Beauty of line and colour can go so far and no further; the joy of fragrance can go a little further; but music touches our innermost being and in that way produces new life, a life that gives exaltation to the whole being, raising it to that perfection in which lies the fulfillment of our life.
- Inayat Khan
If it were revealed a little of the heavenly music that is heard within,
even the dead will rise from their graves.
- Surat Shabd Yoga
"Man Kunto Maula", a part of a famous statement of the Seal of Prophet, upon him be holy benedictions, which is, "Man kunto maula, fa Ali-un Maula" - meaning 'Whoever accepts me as master, Ali is his master too'. This was made on returning back from the Last Pilgrimage of the Prophet (year 632, just months before his return to his Beloved Lord), he stopped at a place called Ghadir Khum and delivered a sermon. The statement therein for the sufis is the confirmation of spiritual transmission in the path (leaving aside later politicized history related to it and giving rise of party of Ali, known as shiite e Ali).
Just like Mary Magdalene and Thomas were the recipient of mystical esoteric knowledge of Christ, in Islam Imam Ali, may God ennoble his countenance and bless his soul, was one of the leading companion of the Prophet who received mystical esoteric knowledge from Prophet Muhammad. Thus a number of Sufi lineage goes back to the Prophet through Imam Ali in terms of transmission chain. The statement 'Man Kunto Maula' thus bear an archetypal significance in Islam spirituality where sufis view it as Prophet's public declaration of the transmission and declaring Ali as the bearer of the spiritual transmission. There are other famous saying which confirms high status of Imam Ali such as, "Ana Madinat al-'Ilm wa 'Aliyu Babuha", 'I am the city of gnosis (esoteric knowledge) and 'Ali is its gate'. Imam Ali is known to be a great gnostic who have perfected his realization. One of his gnostic utterances include, "I have seen my Lord with the eyes of my heart."
Thus its seen in history that Imam Ali after the passing of the Prophet was more involved in transmitting the knowledge of truth and silently took up the role of a holy teacher. Maula Ali is considered to have acquired the Prophet’s qualities and attributes when he was transmitted the spiritual baraka. Imam Ali's love, noble emulation and devotion for the Prophet was such that sufi orders like the Chishtiyya considers Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali as two expressions of one same mystical Reality.
This particular Qawwali, Man Kunto Maula is perhaps the most popular Qawwali (author is Amir Khusrau) and if you happen to attend any Qawwali gathering anywhere in Indian Subcontinent, its very likely that this one will be sung for sure among others (its called Manqabat and dedicated to Imam Ali's noble memory). The song praises Imam Ali's bravery on the face of injustice and falsehood - and also praises his high spiritual rank.
Just like Mary Magdalene and Thomas were the recipient of mystical esoteric knowledge of Christ, in Islam Imam Ali, may God ennoble his countenance and bless his soul, was one of the leading companion of the Prophet who received mystical esoteric knowledge from Prophet Muhammad. Thus a number of Sufi lineage goes back to the Prophet through Imam Ali in terms of transmission chain. The statement 'Man Kunto Maula' thus bear an archetypal significance in Islam spirituality where sufis view it as Prophet's public declaration of the transmission and declaring Ali as the bearer of the spiritual transmission. There are other famous saying which confirms high status of Imam Ali such as, "Ana Madinat al-'Ilm wa 'Aliyu Babuha", 'I am the city of gnosis (esoteric knowledge) and 'Ali is its gate'. Imam Ali is known to be a great gnostic who have perfected his realization. One of his gnostic utterances include, "I have seen my Lord with the eyes of my heart."
Thus its seen in history that Imam Ali after the passing of the Prophet was more involved in transmitting the knowledge of truth and silently took up the role of a holy teacher. Maula Ali is considered to have acquired the Prophet’s qualities and attributes when he was transmitted the spiritual baraka. Imam Ali's love, noble emulation and devotion for the Prophet was such that sufi orders like the Chishtiyya considers Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali as two expressions of one same mystical Reality.
