What is Sufi Music? (The Sound of Islamic Mysticism)

In this episode, we finally dive into one of my favorite topics - Sufi Music. We discuss its history, practical uses as well as theoretical, philosophical perspectives on the role and power of music to affect the human soul, all from the perspective of Muslim Sufi writers.
Thank you again to Mosa'ab Elshamy for kindy allowing me to use his footage. Check out more of his work on his official website:
www.mosaabelshamy.com/
Sources/Suggested Reading:
Abu Nasr Abdallah b. Ali al-Sarraj al-Tusi - "Kitab al-Luma' fi al-Tasawwuf". Translated & summarized by Reynold A. Nicholson. E.J. Brill. 1914.
Adamson, Peter (ed.) (2005). "The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy". Cambridge University Press.
Addas, Claude (1993). "Quest for the Red Sulphur: The Life of Ibn 'Arabi". The Islamic Texts Society.
"Al-Qushayri's Epistle on Sufism - Al-Risala Al Qushayriyya Fi 'ilm Al-Tasawwuf". Translated by Alexander Knysh. 2020. The Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization.
Alvarez, Lourdes Maria (2009). "Abu-l Hasan al-Shushtari: Songs of Love and Devotion".
In the "Classics of Western Spirituality" series. Paulist Press.
Alvarez, Lourdes Maria (2005). "The Mystical Language of Everyday Life": Vernacular Sufi Poetry and the Songs of Abu Al-Hasan Al-Shustari". Exemplaria. 17:1, 1-32, DOI: 10.1179/exm.2005.17.1.1.
Avery, Kenneth S. (2004). "A Psychology of Early Sufi Sama: Listening and altered states". Routledge.
Chishti, Muhammad Tanveer Jamal & Dr. Abdul Zahoor Khan (2015). "Approaches of The Early Sufis From 10th Century to 12th Century Towards 'SAMA'". Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. 6, 5:51.
Cornell, Vincent J. (transl.) (1996). "The Way of Abu Madyan: The Works of Abu Madyan Shu'ayb". The Islamic Texts Society.
Ernst, Carl W. & Bruce B. Lawrence (2003). "Sufi Martyrs of Love: The Chishti Order in South Asia and beyond". Palgrave Macmillan.
Hammarlund, Anders; Tord Olsson & Elisabeth Özdalga (1997). "Sufism, Music and Society - In Turkey and the Middle East". Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul. Transactions Vol. 10.
Homerin, Th. Emil (2011). "Passion Before Me, My Fate Behind: Ibn al-Farid And the Poetry of Recollection". SUNY Press.
Homerin, Th. Emil (2001). "From Arab Poet to Muslim Saint: Ibn al-Farid, His Verse, and His Shrine". The American University in Cairo Press.
Ibn Sina - "A Treatise on Love". Translated by Emil L. Fackenheim. Medieval Studies.
Khan, Inayat (1991). "The Mysticism of Sound and Music". Revised Edition. Shambala Dragon Editions.
Lewis, Franklin D. (2000). "Rumi: Past and Present, East and West". Oneworld publications.
Ibn 'Arabi - "The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam)". Translation by Caner K. Dagli. Great Books of the Islamic World.
Qureshi, Regula Burckhardt (1995). "Sufi Music of India and Pakistan: Sound, Context and Meaning in Qawwali". The University of Chicago Press.
Ridgeon, Lloyd (ed.) (2015). "The Cambridge Companion to Sufism". Cambridge University Press.
Shehadi, Fadlou (1995). "Philosophies of Music in Medieval Islam". E.J. Brill.
Wright, Owen (translated and edited by) (2010). "Epistles of the Brethren of Purity: On Music. An Arabic Critical Edition and English Translation of Epistle 5. Oxford University Press.
#Sufism #Music #Islam

[@lemonbalm3781]

fun fact - سمع (sama'a) comes from the same root as שמע (shem'a), sīn mem ayin, both fundamentally meaning "hear" or "listen." it's wonderful to learn that this word سمع has such an important place in islam when שמע is one of the most important words in judaism, and listening to the shema is one of our holiest practices. the parallels between judaism and islam are so cool. love your work as usual!

