Ṣalli yā Rabbi thumma sallim ‘alā man
So pray my Lord and bestow blessings upon him
Huwa li-l-khalqi raḥmatun wa-shifā’un
Who is for all mankind, a grace and a healing
Wa-‘ala l-āli wa-ṣ-ṣaḥābati jam‘an
So also on his fair Companions and kinsmen
Ma tazayyanat bi-n-nujūmi s-samā’u
With blessings that abide like the sky’s lofty ceiling.
So pray my Lord and bestow blessings upon him
Who is for all mankind, a grace and a healing
So also on his fair Companions and kinsmen
With blessings that abide like the sky’s lofty ceiling.
Accept and pity them as my intercessor
Upon the day when all need an intercessor.
And in this gloomy age keep me and my people
For in our day our power has grown faint and feeble.
For in these times the faith is once more a stranger
Thus did you once foretell, the decent in danger.
So catch us lest we fall in the pit of peril
For on this day we tire, after blunder and quarrel.
‘Hamziyya’ is a multi-layered piece that brings together music inspired by an Algerian mystical chant with a melody suggestive of the English folk tradition. In the interweaving of these musical expressions the listener can hear how traditional music is always in harmony, never dissonant. ‘Hamziyya’ was initially released on Sami Yusuf’s album Barakah, but this is a completely new arrangement with a never-before-heard Taqsīm composition in the Intro.
The Intro was performed for the first time at the 2019 Fes Festival of Sacred Music. In it each solo instrument explores a unique maqam or musical mode: Sīkah (qanun), Bayāti (bağlama), Rāst (ney), Hījāz (oud), and eventually returning to Rāst. Each of these modes is known to have a distinct emotional effect on the listener. Here the transitions from one mode to another are arranged to evoke various stages of an inner journey.
The lyrics come from portions of the thousand-verse Hamziyya (poem rhyming in hamza) by the renowned Palestinian scholar Yusuf Nabhani (d. 1932). Because it describes the Prophet’s life and character, it’s frequently recited during Mawlid celebrations of the Prophet’s (pbuh) birthday.
Yā Rasūla l-Lāh
O Messenger of God,
Yā shay Medina
O Prince of Medina
Har kas ‘ashgta
Don’t break the heart of the one
Dili mashkina
Who loves you and is crazed for you
Bechmam Madīna, beīsem bepā wā
I will go to Medina and openly express to the Prophet
Arza bam bedas Rasūl-a-Allāh wā
My inner heart-felt desire to serve Him
[Kurdish (refrain)]
Yā Rasūla l-Lāh
O Messenger of God,
Yā shay Medina
O Prince of Medina
Har kas ‘ashgta
Don’t break the heart of the one
Dili mashkina
Who loves you and is crazed for you
(Turkish)
Yâ Resûlallah
O the Messenger of Allah
Yâ Nebiyallah
O the Prophet of Allah
Günâhım çokdur
My sins are so many
Eyle şefâat
Help me to be forgiven
Senin aşkına
‘Cause God will forgive me
Affede Mevlâ
For His love of you
Kıl bize duâ
Please pray for us
Yâ Resûlallah
O The Messenger of Allah
(Arabic)
Yā Rasūla l-Lāh
O Messenger of Allāh
Qalbī mushtāq
My heart is longing
Li-l-Madīnah
For Medina
Yā Ḥabība l-Lāh
O Beloved of Allah
Kullī ’ashwāq
All my earnings
Li-l-Madīnah
Are for Medina
Li-Nabīyi l-Lāh
For the Prophet of Allah
Muddat bi-r-rajā’ ’ayādīnā
Our hands are extended in hope
Mā taruddanā yā Rasūla l-Lāh khā’ibīna
O Messenger of Allah, our beloved,
do not us send back empty-handed
(Kurdish)
Yā Rasūla l-Lāh, Bawanem, Nawet chand khowsha*
O Messenger of God, How beautiful is your name
‘Araghet golah bawanem, Būnet wa nawsha
The blessed beads of sweat from your luminous body, smell of flowers
Har wak hājiyān bawānem, La dowr baytu l-Lāh bawanem
Like the pilgrims who circumambulate the House of God
O my all, my beloved
Bīm ba dawrī to ‘azīzam,
I’d circle around you, my dearest one,
Yā Nabī, Yā Shafī’
O Prophet of God, O Intercessor!