This particular Qawwali, Man Kunto Maula is perhaps the most popular Qawwali (author is Amir Khusrau) and if you happen to attend any Qawwali gathering anywhere in Indian Subcontinent, its very likely that this one will be sung for sure among others (its called Manqabat and dedicated to Imam Ali's noble memory). The song praises Imam Ali's bravery on the face of injustice and falsehood - and also praises his high spiritual rank.
Below is its lyrics followed by approximate rendition in English:
Shah-E-Mardaan, Shair-E-Yazdaan,
Qoowwat-E-Parwardigaar,
La Fata illa Ali,
La Saif illa Zulfiqaar
King of the brave, the Lion of God
The Strength for The Lord,
There is none like Ali,
There is no sword like Zulfiqaar
Man Kunto Maula
Fa haza Ali-un Maula
Whoever I am master to,
Ali is his Master too.
(Abstract Sufi Chants follows)
Dara Dil E Dara Dil E Dar E Dani
Hum Tum Tanana Nana, Tana Nana Ray
Om Tum Tanana Nana, Tana Nana Ray
Yalali Yalali ala, Yala Ray
Tanana Tanana Tanana Tanana
Tum Tanana Nana, Tana Nana Ray...
Enter into the heart,
Enter into the heart,
Melt therein, You and me
Sing inside in sweet melody.
Maula Ali Maula
Maula Ali Maula
Master is Ali,
Master is he
Ali Shaah-e MardaaN, Imaam-ul-Kabiira
ke ba’d az Nabii shud Bashiir-un-Naziira
Ali is the king of men, the great spiritual leader,
Cause after the Prophet he became
the bearer of glad tidings and warner for mankind.*
yeh sochna hi abass hae
Kaha haha hae Ali?
Jaha jaha hae haqiqat, uha uha hae Ali
Idhar hae Zaat e Muhammad
Udhar hae Zaat e Khuda
Inhi lateef hijabon key dermayan hai Ali Maula,
Maula Ali Maula Maula Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula
This shall suffice if you realize
at which station is Ali.
Wheresoever inner reality to be found,
there will be found Ali.
There is the mystery of Muhammad,
Here is the mystery of Lord,
and my master Ali is behind these sweet veils.
Her Qalb Ali, Jism Ali, Jaan Ali Hai
Mujh BeSar-O-Samaan Ka Samaan Ali Hai
Imaan keh matalashi yehi imaan keh doon
Iman To Yeh Hai Mera Imaan Ali Hai
Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula
Maula Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula
In every heart is Ali, face is Ali, my life is in Ali
for this poor one, my only possession is Ali.
this I shall tell to the seeker of faith, behold!
my faith is this, that I have my master Ali
Maula Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula.
Qoowwat-E-Parwardigaar,
La Fata illa Ali,
La Saif illa Zulfiqaar
King of the brave, the Lion of God
The Strength for The Lord,
There is none like Ali,
There is no sword like Zulfiqaar
Man Kunto Maula
Fa haza Ali-un Maula
Whoever I am master to,
Ali is his Master too.
(Abstract Sufi Chants follows)
Dara Dil E Dara Dil E Dar E Dani
Hum Tum Tanana Nana, Tana Nana Ray
Om Tum Tanana Nana, Tana Nana Ray
Yalali Yalali ala, Yala Ray
Tanana Tanana Tanana Tanana
Tum Tanana Nana, Tana Nana Ray...
Enter into the heart,
Enter into the heart,
Melt therein, You and me
Sing inside in sweet melody.
Maula Ali Maula
Maula Ali Maula
Master is Ali,
Master is he
Ali Shaah-e MardaaN, Imaam-ul-Kabiira
ke ba’d az Nabii shud Bashiir-un-Naziira
Ali is the king of men, the great spiritual leader,
Cause after the Prophet he became
the bearer of glad tidings and warner for mankind.*
yeh sochna hi abass hae
Kaha haha hae Ali?
