This photo was scanned from an old Life magazine (the Fall 1997 Special Millennium Edition) It depicts a Tuareg Nobleman and a mosque in Timbuktu's shifting sands.
The article accompanying the photo reads as follows: Fourteenth century Africans would be astounded to discover Mali is now one of the world's poorest countries. In it's day, Mali's empire was one of the largest in the world, ruled by an emperor whose lavish adventure helped spread Islam across West Africa and literally put sub-Saharan Africa on the map in Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa embarked on a holy pilgrimmage to Mecca in 1324 with such opulent flourish that awestruck Egyptian writers were still recounting it 200 years later. Legend has it that Musa traveled across the Sahara with about 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves. He brought 80 camels loded with 300 pounds of gold each, which he gave away so freely in Cairo that it took years for the price of gold to recover. Architects and poets he brought back with him from Arabia built distinctive mosques, some of which survived for centuries, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center for Islamic schooling.
In the end, Musa's brazen advertisement of riches served to make Africa's interior a more desirable target for European exploration and conquest.
"When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me. And I worship. When I sing for Mohammed, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Medina, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, May 1997.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan He was the Bob Marley of Pakistan. He was the Elvis of the East,the Pavarotti of Asia, and was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Sufis, sung in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. The lyrics are in praise of Allah (God), his Prophet (Mohammed), his friend (Ali) and other Muslim Saints. It is inspirational and mystical music intended to elevate the sprit, bringing both the listener and singer closer to Allah (God).
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was by far was the most famous and internationally recognised musician that Pakistan has ever produced. Considered by many as having the most beautiful singing voices in the world, NFAK gained recognition in the West after collaborating with popular rock musicians Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born and raised in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Though born into one of Pakistan's most revered family of Qawwals - devotional Sufi singers with a lineage stretching back 700 years - it was his father Ustad Fateh Ali Khan's wish that Nusrat pursue a professional path. A doctor, perhaps. Music was too unstable a vocation, and a medical career would see his son financially secure. Ustad had caught the young Nusrat eavesdropping outside his Qawwali classes and practicing what he'd overheard, but he followed his father's orders and was eventually accepted as a student of medicine. Then, in 1964, Ustad died. Ten days after his death he appeared to his son in a dream, asking him to continue the Qaawali line after all. Nusrat declined, his father touched his throat and he discovered that he was, indeed, possessed of the gift. A year later Nusrat had devoted himself to Qawwali full time, listening to recordings by his father and uncles and then creating an idiosyncratic style, his inspired voice updating Qawwali to suit the times.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan toured internationally with his musicial ensemble and was credited with introducing the art of qawwali to international audiences as well as to the young people of Pakistan. In 1987, he was awarded the President's Pride-of-Performance award for his contribution to Pakistani music. Recordings of Nusrat and his ensemble can be found on JVC, Real World (with Peter Gabriel), the soundtrack recording of the movie "Dead Man Walking" (with Eddie Vedder), and numerous other commercial labels.
Khan passed away August 1997.
Translation of song: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya The rising dust on the horizon fragnates my heart Perhaps a devoted suitor is approaching on horseback. I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love! I lay down my head in sacrifice on the path Which you will tread on. In only coming once you stole The heart, religion and patience of Khusrau. Whatever will happen if you come in this way Two or three times more? I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love!
'Ibaaraatuhum shattaa wa-husnuka waahid Wa-kullun ilaa dhaaka al-jamaali yushiir' Their expressions are manifold and Your loveliness is one And everyone points to that beauty
Quoted by Shaykh 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, former Shaykh al-Azhar
Sufism: an Introduction Islam is the youngest of the great world religions, and although most people associate it primarily with the Middle East, its one billion adherents can be found in every part of the globe. It's basic tenet: faith in one, supreme, omnipotent God (Allah), who has revealed His will throughout history to human beings--first through the Jewish prophets (Abraham, Isaac, etc.), then through Jesus, and finally and definitively through the Prophet Muhammed (570-622 CE). The revelations given through Muhammed were written down as the Qur'an ("Recitation," literally of Allah's word). The Quran reveals Allah's will for human beings and the way that they should live, and for Muslims has the importance that Christians ascribe to the person of Jesus Christ. There are five ritual actions required of all believers that are so central to Islam that they are called the 5 "Pillars":
Profession of Faith--that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammed is his final Prophet. Required Prayers--five times a day. Almsgiving--to support the poor in the community. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able to do so.)
These are the basic practices of Islam, and anyone who keeps these is considered a good Muslim. Yet from the earliest days of Islam, there were Muslims who were not just satisfied with "doing the minimum" to SERVE Allah, but who were hungering for some direct and personal communion with Allah. They were, for want of a better word, mystics. At the beginning these seekers stressed an ascetic life: prayer, fasting, celibacy, repentence, meditations on the Day of Judgment, and reading the Qur'an for hidden guidance. Not surprisingly, given this dour ascetic tone, it remained a very small group at first. The movement took a qualitative shift with the influence of Rabi'a (d. 801 CE), who stressed not only detachment from the world and obedience to Allah, but passionate love of Allah. Beginning with Rabi'a, Sufis began to conceptualize of Allah not only as a judge and master, but as a friend, companion, and confidante, and Sufism developed into a mass movement.