Ṣallū ‘alayhi shafī’ l-’ummah
Send salutations upon him, the intercessor of the Muslim nation
Bi dhikri r-Rasūl tushḥadhu l-himmah
By mentioning the messenger we sharpen our zeal
Yā Rabbi bi-jāhin Nabī ’azihi l-ghummah
O God, for the sake of the prophet, clear the adversity
Ṣallū ‘ala l-Hādi l-Bashīr*
Send salutations upon The Guide and Bearer of good tidings
Ḥabībī l-Badri l-Munīr
My beloved the luminous full moon
Shafī’ī ‘inda l-Qadīr
My intercessor with the All-Powerful
Ṣallū ‘alayhi
Send salutations upon him!
Ṣallū bi-’aḥla l-kalām
Send salutations upon him with the sweetest of words!
Ṣallū ‘ala l-badri t-tamām
Salutations upon him, the full-moon
Rasūlī, khayri l-’anām
My messenger, the best of mankind!
They said, ‘Have you forgotten the One Whom you love?’
So I told them ‘O People, He Who is my Spirit, how could I ever forget Him?
And how could I forget Him, by Whom all things are beautified.
It would be a strange thing indeed for a servant to forget his Lord.
He is never hidden from me yet I see Him not,
Except that I say openly ‘Say He is God.’
What say the accusers? Their efforts are in vain.
What the enemies say makes it all the more meaningful.
Indeed I do love Him. What they say is indeed true.
Yes, O Yes! I love Him! Indeed do I love Him!
I ask forgiveness from God for all but His love,
For it is all the good deeds I have on the day that I meet Him.
And if they should say that love is a transgression,
Then love is the best thing with which one can meet God.
– Shaykh Ahmad al-Rifa’i
(12th c founder of Rifa’I Sufi Order)
Translated by Nicholas Boylston
I only knew love when I knew love of Thee,
I sealed up my heart against Thy enemy.
I stood long in converse with Thee, who doth see
My heart’s inner secrets, but Thou I don’t see.
My love is twin loves, yet the twain are for Thee,
The first’s for Thy love, and the other’s for Thee.
And as for the first, which is love of Thy love:
Remembrance complete, not distracted from Thee.
‘Araftul-hawā mudh ‘araftu hawāk
Wa-’aghlaqtu qalbī ‘alā man ‘ādāk
I only knew love when I knewloveof Thee,
I sealed up my heart against Thy enemy.
And as for the second: my true love of Thee,
I see Thou as present in all that I see.
All praise to Thy name, and no praises for me,
For Thine is the glory in all unity.
‘Araftul-hawā mudh ‘araftu hawāk
Wa-’aghlaqtu qalbī ‘alā man ‘ādāk
I only knew love when I knew love of Thee,
I sealed up my heart against Thy enemy.
’Uḥibbuka ḥubbayni, ḥubba l-hawā
Wa-ḥubban li-’annaka ’ahlu l-lidhāk
My love is twin loves, yet the twain are for Thee,
The first’s for Thy love, and theother’sfor Thee.
Fa-’amma l-ladhī huwa ḥubbul-hawā
Fa-shughlī bi-dhikrika ‘an man siwāk
And as for the first, which isloveof Thy love:
Remembrance complete, not distracted from Thee.
Wa-’amma l-ladhī ’anta ’ahlu l-lahu
Fa-lastu ’ara l-kawna ḥattā ’arāk
And as for the second: my true love of Thee,
I see Thou as present in all that I see.
Fa-la l-ḥamdu fī dhā wa-lā dhāka lī
Wa-lākin laka l-ḥamdu fī dhā wa-dhāk
All praise to Thy name, and no praises for me,
For Thine is the glory in all unity.
إلهنا.. ما أعدلك
O our God, how just You are,
مليكَ كل من ملك
You are the King of all kings [or Owner of all who own].
لبيك قد لبيتُ لك
Here I am, I answer Your call,
لبيك إن الحمدَ لك
Here I am, verily all thanks are due to You,
والملكُ لك، يا مولاي
And all sovereignty, O Master.
الله يا الله، يا مولانا
Allah, Allah, O our Master.