Jaha jaha hae haqiqat, uha uha hae Ali
Idhar hae Zaat e Muhammad
Udhar hae Zaat e Khuda
Inhi lateef hijabon key dermayan hai Ali Maula,
Maula Ali Maula Maula Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula
This shall suffice if you realize
at which station is Ali.
Wheresoever inner reality to be found,
there will be found Ali.
There is the mystery of Muhammad,
Here is the mystery of Lord,
and my master Ali is behind these sweet veils.
Her Qalb Ali, Jism Ali, Jaan Ali Hai
Mujh BeSar-O-Samaan Ka Samaan Ali Hai
Imaan keh matalashi yehi imaan keh doon
Iman To Yeh Hai Mera Imaan Ali Hai
Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula
Maula Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula
In every heart is Ali, face is Ali, my life is in Ali
for this poor one, my only possession is Ali.
this I shall tell to the seeker of faith, behold!
my faith is this, that I have my master Ali
Maula Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula.
>. The Qawwali in mp3 audio format (sung by King of Qawwali Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) can be dowloaded from here. (Right click to save)
* Notes: Al-Bashiir ("Bearer of Glad Tidings") and an-Naziir ("the Warner" [for Mankind]) are titles given in the Quran to Prophet Muhammad in Surah Ahzaab (33rd Sura), verse 44: "O Prophet! We have sent you as a Witness, a Bearer of Glad Tidings and a Warner."
This Qawwali song is famously known for its effect on the heart and mind of its listeners, specially when its sung traditionally in the presence of the great saints at their shrines. Qawwali of this nature has a certain quality that often brings spiritual rupture. The psycho-spiritual effect these sufi qawwalis bring are unparalleled. This particular Qawwali often throws people into ecstasy and can be even witnessed in present days at any Qawwali gatherings. Sacred Songs blog shared two such experiences:"I cannot describe in words the impact Nusrat's 'Man Kunto Maula' had on me when I first heard this more than 10 years ago ... how it twirled me like a spinning top, and put me on a path to transformation..."
"I heard 'Man Kunto Maula' first time before 4 years.. It was in the voice of Sabri Brothers, and since then, whenever I listen, I never get satisfied by listening just once.. once its on.. i have to repeat at least few times before i listen anything else.."
May the sacred vibrations of this timeless qawwali open the subtle spiritual centers (lataif, chakra) of yours. May you also partake in this holy intoxication amidst the circle of lovers. Madad ya Maula Ali!
Lyrics and Translation credit
. Man Kunto Maula via Nusrat Info
. With additional Lyrics
The Episode of Ghadir Khum
. Hadith of the Pond of Khumm
. Ghadir Khumm Event via Al-Islam Encyclopedia
. Ghadir e Khumm
. Poetry of Amir Khusro
. World of Tasawwuf
Man Kunto Maula | on Youtube
. Man Kunto Maula - Presentation by Legends
. Abida Parveen *
. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
. Farid Ayaz
. Sabri Brother
. Zila Khan
Experience with Qawwali
. Qawwali at Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi
. High on Sufi Jazz Grooves | An Interview with Brooklyn Qawwali Party via Rock Om
20 comments:
An apt and timely reminder, Brother Sadiq. The music and rendition or words with devotion makes this Qawwali a supernatural spiritual experience. It is truly a confluence of spiritual rivers.
As Hazrat Inayat Khan says 'Beauty of line and colour can go so far and no further; the joy of fragrance can go a little further; but music touches our innermost being and in that way produces new life, a life that gives exaltation to the whole being, raising it to that perfection in which lies the fulfillment of our life.'(Ref. http://www.spiritsound.com/khan3.html)
Thank you for the context and explanation of this great spiritual work. Peace all around.
Atif Aslam and Riaz Ali Khan also covered this song in Coke Studio Season 2 Episode 2 Harmony
Her qulb Ali,jism Ali ,jaan Ali hai ........
yes all ...
light n light n light
Hello, I have been following your blog for a while. I like your blog. May I ask you a question? Is there any sect in Islam that is against the consumption of meat? Also, are there practitioners of Islam who have stopped consuming meat?
there are such enchanted moments that make derwish spin in axes.. and they are triggered by such verses...