Thus, SUFISM, also spelt Sufiism, is the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of man and God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.
About the Photo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyric Translation Sufism View Main Screen
This photo was scanned from an old Life magazine (the Fall 1997 Special Millennium Edition) It depicts a Tuareg Nobleman and a mosque in Timbuktu's shifting sands.
The article accompanying the photo reads as follows: Fourteenth century Africans would be astounded to discover Mali is now one of the world's poorest countries. In it's day, Mali's empire was one of the largest in the world, ruled by an emperor whose lavish adventure helped spread Islam across West Africa and literally put sub-Saharan Africa on the map in Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa embarked on a holy pilgrimmage to Mecca in 1324 with such opulent flourish that awestruck Egyptian writers were still recounting it 200 years later. Legend has it that Musa traveled across the Sahara with about 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves. He brought 80 camels loded with 300 pounds of gold each, which he gave away so freely in Cairo that it took years for the price of gold to recover. Architects and poets he brought back with him from Arabia built distinctive mosques, some of which survived for centuries, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center for Islamic schooling.
In the end, Musa's brazen advertisement of riches served to make Africa's interior a more desirable target for European exploration and conquest.
"When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me. And I worship. When I sing for Mohammed, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Medina, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, May 1997.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan He was the Bob Marley of Pakistan. He was the Elvis of the East,the Pavarotti of Asia, and was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Sufis, sung in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. The lyrics are in praise of Allah (God), his Prophet (Mohammed), his friend (Ali) and other Muslim Saints. It is inspirational and mystical music intended to elevate the sprit, bringing both the listener and singer closer to Allah (God).
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was by far was the most famous and internationally recognised musician that Pakistan has ever produced. Considered by many as having the most beautiful singing voices in the world, NFAK gained recognition in the West after collaborating with popular rock musicians Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born and raised in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Though born into one of Pakistan's most revered family of Qawwals - devotional Sufi singers with a lineage stretching back 700 years - it was his father Ustad Fateh Ali Khan's wish that Nusrat pursue a professional path. A doctor, perhaps. Music was too unstable a vocation, and a medical career would see his son financially secure. Ustad had caught the young Nusrat eavesdropping outside his Qawwali classes and practicing what he'd overheard, but he followed his father's orders and was eventually accepted as a student of medicine. Then, in 1964, Ustad died. Ten days after his death he appeared to his son in a dream, asking him to continue the Qaawali line after all. Nusrat declined, his father touched his throat and he discovered that he was, indeed, possessed of the gift. A year later Nusrat had devoted himself to Qawwali full time, listening to recordings by his father and uncles and then creating an idiosyncratic style, his inspired voice updating Qawwali to suit the times.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan toured internationally with his musicial ensemble and was credited with introducing the art of qawwali to international audiences as well as to the young people of Pakistan. In 1987, he was awarded the President's Pride-of-Performance award for his contribution to Pakistani music. Recordings of Nusrat and his ensemble can be found on JVC, Real World (with Peter Gabriel), the soundtrack recording of the movie "Dead Man Walking" (with Eddie Vedder), and numerous other commercial labels.
Khan passed away August 1997.
Translation of song: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya The rising dust on the horizon fragnates my heart Perhaps a devoted suitor is approaching on horseback. I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love! I lay down my head in sacrifice on the path Which you will tread on. In only coming once you stole The heart, religion and patience of Khusrau. Whatever will happen if you come in this way Two or three times more? I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love!
'Ibaaraatuhum shattaa wa-husnuka waahid Wa-kullun ilaa dhaaka al-jamaali yushiir' Their expressions are manifold and Your loveliness is one And everyone points to that beauty
Quoted by Shaykh 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, former Shaykh al-Azhar
Sufism: an Introduction Islam is the youngest of the great world religions, and although most people associate it primarily with the Middle East, its one billion adherents can be found in every part of the globe. It's basic tenet: faith in one, supreme, omnipotent God (Allah), who has revealed His will throughout history to human beings--first through the Jewish prophets (Abraham, Isaac, etc.), then through Jesus, and finally and definitively through the Prophet Muhammed (570-622 CE). The revelations given through Muhammed were written down as the Qur'an ("Recitation," literally of Allah's word). The Quran reveals Allah's will for human beings and the way that they should live, and for Muslims has the importance that Christians ascribe to the person of Jesus Christ. There are five ritual actions required of all believers that are so central to Islam that they are called the 5 "Pillars":
Profession of Faith--that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammed is his final Prophet. Required Prayers--five times a day. Almsgiving--to support the poor in the community. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able to do so.)