سبحانه ما أعظمه
How great is His glory,
والملك له، لا شريك له
And there is no partner in His sovereignty.
لبيك إن الحمدَ لك
Here I am, verily all thanks are due to You,
والعز، لا شريك لك
And You have no partner in glory.
الله وحده.. لا شريك له
Allah is One, He has no partners.
الله الله الله
Allah, Allah, Allah,
لا إله إلا هو
There is no god but Him.
الله الله الله
Allah, Allah, Allah,
لا إله إلا هو
There is no god but Him.
إلهنا.. ما أعدلك
O our God, how just You are,
مليكَ كل من ملك
You are the King of all kings [or Owner of all who own].
لبيك قد لبيتُ لك
Here I am, I answer Your call,
لبيك إن الحمدَ لك
Here I am, verily all thanks are due to You,
و هو أول و هو آخر، الظاهر والباطن
He is First, and He is Last, the Outer and the Inner,
و الوالي ما أعظمه
And how great is the Friend and Protector,
والملك له، لا شريك له
And He has no partners is His sovereignty.
لبيك إن الحمد لك
Here I am, verily all thanks are due to You,
والعز، لا شريك لك
And You have no partner in glory.
الوكيل، القوي، المتين، الغني،
The Guardian, the Possessor of all Strength, the Impassible, the Rich One,
اللطيف، الخبير، الحليم
The most Subtle and Gracious, the All-Aware, the Forbearing,
سبحانه، ما أعدله
How just He is,
مليكَ كل من ملك
You are the King of all kings [or Owner of all who own].
لبيك قد لبيتُ لك
Here I am, I answer Your call,
لبيك إن الحمدَ لك
Here I am, verily all thanks are due to You,
ارحمنا، واسترنا، واحفظنا من كل بلوى،الرحيم، يا مولانا
Have mercy on us, and help us, and save us from every calamity, O our Master.
إلهنا.. ما أعدلك
O our God, how just You are,
مليكَ كل من ملك
You are the King of all kings [or Owner of all who own].
لبيك قد لبيتُ لك
Here I am, I answer Your call,
لبيك إن الحمدَ لك
Here I am, verily all thanks are due to You,
سبحانه
Glory be to Him.
I am walking, burning, burning,
Love has stained my heart with yearning,
Neither crazy nor discerning –
Come, see, what love has done to me.
Gel gör beni beni aşk neyledi
Derde giriftar eyledi
Come, see, what love has done to me.
One day like the winds I’m blowing,
One day like the roads I’m going,
One day like the floods I’m flowing.
Come, see, what love has done to me.
Take my hand and keep me staying –
Take me else, to You conveying,
No more tears, for laughs I’m praying.
Come, see, what love has done to me.
Walking round with Majnun’s madness,
Seeing Her in dreams my gladness,
Waking up again in sadness.
Come, see, what love has done to me.
I am Yunus, poor and stricken,
From my exile my steps quicken,
Head to toe I hurt and sicken.
Come, see, what love has done to me.
Ben yürürüm yane yane
I am walking, burning, burning,
Aşk boyadı beni kane
Love has stained my heart with yearning,
Ne akilem ne divane
Neither crazy nor discerning –
Gel gör beni aşk neyledi
Derde giriftar eyledi
Come, see, what love has done to me.
Come, see, what love has done to me.
Ey ‘Āsheqān, Ey ‘Āsheqān
Amad gahe waṣlo leqa
Az āsemān āmad nedā
Key mahrūyān aṣ-ṣalā
O lovers, O lovers, the time of union and meeting has come
A calling from Heaven proclaimed, “Moon-faced ones, it is time to pray!”
Ḥay Allāh, Hu Allāh, Yā Allāh
Ey sarkhoshān, Ey sarkhoshān
Amad ṭarab dāman keshan
Begrefte ma zanjīre ū
Begrefte ū dāmāne mā
O divinely intoxicated ones, the joyously whirling One has arrived;
The chains of His curls have captured us and the yearning of our hearts have captured Him.
Amad sharābe ātashīn
Ey Dīve gham konjī neshīn
Ey jane marg-andīsh ro
Ey sāqīye bāqī darā
The fiery wine has come,demonof grief, off to a corner!
Leave O death-pondering soul, O immortal Saqi, come through!