Ali Mola ..Mola..
Shubanallah....such an soul nourishing Qawali....
even this song sung by Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali khan brought me to tears....Shahswar e Karbala Ki Sawari
http://shiamultimedia.com/qawwali1.html
YA ALLAH YA ALI MADAD....
Though every way I try
His whim to satisfy,
His every answering word
Is a pointed sword.
See how the blood drips
From His finger-tips;
Why does He find it good
To wash in my blood?
Rumi ( k.s )
When the human heart becomes conscious of God, it becomes like the sea:it extends its waves to friend and foe.
Pir-o _mursheed Hazrat Inayat Khan
got my answer i guess
Dear Brother A. Rahim,
Love the quote from Hz. Inayat Khan. Included it in the post. Blessings.
Faiz,
Thanks for the tips. Downloaded and enjoyed the piece.
Shree, Zahra, Vimesh,
Shukria!
Ananya,
Some sufi groups do encourage avoiding meat, but its not in an institutionalized practice. Quran instruct to eat what is wholesome and good. If some feel vegetable to be only wholesome its perfectly ok to avoid meat.
There are famous sufi saints who were vegetarian. Example includes Rabia from earlier time and Bawa Muhaiyaddeen from contemporary times.
I did post some posts previously on Vegetarianism and Spirituality which you may find useful.
Here are the links:
Can Muslims be Vegetarian?
Vegetarianism and Comparative religons perspective
Vegetarianism and Sufism
Peace!
Sadiq Alam, thank you for your response and the links. I was very curious to know about Prophet Mohammad's ideas about a non-vegetarian diet. Somehow I always felt that He would never support eating the flesh of living beings that have similar anatomy, emotions, needs, and feel pain at being physically mutilated. Why then are such a large number of His followers meat eaters..... what has gone wrong..... My ideas and sensibilities about spirituality is completely based on the principles of ahimsa..... how can anyone achieve God-realization after tarnishing the cells of one's body and the essence of one's soul with the heart wrenching pain and suffering of animals? George Bernard Shaw had rightly said that human beings are the living graves of murdered beings! Anyways, thanks for the links.... one thing is clear that all saints-past and present denounced the murder of animals for food. Yet their followers gloss over this important choice and continue to be the cause of suffering for the millions of animals who are slaughtered every day!
Ananya,
Food of people has always been very much linked to the land and what it produce.
For example. in Tibbet, although they are majority Buddhist, they are not vegetarian. Why? Because in high altitude there are hardly any vegetation you can grow. So they eat animal, animal fat. Also due to very low temperature the body consumes a lot of energy to keep it warm. Vegetarian food is not practical there.
In Arabian desert, similarly there were very little vegetation (now thanks to modern irrigation and import from all over the world that reality has changed). So imagine thousand years or more back, all they had were dates and mostly animal meat and grains. So vegetarian food very much a non-existent concept.
Thus how vegetarianism developed in the land of India could not be practically possible in desert Arabia. For this very reason Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition does not talk about it cause of all of them originated from Prophet and Messengers of Arab deserts.
But regardless of culture of the land and food that was available on dining plate, saints and enlightened beings - they maintained their high reverence for all life.
When people turn into materialistic, they consume everything, including human beings (look at iraq, innocent ppl are consumed so that other can run their car with cheap gas / petrol)), let alone animal or raping the natural resrouce of the planet in that matter.
Saqiq Alam, I am sorry but I think to say “food of people has always been very much linked to the land and what it produce” is only intellectual hogwash. With a change in perspectives, such logic has no grounds. The consciousness of human beings has to ascend to and vibrate at a higher level to “see” and “feel” the pain of animals who are murdered for their food.