These are the basic practices of Islam, and anyone who keeps these is considered a good Muslim. Yet from the earliest days of Islam, there were Muslims who were not just satisfied with "doing the minimum" to SERVE Allah, but who were hungering for some direct and personal communion with Allah. They were, for want of a better word, mystics. At the beginning these seekers stressed an ascetic life: prayer, fasting, celibacy, repentence, meditations on the Day of Judgment, and reading the Qur'an for hidden guidance. Not surprisingly, given this dour ascetic tone, it remained a very small group at first. The movement took a qualitative shift with the influence of Rabi'a (d. 801 CE), who stressed not only detachment from the world and obedience to Allah, but passionate love of Allah. Beginning with Rabi'a, Sufis began to conceptualize of Allah not only as a judge and master, but as a friend, companion, and confidante, and Sufism developed into a mass movement.
Thus, SUFISM, also spelt Sufiism, is the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of man and God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.
About the Photo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyric Translation Sufism View Main Screen
This photo was scanned from an old Life magazine (the Fall 1997 Special Millennium Edition) It depicts a Tuareg Nobleman and a mosque in Timbuktu's shifting sands.
The article accompanying the photo reads as follows: Fourteenth century Africans would be astounded to discover Mali is now one of the world's poorest countries. In it's day, Mali's empire was one of the largest in the world, ruled by an emperor whose lavish adventure helped spread Islam across West Africa and literally put sub-Saharan Africa on the map in Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa embarked on a holy pilgrimmage to Mecca in 1324 with such opulent flourish that awestruck Egyptian writers were still recounting it 200 years later. Legend has it that Musa traveled across the Sahara with about 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves. He brought 80 camels loded with 300 pounds of gold each, which he gave away so freely in Cairo that it took years for the price of gold to recover. Architects and poets he brought back with him from Arabia built distinctive mosques, some of which survived for centuries, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center for Islamic schooling.
In the end, Musa's brazen advertisement of riches served to make Africa's interior a more desirable target for European exploration and conquest.
"When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me. And I worship. When I sing for Mohammed, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Medina, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, May 1997.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan He was the Bob Marley of Pakistan. He was the Elvis of the East,the Pavarotti of Asia, and was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Sufis, sung in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. The lyrics are in praise of Allah (God), his Prophet (Mohammed), his friend (Ali) and other Muslim Saints. It is inspirational and mystical music intended to elevate the sprit, bringing both the listener and singer closer to Allah (God).
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was by far was the most famous and internationally recognised musician that Pakistan has ever produced. Considered by many as having the most beautiful singing voices in the world, NFAK gained recognition in the West after collaborating with popular rock musicians Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born and raised in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Though born into one of Pakistan's most revered family of Qawwals - devotional Sufi singers with a lineage stretching back 700 years - it was his father Ustad Fateh Ali Khan's wish that Nusrat pursue a professional path. A doctor, perhaps. Music was too unstable a vocation, and a medical career would see his son financially secure. Ustad had caught the young Nusrat eavesdropping outside his Qawwali classes and practicing what he'd overheard, but he followed his father's orders and was eventually accepted as a student of medicine. Then, in 1964, Ustad died. Ten days after his death he appeared to his son in a dream, asking him to continue the Qaawali line after all. Nusrat declined, his father touched his throat and he discovered that he was, indeed, possessed of the gift. A year later Nusrat had devoted himself to Qawwali full time, listening to recordings by his father and uncles and then creating an idiosyncratic style, his inspired voice updating Qawwali to suit the times.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan toured internationally with his musicial ensemble and was credited with introducing the art of qawwali to international audiences as well as to the young people of Pakistan. In 1987, he was awarded the President's Pride-of-Performance award for his contribution to Pakistani music. Recordings of Nusrat and his ensemble can be found on JVC, Real World (with Peter Gabriel), the soundtrack recording of the movie "Dead Man Walking" (with Eddie Vedder), and numerous other commercial labels.
Khan passed away August 1997.
Translation of song: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya The rising dust on the horizon fragnates my heart Perhaps a devoted suitor is approaching on horseback. I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love! I lay down my head in sacrifice on the path Which you will tread on. In only coming once you stole The heart, religion and patience of Khusrau. Whatever will happen if you come in this way Two or three times more? I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love!