Ey haft gardūn maste to
Mā mohreyi dar daste to
Ey haste mā az haste to
Dar ṣad hezārān marḥabā
O by whom the seven vaults are enraptured,
We are but a bead in your hands
Our being is by your being, a thousand hails!
Ey bānge naye khosh-samar
Dar bānge to ṭa’me shekar
Āyad marā sham-o sahar
Az bānge to būye vafā
O sound of the reed with sweet stories
In your sound is the taste of sugar
From your sound, comes the fragrance of fidelity day and night!
Bāre degar āghāz kon
Ān pardehā rā sāz kon
Bar jomle khūbān nāz kon
Ey Āftābe khosh leqā
Begin once more and tune those notes!
Display your charm to the good souls,
O fair-faced sun!
Ṣalla l-Lāhu ‘alā Ṭāhā
Khayri l-khalqi wa-’aḥlāhā
God’s blessings be upon Taha,
Best of creation and the sweetest
Khayru l-khalqi huwa l-hādī
Nūru l-kawni bihi bādī
Best of [God’s] creation, he’s the guide
The light of existence shines through him
‘Amma n-nāsa bi-’irshādi
’Azka l-khalqi wa-’arḍāhā
He encompassed all mankind with his guidance
Purest of creation and the most pleasing
Nūru l-Lāhi l-mutaqaddim
Qabla l-khalqi l-muta‘allim
The first light of God
He was taught before all other creation
Badru n-nūri l-mutalaththim
Hādi l-khalqi li-Mawlāhā
The veiled light of the full moon
Guiding creation to its Lord
Ba‘da s-sidrati qad sārā
Wa-ra’a l-ḥaqqa wa-’anwārah
Beyond the Sidra* he walked
And saw The Truth and His Lights
Waqafa r-ruḥu wa-ma sārā
Idhhab waḥdaka yā Ṭāhā
The Spirit (Jibra’il) stopped and did not continue
[saying] go on alone Taha
Irża l-Lāha bi-l-ālāf
‘an ’ahli l-bayti l-’ashrāf
May God be pleased with his intimates
from his noble family
Wa-l-’aṣhābi ’ūli-l-’insāf
Nālu l-khulda wa-suknāhā
And his companions, the people of justice
Who gained eternity and its dwelling
Malīḥun lawnuhū**
Kahīlun ṭarfuhū
Jamīlun na‘tuhū
Ṣalla l-Lāhu ‘alā Ṭāhā
Of fine complexion
His eyes, dark and wide
Of beautiful face
The guide, with whom God is satisfied
Qamarīyun wajhuhū
Bahīyun shakluhū
‘Aẓīmun khuluquhū
Ṣalla l-Lāhu ‘alā Ṭāhā
His face is like the moon
His form is resplendent
His character is mighty
Taha, the chosen one
Rahīmun qalbuhū
Ṣadūqun wa‘duhū
‘Amīmun jūduhū
Māḥin muntaqā
His heart is kind,
His promises are kept
His generosity is vast
The effacer (of sins), the chosen one
Ṣalātu Rabbī
Ma‘a s-salāmi
‘Alā Muhammad
Zaynu l-’asāmī
The blessings of my Lord
And His peace
Upon Muhammad
The most beautiful of names
Maqām: Bayātī
Commentary: “Ṣalla l-Lāhu ‘alā Ṭāhā” was written by the Sudanese/Egyptian Shaykh Salih al-Ja’fari (d. 1979) who taught and lived at the famous al-Azhar University in Cairo and was also the Imam of the al-Azhar mosque. He was a Sufi shaykh in the lineage of Ahmad ibn Idris of Fez (d. 1837) and a prolific author of works on the Qur’an, Hadith, Islamic law and Sufism. He also wrote a celebrated collection of poetry, from which this song is taken. The end section incorporates the blessed names of the Prophet (pbuh) taken from the Diwan of the famous Moroccan Sufi saint Imam Mohammed Al-Jazuli’s (d. 1465), Dala’il al-Khayrat.
*The Sidra is a reference to the “Lote tree of the furthest boundary” (sidrat al-muntahā) mentioned in the Qur’an (53:14) and described by the Prophet on his night journey to heaven (mi’rāj). The sidra marks the outer boundaries that separate the created world (‘ālam al-khalq) from the spiritual world of the divine command (‘ālam al-amr).
