Audio of Illahi’s Brought to you by the Osmanli Naksibendi-Hakkani Tariqat
under the direction of Shaykh Abdul Kerim al-Kibrisi
with ijazaat and instruction from Maulana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani
“Spiritual music with a variety of instruments have been part of Islamic tradition for centuries.”
sidi, i always wanted to ask the naqsbandi [hakkanis] regarding their position on the spiritual music; the brothers who adhere to the mujaddidi silsilah strictly consider it to be bida (if not haram) and usually cite the great fountain head of the naqsbandi silsilah Imam Rabbani (r.a.) on this matter.
I would appreciate if you could render some thoughts on this issue from the perspective of your silsilah.
BismillahirRahmairRahim
Salamu’alaykum Abu Hudayr,
First and foremost, I am no one to answer your question. But this little bit came to me…
Excerpted from Beads of Dew from the Source of Life (Rashahat Ain al-Hayat), one of the primary Naksibendi Texts of all Naksibendi silsila’s:
One day the Shaikh al-Islam of Herat paid a visit to Mawlana Jami, who had some religious scholars in his company at the time. After receiving him with gracious hospitality, Mawlana provided a musical concern, with lyric recitals, wind instruments and songs. A few days later, a person called Shaikh Shah made this protest to Mawlana:
“Is it proper for you, as the guide of the scholars and the pilot of the mystics, to have the tambourine and the reed flute played at your meeting?” Mawlana Jami whispered a few words in the protestor’s ear. The poor man fell to the ground in a fluster. When he came to himself, he grasped Mawlana’s knees and sought forgiveness.
Therefore the truth is the spiritual music has been accepted within Islam for centuries, but indeed there were certain groups that forbade it completely and that made it controversial.
The wisdom in that is that in certain times certain things are not appropriate and in others they can be necessary. Similarly, in Imam Rabbani’s time it may not have been appropriate we must consider the context and circumstances which he faced.
Every type of surgeon knows what tools are used at what part of the procedure.
The power of the Awliya is to be able to know what is best for a people considering their station and their surroundings. Those who lock themselves into some belief that they have understood a universal truth have forgotten themselves.
For those of us today who hear secular music at every turn, even if it is involuntary, our souls are touched by knowledge of its existence in ways we cannot truly comprehend. Just knowing its existance puts us in a different category than someone like Imam Rabbani who was never exposed to it.
The illiterate man knows not the pleasure of reading a good book. The literate man may busy himself with nonsense words, or the literate man may pretend he cannot read. One is unwise and the other is insincere. Finally he may decide to read what is beneficial to him.
In our day and age, the Shaykhs have opened this up, promoted this as a means to call people to remember Allah. It is one weapon in their arsenal.
If it was completely forbidden, like alcohol (as people make it out to be) it would have hardly survived and developed within the Muslim world, much less be open and celebrated as the tradition of Ottoman Ilahi’s. Beyond that it would not have made it to the texts of the Naksibendi’s.
Although my personal opinion is shadeed in terms of strings and winds - I am no person to rule over real muftis and scholars. I had heard this qasidah before and you guys do a beautiful rendition. I love the narration. Barakallahu feek. Although if you had a non instrumental rendition…I’d greatly appreciate it from you
December 3rd, 2007 - 5:10 am
selamalaykum
isn’t this traditional ottoman music rather than calling it traditional islamic? I thought islamic was only the duff?
ma salama
December 3rd, 2007 - 8:11 am
Salaams Yursil,
Jazak Allah for this beautiful music. O Yunus Emre! O Uways al-Karani!
Allah bless Shaykh Abdal Karim Effendi, and Mevlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani for this.
Abdur Rahman
December 3rd, 2007 - 8:27 am
BismillahirRahmanirRaheem
Salamu’alaykum Assad,
Spiritual music with a variety of instruments have been part of Islamic tradition for centuries. Even being discussed in Imam Ghazali’s time.
Salamu’alaikum Abdu Rahman!
I am glad you are enjoying the sama’
-Yursil
December 4th, 2007 - 2:20 pm
Salaams sidi Yursil,
I pray all is well with you and your family.
“Spiritual music with a variety of instruments have been part of Islamic tradition for centuries.”
sidi, i always wanted to ask the naqsbandi [hakkanis] regarding their position on the spiritual music; the brothers who adhere to the mujaddidi silsilah strictly consider it to be bida (if not haram) and usually cite the great fountain head of the naqsbandi silsilah Imam Rabbani (r.a.) on this matter.
I would appreciate if you could render some thoughts on this issue from the perspective of your silsilah.
jazakallahu khairan,
December 4th, 2007 - 9:16 pm
BismillahirRahmairRahim
Salamu’alaykum Abu Hudayr,
First and foremost, I am no one to answer your question. But this little bit came to me…
Excerpted from Beads of Dew from the Source of Life (Rashahat Ain al-Hayat), one of the primary Naksibendi Texts of all Naksibendi silsila’s:
Therefore the truth is the spiritual music has been accepted within Islam for centuries, but indeed there were certain groups that forbade it completely and that made it controversial.
The wisdom in that is that in certain times certain things are not appropriate and in others they can be necessary. Similarly, in Imam Rabbani’s time it may not have been appropriate we must consider the context and circumstances which he faced.
Every type of surgeon knows what tools are used at what part of the procedure.
The power of the Awliya is to be able to know what is best for a people considering their station and their surroundings. Those who lock themselves into some belief that they have understood a universal truth have forgotten themselves.
For those of us today who hear secular music at every turn, even if it is involuntary, our souls are touched by knowledge of its existence in ways we cannot truly comprehend. Just knowing its existance puts us in a different category than someone like Imam Rabbani who was never exposed to it.
The illiterate man knows not the pleasure of reading a good book. The literate man may busy himself with nonsense words, or the literate man may pretend he cannot read. One is unwise and the other is insincere. Finally he may decide to read what is beneficial to him.
In our day and age, the Shaykhs have opened this up, promoted this as a means to call people to remember Allah. It is one weapon in their arsenal.
If it was completely forbidden, like alcohol (as people make it out to be) it would have hardly survived and developed within the Muslim world, much less be open and celebrated as the tradition of Ottoman Ilahi’s. Beyond that it would not have made it to the texts of the Naksibendi’s.
December 4th, 2007 - 11:28 pm
Although my personal opinion is shadeed in terms of strings and winds - I am no person to rule over real muftis and scholars. I had heard this qasidah before and you guys do a beautiful rendition. I love the narration. Barakallahu feek. Although if you had a non instrumental rendition…I’d greatly appreciate it from you