'Ibaaraatuhum shattaa wa-husnuka waahid Wa-kullun ilaa dhaaka al-jamaali yushiir' Their expressions are manifold and Your loveliness is one And everyone points to that beauty
Quoted by Shaykh 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, former Shaykh al-Azhar
Sufism: an Introduction Islam is the youngest of the great world religions, and although most people associate it primarily with the Middle East, its one billion adherents can be found in every part of the globe. It's basic tenet: faith in one, supreme, omnipotent God (Allah), who has revealed His will throughout history to human beings--first through the Jewish prophets (Abraham, Isaac, etc.), then through Jesus, and finally and definitively through the Prophet Muhammed (570-622 CE). The revelations given through Muhammed were written down as the Qur'an ("Recitation," literally of Allah's word). The Quran reveals Allah's will for human beings and the way that they should live, and for Muslims has the importance that Christians ascribe to the person of Jesus Christ. There are five ritual actions required of all believers that are so central to Islam that they are called the 5 "Pillars":
Profession of Faith--that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammed is his final Prophet. Required Prayers--five times a day. Almsgiving--to support the poor in the community. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able to do so.)
These are the basic practices of Islam, and anyone who keeps these is considered a good Muslim. Yet from the earliest days of Islam, there were Muslims who were not just satisfied with "doing the minimum" to SERVE Allah, but who were hungering for some direct and personal communion with Allah. They were, for want of a better word, mystics. At the beginning these seekers stressed an ascetic life: prayer, fasting, celibacy, repentence, meditations on the Day of Judgment, and reading the Qur'an for hidden guidance. Not surprisingly, given this dour ascetic tone, it remained a very small group at first. The movement took a qualitative shift with the influence of Rabi'a (d. 801 CE), who stressed not only detachment from the world and obedience to Allah, but passionate love of Allah. Beginning with Rabi'a, Sufis began to conceptualize of Allah not only as a judge and master, but as a friend, companion, and confidante, and Sufism developed into a mass movement.
Thus, SUFISM, also spelt Sufiism, is the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of man and God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.
About the Photo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyric Translation Sufism View Main Screen
WOW! You've got my number, Shel. Wonderful post! I love the Middle East, having lived in Tehran many years ago, and travelling to Cairo more recently. There is a lot of Sufi activity yet in Egypt.
This photo was scanned from an old Life magazine (the Fall 1997 Special Millennium Edition) It depicts a Tuareg Nobleman and a mosque in Timbuktu's shifting sands.
The article accompanying the photo reads as follows: Fourteenth century Africans would be astounded to discover Mali is now one of the world's poorest countries. In it's day, Mali's empire was one of the largest in the world, ruled by an emperor whose lavish adventure helped spread Islam across West Africa and literally put sub-Saharan Africa on the map in Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa embarked on a holy pilgrimmage to Mecca in 1324 with such opulent flourish that awestruck Egyptian writers were still recounting it 200 years later. Legend has it that Musa traveled across the Sahara with about 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves. He brought 80 camels loded with 300 pounds of gold each, which he gave away so freely in Cairo that it took years for the price of gold to recover. Architects and poets he brought back with him from Arabia built distinctive mosques, some of which survived for centuries, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center for Islamic schooling.
In the end, Musa's brazen advertisement of riches served to make Africa's interior a more desirable target for European exploration and conquest.
"When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me. And I worship. When I sing for Mohammed, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Medina, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, May 1997.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan He was the Bob Marley of Pakistan. He was the Elvis of the East,the Pavarotti of Asia, and was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Sufis, sung in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. The lyrics are in praise of Allah (God), his Prophet (Mohammed), his friend (Ali) and other Muslim Saints. It is inspirational and mystical music intended to elevate the sprit, bringing both the listener and singer closer to Allah (God).
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was by far was the most famous and internationally recognised musician that Pakistan has ever produced. Considered by many as having the most beautiful singing voices in the world, NFAK gained recognition in the West after collaborating with popular rock musicians Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born and raised in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Though born into one of Pakistan's most revered family of Qawwals - devotional Sufi singers with a lineage stretching back 700 years - it was his father Ustad Fateh Ali Khan's wish that Nusrat pursue a professional path. A doctor, perhaps. Music was too unstable a vocation, and a medical career would see his son financially secure. Ustad had caught the young Nusrat eavesdropping outside his Qawwali classes and practicing what he'd overheard, but he followed his father's orders and was eventually accepted as a student of medicine. Then, in 1964, Ustad died. Ten days after his death he appeared to his son in a dream, asking him to continue the Qaawali line after all. Nusrat declined, his father touched his throat and he discovered that he was, indeed, possessed of the gift. A year later Nusrat had devoted himself to Qawwali full time, listening to recordings by his father and uncles and then creating an idiosyncratic style, his inspired voice updating Qawwali to suit the times.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan toured internationally with his musicial ensemble and was credited with introducing the art of qawwali to international audiences as well as to the young people of Pakistan. In 1987, he was awarded the President's Pride-of-Performance award for his contribution to Pakistani music. Recordings of Nusrat and his ensemble can be found on JVC, Real World (with Peter Gabriel), the soundtrack recording of the movie "Dead Man Walking" (with Eddie Vedder), and numerous other commercial labels.
Khan passed away August 1997.