**This section is an original composition with words provided by Mohammed Ali El Oumari and Abdel Ilah Ikhal. The inspiration behind the melody comes from an old Kurdish folk song heard by Sami Yusuf when he was a child.
Words by Shaykh Salih al-Ja’fari
Music: Traditional Islamic (unknown provenance)
Performed and arranged by Sami Yusuf
Recorded at Andante Studios
اللهُ الله مدد مدد
God, help, O help!
اللهُ الله منك المدد
God, all help is from you!
الله الله عظيم مدد
God, the Great, help!
اللهُ الله كريم مدد
God, the Generous, help!
يارباه يا غوثاه يا مولانا
O Lord! O Succour, Our Master!
ايا روضة العشاق قد هيجتي مهجتي
O Garden of the Lovers, You have stirred up my flames
ايا حضرة الاطلاق فيضتي صبابتي
O Presence of the Absolute, You have made my longing overflow
ياخليلي قل الله وحده في الكثرة
O friend, Say God, alone, in multiplicity
لاترى ماسوى الله في كل كائنة
Do not see other than God in all that exists
يارباه يا غوثاه يا مولانا
O Lord! O Succor, Our Master!
إخلع نعليك وافن ان شئت ملاقاتي
Remove your sandals and become naught if you wish to meet me
ان اردت تعرفنا انا عين الحياة
If you wish to know me, I am the Fountain of Life
تسميت بعبد الله على كل حالة
I have called myself a servant of God in every situation
لاإله إلا الله افضل الكلمة
‘There is no god but God’ is the best of statements
سقتني كأس الهوى من طيب الخميرتي
You gave me to drink of the cup of desire from the goodness of the ferment
جلوت به السوى عن نور البصيرتي
And by it you polished all else from the light of my inner vision
جلوت به السوى عن نور البصيرتي
And by it you polished all else from the light of my inner vision
مدد مدد مدد الله مدد
Help, help, O help, God, O help
الله الله يا الله مدد مدد يا الله
God, O God, help, O help, O God
الله الله يا الله مدد مدد يا الله
God, O God, help, O help, O God
مدد مدد مدد مدد
Help, O help, help, O help
مدد مدد مدد مدد
Help, O help, help, O help
الله الله يا الله مدد مدد يا الله
God, O God, help, O help, O God
الله الله يا الله
God God, O God
مدد مدد مدد مدد
Help, O help, help, O help
مدد مدد مدد مدد
Help, O help, help, O help
يا غفور يا شكور
O All-Forgiving, O Thankful One
ياحنان يا منان
O Loving One, O Bounteous One
الله الله يا الله مدد مدد يا الله
God, O God, help, O help, O God
الله الله يا الله مدد مدد يا الله
God, O God, help, O help, O God
يا رحمن يا رحيم
O Infinitely Good, O All-Merciful,
ياتواب ياوهاب
O Forgiving One, O Giver of All
يارباه يا غوثاه يا مولانا
O Lord! O Succour, Our Master!