Nature/God/Universe has provided tough conditions in certain parts of the earth to simply test the ingenuity of humans—whether they take the easiest course and murder animals for food (Tibet) or use their brains to find a way (your Arabian desert example). With every generation, technological advancements are made—the challenge for mankind is whether technology is used to cause suffering to other living creatures or used to annihilate their suffering and try to redeem at least some of the sins committed in the past.
Why do you forget that all of us are part of the universal consciousness and have God and the Devil in each of us—the question is how much of the other are we willing to give space to? The more we shift to our Godly sensibilities, the higher we ascend in our consciousness. You have yourself said, “But regardless of culture of the land and food that was available on dining plate, saints and enlightened beings - they maintained their high reverence for all life.” Saints are “saints” and enlightened beings are “enlightened” because they have realized a vast majority of Godly sensibilities. Afterall, this is the ultimate nature of our spirits or souls—this is what we will all become thousands of births hence—why not speed up spiritual progress starting in this birth!
I am not sure whether you know about this but this moment there are people committed to the cause of vegetarianism trying to promote a vegetarian diet in the Middle East because they believe, “Nonviolence Begins on Your Plate”!
My friend Ananya,
I very carefully try not to do debate here.
to show "by example about non-violence" and to embody it are far more effective than "talking about non-violence".
else - many things (including historical, anthropological facts) will sound (and feel to the mind) as "intellectual hogwash" and its not healthy for mind too (to assume some one else is trying to hogwash intellectually while he is not is a violence of truth).
if you are talking about life and pain, its already proven plants also have life and they also feel pain. just because they dont have voice, they are mute and they dont drop blood it doesnt mean we are not being violent to them when we kill, cook or eat plants.
to clarify, i dont have problem with vegetarianism and in previous post (link) i did share (hope u read them) but i believe when thousands of human beings are dying every minute in hunger, when in your neighborhood there are hungry and sick homeless people with no help, what we must eat, and must not eat and to debate about it is a vanity. human morality and to do good to others in human society are far more a serious priority than what to eat and what not to.
"There is nothing that enters a man from the outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile him." - was Christ's reply in scrupulous debate on food in his time (jewish nation debated a lot what to eat, when to eat, which day to eat what and what not to eat). that very position is also classic sufi position.
eat what is wholesome and have reverence for all life and be grateful to the Creator for all the bounties that Creator has given on earth for human beings and sentient beings. enjoy what is good, but never be wasteful - is also the principle of Islam.
once again, there is nothing in me that is against vegetarianism and i find it equally unnecessary to debate on this.
when the inner eye is open people will eat consciously, with respect to all sentient beings. we hope and pray for that to all individuals.
In my view being vegetarian or non vegetarian should not be made a main point for any preaching or struggle or creating differences between people. The diet of each one of us is an individual decision and depends on people’s individual growth and level of awareness or “Godly sensibilities” achieved. Each one of us has its own pace of inner growth and development and what really matters is this inner revolution, which is strongly individual. People should not be imposed any ideas from outside which are not a result of their inner growth and understanding achieved. Our common future and the future of our beautiful planet Earth depend on the self realization of each and every human being living on it. No social or political revolution can bring the results which the inner transformation of each one of us can bring, making this planet the Earth a beautiful and joyful place to live. The art of transforming one’s living is called MEDITATION (or SELF REMEMBERING or AWARENESS).
In my view that is the only thing people should be taught how to do. Everything else – the right diet, the right social behavior, etc. will come by itself on its own accord out of the deep understanding achieved through the meditation.
Bismillah ir rahaman ir rahim
I second sister Aliya..