Translation of song: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya The rising dust on the horizon fragnates my heart Perhaps a devoted suitor is approaching on horseback. I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love! I lay down my head in sacrifice on the path Which you will tread on. In only coming once you stole The heart, religion and patience of Khusrau. Whatever will happen if you come in this way Two or three times more? I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love!
'Ibaaraatuhum shattaa wa-husnuka waahid Wa-kullun ilaa dhaaka al-jamaali yushiir' Their expressions are manifold and Your loveliness is one And everyone points to that beauty
Quoted by Shaykh 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, former Shaykh al-Azhar
Sufism: an Introduction Islam is the youngest of the great world religions, and although most people associate it primarily with the Middle East, its one billion adherents can be found in every part of the globe. It's basic tenet: faith in one, supreme, omnipotent God (Allah), who has revealed His will throughout history to human beings--first through the Jewish prophets (Abraham, Isaac, etc.), then through Jesus, and finally and definitively through the Prophet Muhammed (570-622 CE). The revelations given through Muhammed were written down as the Qur'an ("Recitation," literally of Allah's word). The Quran reveals Allah's will for human beings and the way that they should live, and for Muslims has the importance that Christians ascribe to the person of Jesus Christ. There are five ritual actions required of all believers that are so central to Islam that they are called the 5 "Pillars":
Profession of Faith--that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammed is his final Prophet. Required Prayers--five times a day. Almsgiving--to support the poor in the community. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able to do so.)
These are the basic practices of Islam, and anyone who keeps these is considered a good Muslim. Yet from the earliest days of Islam, there were Muslims who were not just satisfied with "doing the minimum" to SERVE Allah, but who were hungering for some direct and personal communion with Allah. They were, for want of a better word, mystics. At the beginning these seekers stressed an ascetic life: prayer, fasting, celibacy, repentence, meditations on the Day of Judgment, and reading the Qur'an for hidden guidance. Not surprisingly, given this dour ascetic tone, it remained a very small group at first. The movement took a qualitative shift with the influence of Rabi'a (d. 801 CE), who stressed not only detachment from the world and obedience to Allah, but passionate love of Allah. Beginning with Rabi'a, Sufis began to conceptualize of Allah not only as a judge and master, but as a friend, companion, and confidante, and Sufism developed into a mass movement.
Thus, SUFISM, also spelt Sufiism, is the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of man and God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.
About the Photo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyric Translation Sufism View Main Screen
Thanks Shel . this was really interesting. I'm now downloading the asx so I can hear the music. My connection continually timed out on me. cant wait to hear it.
This photo was scanned from an old Life magazine (the Fall 1997 Special Millennium Edition) It depicts a Tuareg Nobleman and a mosque in Timbuktu's shifting sands.
The article accompanying the photo reads as follows: Fourteenth century Africans would be astounded to discover Mali is now one of the world's poorest countries. In it's day, Mali's empire was one of the largest in the world, ruled by an emperor whose lavish adventure helped spread Islam across West Africa and literally put sub-Saharan Africa on the map in Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa embarked on a holy pilgrimmage to Mecca in 1324 with such opulent flourish that awestruck Egyptian writers were still recounting it 200 years later. Legend has it that Musa traveled across the Sahara with about 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves. He brought 80 camels loded with 300 pounds of gold each, which he gave away so freely in Cairo that it took years for the price of gold to recover. Architects and poets he brought back with him from Arabia built distinctive mosques, some of which survived for centuries, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center for Islamic schooling.
In the end, Musa's brazen advertisement of riches served to make Africa's interior a more desirable target for European exploration and conquest.
"When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me. And I worship. When I sing for Mohammed, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Medina, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, May 1997.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan He was the Bob Marley of Pakistan. He was the Elvis of the East,the Pavarotti of Asia, and was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Sufis, sung in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. The lyrics are in praise of Allah (God), his Prophet (Mohammed), his friend (Ali) and other Muslim Saints. It is inspirational and mystical music intended to elevate the sprit, bringing both the listener and singer closer to Allah (God).
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was by far was the most famous and internationally recognised musician that Pakistan has ever produced. Considered by many as having the most beautiful singing voices in the world, NFAK gained recognition in the West after collaborating with popular rock musicians Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born and raised in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Though born into one of Pakistan's most revered family of Qawwals - devotional Sufi singers with a lineage stretching back 700 years - it was his father Ustad Fateh Ali Khan's wish that Nusrat pursue a professional path. A doctor, perhaps. Music was too unstable a vocation, and a medical career would see his son financially secure. Ustad had caught the young Nusrat eavesdropping outside his Qawwali classes and practicing what he'd overheard, but he followed his father's orders and was eventually accepted as a student of medicine. Then, in 1964, Ustad died. Ten days after his death he appeared to his son in a dream, asking him to continue the Qaawali line after all. Nusrat declined, his father touched his throat and he discovered that he was, indeed, possessed of the gift. A year later Nusrat had devoted himself to Qawwali full time, listening to recordings by his father and uncles and then creating an idiosyncratic style, his inspired voice updating Qawwali to suit the times.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan toured internationally with his musicial ensemble and was credited with introducing the art of qawwali to international audiences as well as to the young people of Pakistan. In 1987, he was awarded the President's Pride-of-Performance award for his contribution to Pakistani music. Recordings of Nusrat and his ensemble can be found on JVC, Real World (with Peter Gabriel), the soundtrack recording of the movie "Dead Man Walking" (with Eddie Vedder), and numerous other commercial labels.
