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

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.

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

Nader Khan's SoundCloud