I am nobody and do not have expertise over language and knowledge to get into a debate about pro's and cons of being a non veg...
however on a personal level if a i knew a person was my school principal may his soul rest at his station...he was an fransican missionary and my grandfather May allah bless his soul...was his personal friend....and the principal brother pacificus was a man of god and had a deep spirituality in him and he too used to eat non veg...and i never saw him eating nonveg altered his mind...he was following all the virtues laid down by St francis the patron saint of my school
north indian shamans they eat non veg and they too have deep connection with god,,,even the inuit priest of artic are also people of spirits and they too eat seal meat
if i say that being vegetarian is the only way to reach god i do not know the answer...Hitler and his closest aides were vegetarian and they were responsible for extermination of millions...and even we vegetarians use leather shoes and also most of the medicines have non veg derivatives
However Allah(SWT) is Al-Muqīt the nourisher as such he has provided us with various ways...some eat non veg some eat veg but i dont think it effects our spirituality and goodness if soneone eats non veg
i am sorry if i offended any one by my this views.
Where is the "Reverence for all life", in slaughtering animals unnecessarily for our consumption? Not to mention the concentration camp like abuse, that so many are subjected to prior to that point.
As human beings, we of course need to eat. However, as spiritual beings, we are called to live sensitively, lovingly, wakefully ~ in order that we may live out the most appropriate response to every situation at every moment (a living meditation if you will).
Now whilst plants do indeed respond to the stimuli of being touched, picked, cut . . . , they do not have a nervous system and this is in relation to the so called "pain" they feel and our selective choice of food accordingly, a very significant distinction to be considered herein.
We have to eat. With all the choices before us, what is the kindest, most loving and wakeful response I ask you?
I do not in anyway whatsoever consider these questions to be an expressing of the vanity of those who ask them. For me, they have been integral to my unfolding spiritual life.
Indeed we might be wise not to override facing the issue herein, by drawing our attention to the homeless and hungry. At root, these issues are not separate; indeed they are interconnected. Let us not address one and avoid the other.
For the record, I am vegan.
Furthermore, who will speak out for God's animals that share the resources of this planet with us, if we do not? Who? We stay silent at our own peril.
Several years ago i watched a pbs documentary on wild life in Africa. It showed the whole cycle of hunting and feeding. It was very depressive. A part was about a gang of tiger traps a herd of cows and kill them for feed. Cruelty is part of nature. We can not make tiger eat vegetarian food and save a vegetarian cow. If we are talking about "ahimsa" , just becoming vegetarian is not enough it is our( spiritually conscious vegetarian) responsibility to remove all the cruelty from earth. We have to save all the vegetarian animals like cows from human and other meat eating animals. To do that either we have to wipe out all the meat eating animals or do some magic to make them vegetarian.
--Ahmed
there are both points in favor of consuming animals and also against.
to consume meat produced by huge poultry where animals are grown, raised, over dosed with growth hormone. its inhumane the way they are raised. a chicken raised from its infancy in a small cage with no room to even to move is totally a violation of animal rights. its also against islamic ethics. islam consider such raising of animal utterly cruel and unacceptable, thus are not halal is proper sense.
because of availability of resoures, the 21st century first world nation people dont need to consume any meat. the huge poultry that supply meant for burgers in giant, corporate food stores, mcdonalds are only reaction of human greed out of extra-ordinary greed in all sphere.
on the other hand, its undeniable that in the ecological food chain, human being is the highest and from prehistoric time human depended on animal meat. so it would be impossible to imagine the whole world to become vegetarian all of a sudden. this is not happening soon. infact if all human being start become vegetarian it would not be balanced for ecology. any environmental biologist can do this simple prediction.
just as cows or horses can not expect all lions and tiger will start to eat grass as they do, neither should the lions and tigers can become grass eaters.
there are certain schemes in the nature and what is natural is perfect.
it was natural and is and will be natural for human being to be top of the food chain, they have always been, they will remain.
but the ill practices of stupidly gigantic sized poultry that raise animal like that must stop, but this need to be looked from the animal rights perspective, not for spiritual reason of diet or eat green first world nation styled luxury.
I am 100% Atheist but agree with you on
"Welcome to Your Home!"
dear brother,
u did beautiful job of writing this blog. i loved the track on your homepage of Mohammed Lotfi...please please if you tell me, wts the name of the track, and from where i can download it....?
Regards,
Rishabh
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