Khan passed away August 1997.
Translation of song: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya The rising dust on the horizon fragnates my heart Perhaps a devoted suitor is approaching on horseback. I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love! I lay down my head in sacrifice on the path Which you will tread on. In only coming once you stole The heart, religion and patience of Khusrau. Whatever will happen if you come in this way Two or three times more? I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love!
'Ibaaraatuhum shattaa wa-husnuka waahid Wa-kullun ilaa dhaaka al-jamaali yushiir' Their expressions are manifold and Your loveliness is one And everyone points to that beauty
Quoted by Shaykh 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, former Shaykh al-Azhar
Sufism: an Introduction Islam is the youngest of the great world religions, and although most people associate it primarily with the Middle East, its one billion adherents can be found in every part of the globe. It's basic tenet: faith in one, supreme, omnipotent God (Allah), who has revealed His will throughout history to human beings--first through the Jewish prophets (Abraham, Isaac, etc.), then through Jesus, and finally and definitively through the Prophet Muhammed (570-622 CE). The revelations given through Muhammed were written down as the Qur'an ("Recitation," literally of Allah's word). The Quran reveals Allah's will for human beings and the way that they should live, and for Muslims has the importance that Christians ascribe to the person of Jesus Christ. There are five ritual actions required of all believers that are so central to Islam that they are called the 5 "Pillars":
Profession of Faith--that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammed is his final Prophet. Required Prayers--five times a day. Almsgiving--to support the poor in the community. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able to do so.)
These are the basic practices of Islam, and anyone who keeps these is considered a good Muslim. Yet from the earliest days of Islam, there were Muslims who were not just satisfied with "doing the minimum" to SERVE Allah, but who were hungering for some direct and personal communion with Allah. They were, for want of a better word, mystics. At the beginning these seekers stressed an ascetic life: prayer, fasting, celibacy, repentence, meditations on the Day of Judgment, and reading the Qur'an for hidden guidance. Not surprisingly, given this dour ascetic tone, it remained a very small group at first. The movement took a qualitative shift with the influence of Rabi'a (d. 801 CE), who stressed not only detachment from the world and obedience to Allah, but passionate love of Allah. Beginning with Rabi'a, Sufis began to conceptualize of Allah not only as a judge and master, but as a friend, companion, and confidante, and Sufism developed into a mass movement.
Thus, SUFISM, also spelt Sufiism, is the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of man and God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.
About the Photo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyric Translation Sufism View Main Screen
I simply love these kind of posts. Read the info with interest and listened to the music with pleasure. Thank you Raindog, for sharing this. It must have been a lot of work. I appreciate that.
This photo was scanned from an old Life magazine (the Fall 1997 Special Millennium Edition) It depicts a Tuareg Nobleman and a mosque in Timbuktu's shifting sands.
The article accompanying the photo reads as follows: Fourteenth century Africans would be astounded to discover Mali is now one of the world's poorest countries. In it's day, Mali's empire was one of the largest in the world, ruled by an emperor whose lavish adventure helped spread Islam across West Africa and literally put sub-Saharan Africa on the map in Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa embarked on a holy pilgrimmage to Mecca in 1324 with such opulent flourish that awestruck Egyptian writers were still recounting it 200 years later. Legend has it that Musa traveled across the Sahara with about 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves. He brought 80 camels loded with 300 pounds of gold each, which he gave away so freely in Cairo that it took years for the price of gold to recover. Architects and poets he brought back with him from Arabia built distinctive mosques, some of which survived for centuries, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center for Islamic schooling.
In the end, Musa's brazen advertisement of riches served to make Africa's interior a more desirable target for European exploration and conquest.
"When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me. And I worship. When I sing for Mohammed, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Medina, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, May 1997.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan He was the Bob Marley of Pakistan. He was the Elvis of the East,the Pavarotti of Asia, and was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Sufis, sung in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. The lyrics are in praise of Allah (God), his Prophet (Mohammed), his friend (Ali) and other Muslim Saints. It is inspirational and mystical music intended to elevate the sprit, bringing both the listener and singer closer to Allah (God).
