaa
Fi dhaatil khallaaq almawla jallaa
Min bahril itlaaq heena tajallah
bi kulli rawnaaq jamaalu layla

The lovers’ desire at the point of manifestation
In the Essence of the Creator: the Exalted Master
The Boundary of Infinity that was adorned
With every splendour, such as Layla’s beauty!
_____

صَاحَتِ الْاَطْيَارْ فَوْقَ الْمَنَابِرْ
وَفَاحَ الْاَزْهَار وَالرَّوْضُ عَاطِرْ
رَنَّتِ الْاَوْتَارّ وَالْحِبُّ حَاضِرْ
غَنِّ يَا خَمَّارْ بِحُسْنِ لَيْلَى

Saahaatil atyaar fawqal manaabir
Wa fahal azhaar wa rawdu aateer
Rannatil awtaar wal hibu haadheer
Ghanni ya khammaar bi husni layla

Birds carolled atop the pulpits 
Fragrances emanated from flowers and gardens
Strings resonated at the presence of the Beloved 
Sing! O wine keeper, of Layla’s beauty
_____

يَا عَيْنَ الْعُيُونْ ظَهَرْتَ جَهْرَا
بِجَمْعِ الْفُنُونْ كَاْساً وَخَمْرَا
زَالَتِ الشُّجُونْ طَابَتِ الْحَضَرَة
بِاسِّرِّ الْمَكْنُونْ مِنْ كَنْزِ لَيْلَى

Ya Aynal uyoon dhahrata jahraa
Bi jam’il funoon ka’san wa khamra
Zalatishujoon tabatil hadhraa
Bi siril maknoon min kanzi layla

O Fountain of Fountains, you appeared lucid
In every symbolisation, cup and wine
Sorrows disappeared, the Presence made sweet
By the concealed secret of Layla’s treasure
_____

اِبْنُ يَلَّسْ هَامْ لَمّا سُقِيَا
مِنْ خَمْرِ الْاَذْوَاقْ فَانِيْ بَاقِيَا
عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامْ خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّة
مَا سُقِيَ الْمُدَامْ فِيْ حَيِّ لَيْلى 

Ibnuyalis-haam lamma suqeeya
Min khamril adhwaaq faani Baqeeya
Alaykas salaam khayral baariya
Ma suqiyal mudaam fi hayyi layla

Ibn Yallas was enraptured upon drinking
The wine of spiritual tastes, annihilated then subsisted
Upon you be peace, Best of Creation
For as long as this wine is drunk in Layla’s life
_____

Salli Ya Salam -- Nader Khan & The Blacksmiths & friends

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

Here's a quick recording I did earlier in the afternoon.  I often go through this medley of songs to put my kids to bed.  

THIS TRACK IS DOWNLOAD-ENABLED -- PERMISSION IS GIVEN TO ALL FOR DISTRIBUTING FREELY.

It includes a song about the Ahl Al Bayt, which is the first song that I sang to all 5 of my kids at birth, right after the adhan and the iqama.  It has also been my go-to song sung in a lullaby mode for all of them.  I've also included a few lines from the Qasida Burda towards the end. 

I've kept all percussion and harmonizing out of this one and have kept it really simple, so as to have a more calming effect.  The whole track is 17.5 minutes long, so insha'Allah hopefully by the time you get to the end, your little ones will have dozed off to dreamland.

Nader Khan: Nasheed Lullaby

LOVE ALWAYS WORKS (LAW)
Lead Vocals: Nader Khan
Written by: WUC, Nader Khan
Percussion: Nader Khan, The Blacksmiths (Dean Morrison, Dr. Faisal Haq Shaheen, Abubaker Al-Kaff)
Composition & Arrangement: Nader Khan
Backing Vocals: Nader Khan, The Blacksmiths, Mikhail Abdul Latif 
Mixing & Mastering: Electric-Bear Productions 
Executive Producer: Dr. Bano Murtuja

Love Always Works

LOVE ALWAYS WORKS (full song) -- Nader Khan And The Blacksmiths

The Blacksmiths and I recorded this rendition of Jashné Amadé Rasūl recently at a recent practice session at my studio.  Consider this a Friday gift to all of you.