ايا روضة العشاق قد هيجتي مهجتي
O Garden of the Lovers, You have stirred up my flames
ايا حضرة الاطلاق فيضتي صبابتي
O Presence of the Absolute, You have made my longing overflow
ياخليلي قل الله وحده في الكثرة
O friend, say God, alone, in multiplicity
لاترى ماسوى الله في كل كائنة
Do not see other than God in all that exists
اللهْ اللهُ اللهُ الله يا رباه
God, O Lord
اللهْ اللهُ اللهُ الله يا رباه الله
God, O Lord, God
ايا روضة العشاق قد هيجتي مهجتي
O Garden of the Lovers, You have stirred up my flames
ايا حضرة الاطلاق فيضتي صبابتي
O Presence of the Absolute, You have made my longing overflow
ياخليلي قل الله وحده في الكثرة
O friend, say God, alone, in multiplicity
لاترى ماسوى الله في كل كائنة
Do not see other than God in all that exists
يا رحمن يا رحيم
O Infinitely Good, O All-Merciful
ياتواب ياوهاب
O Forgiving One, O Giver of All
إخلع نعليك وافن ان شئت ملاقاتي
Remove your sandals and become naught if you wish to meet me
ان اردت تعرفنا انا عين الحياة
If you wish to know me, I am the fountain of Life
تسميت بعبد الله على كل حالة
I have called myself a servant of God in every situation
لاإله إلا الله افضل الكلمة
‘There is no god but God’ is the best of statements
الله الله الله الله
God
الله الله الله الله
God
الله الله الله الله
God
In Andalucian morning light
In seas of azure, in dawning skies
I watch you bloom, the birth of spring
You are the song that all lovers sing
You are the key holding me in
I am a prisoner, I can’t escape
The key is inside the forms you take
You are the web I cannot spin
You are the pulse beneath my skin
You are the key holding me in
Your love is a door I cannot find
The only way out is from deep inside
I’m humbled by the light you take
When you cover every colour of the day
I’m brightened by the night you bring
You are the divine eternal ring
You are the end where everything begins
You are the key holding me in
I’m humbled by the light you take
When you cover every colour of the day
Illuminated in the night you bring
You are the divine eternal ring
You are the end where everything begins
You are the key holding me in
The only key holding me in
Translation:
Remembering the beloved
we drank wine*;
we were drunk with it
before creation of the vine.
The full moon its glass,
the wine a sun circled by a crescent;
when it is mixed,
how many stars appear!
Our Lord, O our Lord!
If not for its fragrance,
I would not have found its tavern;
if not for its flashing gleam,
how could imagination picture it?
Time preserved nothing of it
save one last breath,
concealed like a secret
in the hearts of the wise ones.
Our Lord, O our Lord!
But if it is recalled among the tribe,
the worthy ones
are drunk by morn without shame or sin.
Be drunk one hour with it, and you shall have
All of time as your slave, at your command.
The one who lives sober in this world has not had a life,
And the one who dies not drunk has missed the mark.
Our Lord, O our Lord!
*Intoxicating wine in the Islamic mystical poetic tradition is often evoked by poets as a symbol of passionate love for God and immersion in the Divine Presence.
A humble slave am I of an almighty Lord.
No work is too hard for that One who’s adored.
But though I’m a beggar who cannot afford
To claim any strength, sure and strong is my Lord.
He says, where He wills, when He wishes a thing,
just “Be”, and it is, by the might of a King.
The ruler whose edicts and wise rulings bring
All blessings and grace by the might of a King.
I haven’t got the force,
No strength between my sides
Why feel such remorse
when the Maker provides?
I haven’t got the force,
No strength between my sides
Why feel such remorse
when the Maker provides?
Ana ‘abdu Rabbī lahū qudratun
A humble slave am I of an almighty Lord.
Yahūnu bihā kullu ’amrin ‘asīr
No work is too hard for that One who’s adored.
Fa-’in kuntu ‘abdan ḍa‘īfa l-quwā
But though I’m a beggar who cannot afford
Fa-Rabbī ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr
To claim any strength, sure and strong is my Lord.
Minnī ash ‘alayā wa ana ‘abadun mamlūk
I’m but a humble slave, what should I worry about?
Wa-l-’ashyā’ maqaḍīya mā fi t-taḥqīqi shukūk
All affairs are ordained, of this there is no doubt
Rabbī nāẓir fiyā wa ana naẓarī matrūk
My Lord sees everything, while my sight leaves much out
Fi l-’arḥām wa l-’aḥshā’ min nuṭfa ṣawwaranī
In the womb, He formed me from a drop
Ana mā lī fiyāsh, ash ‘alayā minnī
I haven’t got the force, No strength between my sides
Aqliq mir-rizqī lāsh, wa-l-Khāliq yarzuqnī
Why feel such remorse when the Maker provides?
Allāhumma ṣalli ‘ala l-Muṣṭafā, ḥabībnā Muḥammad ‘alayhi s-salām
O Allah, send your blessings on The Chosen One
Our beloved Muhammad, Peace be upon him
I’m safe in the shade of his all-knowing height
And no strength have I — His all power and might.
So glory to God, his bounty shining bright,
All gratitude and praise are His due and His right.
He says, where He wills, when He wishes a thing,
just “Be”, and it is, by the might of a King.
The ruler whose edicts and wise rulings bring
All blessings and grace by the might of a King.