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was by far was the most famous and internationally recognised musician that Pakistan has ever produced. Considered by many as having the most beautiful singing voices in the world, NFAK gained recognition in the West after collaborating with popular rock musicians Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born and raised in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Though born into one of Pakistan's most revered family of Qawwals - devotional Sufi singers with a lineage stretching back 700 years - it was his father Ustad Fateh Ali Khan's wish that Nusrat pursue a professional path. A doctor, perhaps. Music was too unstable a vocation, and a medical career would see his son financially secure. Ustad had caught the young Nusrat eavesdropping outside his Qawwali classes and practicing what he'd overheard, but he followed his father's orders and was eventually accepted as a student of medicine. Then, in 1964, Ustad died. Ten days after his death he appeared to his son in a dream, asking him to continue the Qaawali line after all. Nusrat declined, his father touched his throat and he discovered that he was, indeed, possessed of the gift. A year later Nusrat had devoted himself to Qawwali full time, listening to recordings by his father and uncles and then creating an idiosyncratic style, his inspired voice updating Qawwali to suit the times.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan toured internationally with his musicial ensemble and was credited with introducing the art of qawwali to international audiences as well as to the young people of Pakistan. In 1987, he was awarded the President's Pride-of-Performance award for his contribution to Pakistani music. Recordings of Nusrat and his ensemble can be found on JVC, Real World (with Peter Gabriel), the soundtrack recording of the movie "Dead Man Walking" (with Eddie Vedder), and numerous other commercial labels.
Khan passed away August 1997.
Translation of song: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya The rising dust on the horizon fragnates my heart Perhaps a devoted suitor is approaching on horseback. I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love! I lay down my head in sacrifice on the path Which you will tread on. In only coming once you stole The heart, religion and patience of Khusrau. Whatever will happen if you come in this way Two or three times more? I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love!
'Ibaaraatuhum shattaa wa-husnuka waahid Wa-kullun ilaa dhaaka al-jamaali yushiir' Their expressions are manifold and Your loveliness is one And everyone points to that beauty
Quoted by Shaykh 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, former Shaykh al-Azhar
Sufism: an Introduction Islam is the youngest of the great world religions, and although most people associate it primarily with the Middle East, its one billion adherents can be found in every part of the globe. It's basic tenet: faith in one, supreme, omnipotent God (Allah), who has revealed His will throughout history to human beings--first through the Jewish prophets (Abraham, Isaac, etc.), then through Jesus, and finally and definitively through the Prophet Muhammed (570-622 CE). The revelations given through Muhammed were written down as the Qur'an ("Recitation," literally of Allah's word). The Quran reveals Allah's will for human beings and the way that they should live, and for Muslims has the importance that Christians ascribe to the person of Jesus Christ. There are five ritual actions required of all believers that are so central to Islam that they are called the 5 "Pillars":
Profession of Faith--that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammed is his final Prophet. Required Prayers--five times a day. Almsgiving--to support the poor in the community. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able to do so.)
These are the basic practices of Islam, and anyone who keeps these is considered a good Muslim. Yet from the earliest days of Islam, there were Muslims who were not just satisfied with "doing the minimum" to SERVE Allah, but who were hungering for some direct and personal communion with Allah. They were, for want of a better word, mystics. At the beginning these seekers stressed an ascetic life: prayer, fasting, celibacy, repentence, meditations on the Day of Judgment, and reading the Qur'an for hidden guidance. Not surprisingly, given this dour ascetic tone, it remained a very small group at first. The movement took a qualitative shift with the influence of Rabi'a (d. 801 CE), who stressed not only detachment from the world and obedience to Allah, but passionate love of Allah. Beginning with Rabi'a, Sufis began to conceptualize of Allah not only as a judge and master, but as a friend, companion, and confidante, and Sufism developed into a mass movement.
Thus, SUFISM, also spelt Sufiism, is the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of man and God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.
About the Photo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyric Translation Sufism View Main Screen
Every time you send a post, I know it will be something good. This one is gorgeous, Sheila. And an excellent job on documentation too. Pola "raindog" <rain-...@home.com> escribió en el mensaje news:efBcSvHEAHA.245@cppssbbsa04... Raindog Glimpse at Sufism, using an Edgar+ script
Photo Credit: Chris Rainier
This photo was scanned from an old Life magazine (the Fall 1997 Special Millennium Edition) It depicts a Tuareg Nobleman and a mosque in Timbuktu's shifting sands.
The article accompanying the photo reads as follows: Fourteenth century Africans would be astounded to discover Mali is now one of the world's poorest countries. In it's day, Mali's empire was one of the largest in the world, ruled by an emperor whose lavish adventure helped spread Islam across West Africa and literally put sub-Saharan Africa on the map in Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa embarked on a holy pilgrimmage to Mecca in 1324 with such opulent flourish that awestruck Egyptian writers were still recounting it 200 years later. Legend has it that Musa traveled across the Sahara with about 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves. He brought 80 camels loded with 300 pounds of gold each, which he gave away so freely in Cairo that it took years for the price of gold to recover. Architects and poets he brought back with him from Arabia built distinctive mosques, some of which survived for centuries, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center for Islamic schooling.