The picture that I've chosen for this track is easily one of my favourite ones that I've ever taken.  You can read the story about it on my instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtEzNp9AuMX/

#JummaMubarak
#HappyFriday
#SalluAlaAnNabi

Jashné Āmadé Rasūl - Live Recording - Nader Khan & The Blacksmiths

Jashné Amadé Rasūl - Live recording - Nader Khan & The Blacksmiths

This is one of my favourite Naats that I've recently reconnected with.  

A Naat (here referring specifically to the A Capella devotional art form in South Asia, as opposed to the wider definition of praising The Prophet, peace be upon him) is one of the easiest things to record, since there's nothing used besides pure human voice.  So, there's no concerns about, for example, ensuring that the drums aren't drowning out the voice, or aren't overloading the microphone.

The only concern is having a safe distance to the microphone so one can get a clean recording without it getting too loud and clipping or buzzing in the recording, or too low to capture a full sound of the vocals.

Using the SoundCloud app for iPhone was really useful. It allowed me to visually monitor voice levels being received by the iPhone before I even began recording.  It also bypassed using any of the high-in-demand storage space on the iPhone, and uploaded immediately as a private file straight to my SoundCloud account.

This was recorded live at the weekly Circle Of Light gathering at SeekersHub Toronto [http://SeekersHub.org]. When I got home, I downloaded it to my Mac, did some minor postproduction edits in GarageBand.

As for the Naat itself, it's mostly pretty accessible and simple Urdu.  There are only a couple of uncommon words.  I've tried to translate it in a manner that captures the intended meaning of the words to the best of my ability.  Alternative translation suggestions are welcome.

---------------------------------------------

Madinan nights, Madinan words
Amongst lives lived, *this* is true living.
And what a life it is!

An era has gone by since he's passed through
The meandering alleyways of Taiba The Blessed.
Even now there lingers therein
The sweet fragrance of his blessed perspiration.

This wound is from Taiba The Blessed, 
Getting afflicted with it is not destined for just anyone.
Let no one dare to even try
Sewing up this precious wound.

Just by casting his blessed gaze,
He intoxicates us completely out of our senses.
He doesn't even trouble the drunkard
With the task of actually drinking.

When one can no longer find 
Words worthy of conveying one's praise
How then may one even attempt
To praise Medina the blessed?

---------------------------------------------

© Translation Copyright Nader Khan March 2013, All Rights Reserved

Nader Khan [ #iPhoneStudio ] -- Madinan Nights

This recording is the second in my #iPhoneStudio series.  It 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.

Again, a beautiful Naat expressing love and longing for the Beloved of God, peace be upon him.

I've included the lyrics and an attempt at translation below.

-----------------------------------------------------

Ya Muhammad Muhammad (SAW) mein kehta raha,
Noor kay motiyon ki ladi ban gaee,
Ayaton sey milata raha ayatayn,
Phir jo dekha to Naat e Nabi (SAW) ban gaye.

Jab chidah tazkira husn e sarkar ka,
Wad-Duha pad liya, wal-Qamar keh dia,
Sooraton kee tilawat bhi hoti rahi,
Naat bhi ban gayi baat bhi ban gayi.

Jo bhi ansoo bahe merey Mehboob kay,
Sab key sab abr e rehmat kay cheentay banay,
Chah gaee raat jab zulf lehra gaee,
Jab tabasum kiya chandani ban gaee.

Yeh to maana kay jannat hai bagh e haseen,
Khoobsoorat hey sab khuld ki sar zameen,
Husn e jannat ko phir jab samayta gaya,
Sarwar e ambiya ki galee ban gaee.

-----------------------------------------------------

O Muhammad, Muhammad, I chanted away,
The words turned into a string of luminous pearls.
And I I kept on reciting verse after the verse, 
It became a Prophetic description unfurled

When the topic arose of my master's beauty
I recited verses that begin with "the sun" and "the moon".
As chapters of the book were being recited away,
I got my poem praising him, and secured my salvation as well.

All the tears that flowed from my beloved's eyes
They became droplets from the rainclouds of mercy
It seemed night cast itself as his hair blew this way.
And when he smiled, it was moonlight itself.

Of course paradise is the garden of beauty.
How stunningly exquisite is the land of that world! 
But when the beauty of paradise was gathered together,
It became an alleyway that led to the Leader of The Prophets.

© Translation Copyright Nader Khan 2013, All Rights Reserved

Nader Khan [ #iPhoneStudio ] - "O Muhammad, Muhammad, I Chanted Away"

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: 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]

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.

Popular tracks by Nader Khan's SoundCloud