In the end, Musa's brazen advertisement of riches served to make Africa's interior a more desirable target for European exploration and conquest.
"When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me. And I worship. When I sing for Mohammed, peace be upon him, our prophet, I feel like I am sitting right next to his tomb, Medina, and paying him respect and admitting to myself that I accept his message." - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, May 1997.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan He was the Bob Marley of Pakistan. He was the Elvis of the East,the Pavarotti of Asia, and was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Sufis, sung in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. The lyrics are in praise of Allah (God), his Prophet (Mohammed), his friend (Ali) and other Muslim Saints. It is inspirational and mystical music intended to elevate the sprit, bringing both the listener and singer closer to Allah (God).
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was by far was the most famous and internationally recognised musician that Pakistan has ever produced. Considered by many as having the most beautiful singing voices in the world, NFAK gained recognition in the West after collaborating with popular rock musicians Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born and raised in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Though born into one of Pakistan's most revered family of Qawwals - devotional Sufi singers with a lineage stretching back 700 years - it was his father Ustad Fateh Ali Khan's wish that Nusrat pursue a professional path. A doctor, perhaps. Music was too unstable a vocation, and a medical career would see his son financially secure. Ustad had caught the young Nusrat eavesdropping outside his Qawwali classes and practicing what he'd overheard, but he followed his father's orders and was eventually accepted as a student of medicine. Then, in 1964, Ustad died. Ten days after his death he appeared to his son in a dream, asking him to continue the Qaawali line after all. Nusrat declined, his father touched his throat and he discovered that he was, indeed, possessed of the gift. A year later Nusrat had devoted himself to Qawwali full time, listening to recordings by his father and uncles and then creating an idiosyncratic style, his inspired voice updating Qawwali to suit the times.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan toured internationally with his musicial ensemble and was credited with introducing the art of qawwali to international audiences as well as to the young people of Pakistan. In 1987, he was awarded the President's Pride-of-Performance award for his contribution to Pakistani music. Recordings of Nusrat and his ensemble can be found on JVC, Real World (with Peter Gabriel), the soundtrack recording of the movie "Dead Man Walking" (with Eddie Vedder), and numerous other commercial labels.
Khan passed away August 1997.
Translation of song: Mera Piya Ghar Aaya The rising dust on the horizon fragnates my heart Perhaps a devoted suitor is approaching on horseback. I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love! I lay down my head in sacrifice on the path Which you will tread on. In only coming once you stole The heart, religion and patience of Khusrau. Whatever will happen if you come in this way Two or three times more? I was told tonight That you were coming, my Love!
'Ibaaraatuhum shattaa wa-husnuka waahid Wa-kullun ilaa dhaaka al-jamaali yushiir' Their expressions are manifold and Your loveliness is one And everyone points to that beauty
Quoted by Shaykh 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, former Shaykh al-Azhar
Sufism: an Introduction Islam is the youngest of the great world religions, and although most people associate it primarily with the Middle East, its one billion adherents can be found in every part of the globe. It's basic tenet: faith in one, supreme, omnipotent God (Allah), who has revealed His will throughout history to human beings--first through the Jewish prophets (Abraham, Isaac, etc.), then through Jesus, and finally and definitively through the Prophet Muhammed (570-622 CE). The revelations given through Muhammed were written down as the Qur'an ("Recitation," literally of Allah's word). The Quran reveals Allah's will for human beings and the way that they should live, and for Muslims has the importance that Christians ascribe to the person of Jesus Christ. There are five ritual actions required of all believers that are so central to Islam that they are called the 5 "Pillars":
Profession of Faith--that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammed is his final Prophet. Required Prayers--five times a day. Almsgiving--to support the poor in the community. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in one's lifetime, if one is able to do so.)
These are the basic practices of Islam, and anyone who keeps these is considered a good Muslim. Yet from the earliest days of Islam, there were Muslims who were not just satisfied with "doing the minimum" to SERVE Allah, but who were hungering for some direct and personal communion with Allah. They were, for want of a better word, mystics. At the beginning these seekers stressed an ascetic life: prayer, fasting, celibacy, repentence, meditations on the Day of Judgment, and reading the Qur'an for hidden guidance. Not surprisingly, given this dour ascetic tone, it remained a very small group at first. The movement took a qualitative shift with the influence of Rabi'a (d. 801 CE), who stressed not only detachment from the world and obedience to Allah, but passionate love of Allah. Beginning with Rabi'a, Sufis began to conceptualize of Allah not only as a judge and master, but as a friend, companion, and confidante, and Sufism developed into a mass movement.
Thus, SUFISM, also spelt Sufiism, is the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of man and God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.
About the Photo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyric Translation Sufism View Main Screen