[@saberalsibai1426]

Muslims and Jews have a lot of common besides the politics and conflicts. And arabs and jews too are cousins, we came from Sem رضي الله عنه

[@jdub2378]

Arabic is a little sister language from big brother Hebrew. That’s why there’s a similarity.

[@tkgawa]

That is the root of my name: Semein.

[@ahmedirfansamad]

Jews consider prophet Ismail as an illegitimate and wicked son of father Ibrahim, Jews here will explain it, but the point is he is speaking about the word root, if he can't accept the root of Arab, It's vague to care about the parallel of Judaism and Islam.

[@binderchannel9454]

You may also wonder hearing that in Quran the emphasis on hearing is more than seeing. In several verses, God says: ؛Indeed Allah is all-hearing, all-seeing؛ (e.g. Hadj, 75) hearing is brought ahead of seeing.

[@madmadam6200]

Amazing 😍👌 I'm Iranian, and sadly, here religion has been sort of purged of music😔 so seeing your videos on relationships between religion and music, spirituality, etc has been really educational and inspiring❤️ Keep up the great work, love from Iran 🇮🇷🕊️❤️

[@andythedishwasher1117]

When you quoted Ibn Arabi's position regarding Sama'a and its potential for abuse by villainous types for their own financial and political gain, I was immediately reminded of my experience with the Christian music scene in my youth here in the US around the early 2000s. They could create some pretty interesting altered states for large crowds of kids, but the ultimate result in many cases seemed to be that they now had an army of kids who would do what they said as long as they referenced it back to those altered states. Whatever the nature of music's power, I'm forced to concede that it can be used for evil in my experience.

[@He.knows.nothing]

Particularly in protestant culture, contemporary music is used to explicitly manipulate the emotions of the congregation to break them down into an emotionally vulnerable state such that the pastor's message is felt internally as though they experience a manufactured sense of salvation

[@MrMikkyn]

Sounds the same as Hare Krishna ISKCON Kirtan Music. It is hypnotic, induces altered states of consciousness, and creates states of ecstatic devotion. But when combined with organised religion, business acumen, political motives, entrepreneurialism, commercialism, corruption and managerialism, it can be used for evil purposes. Everything is referenced back to that altered state, if people are devoted to their God Krishna, the sayings of their guru and their particular satsang community of religious individuals, then that is all that matters. And their attitudes and behaviours towards outsiders can be as evil and decetive as they like as long as it can reinforce their own religious identity and solidify their belief system. So harassment, bullying, violence, gaslighting, guilt tripping and psychological manipulation can be used against people who disagree with their ideologies and speak out against them.

[@goodfriendraf2388]

only tangentially related to your comment but is someone in here gonna talk about mewithoutyou, the best christian/sufi crossover band to do it?

[@andythedishwasher1117]

@@He.knows.nothing I just watched an episode of Esoterica where Justin Sledge talked about Austin Osman Spare's approach to mysticism. He described a technique, which I've personally used to fascinating effect, that involves inducing a kind of "stack overflow" in your nervous system of the same sort that hackers induce to create a back door for inserting foreign code into a system's memory. It's my belief that religious rituals of many varieties are aimed at a similar function, whether the mechanism is fully understood by the practitioners or not. In my experience, when the mechanism is not understood, the practice becomes quite dangerous and externally exploitable.

[@He.knows.nothing]

@@andythedishwasher1117 I definitely agree. I shared a similar experience to you and although I do see and appreciate the enormous potential to insight transformation, I take issue with those who maintain a sphere of ignorance around exactly what is inciting the effect, especially if they are doing it with intention.

[@-ahmedhaitham]

This is so good, I want to show it to my father and I wish if it had Arabic subtitles. Please consider adding subtitles so you can reach a WAY bigger audience.. an audience that is meant to see this!

[@Trp44]

Yes and Thank You for your hard work producing such content for free…can I send you some money?

[@lawrencek1900]

@@Trp44 There is a 'Thanks' option on the third row under the video, he also has a patron site

[@zenclover8468]

The fact that you combined your ideas into one cohesive title that is clearly the most effective is both rewarding to watch and participate in, but also kind of hilarious in some weird way.

[@dairyqueue]

Agreed

[@abrahamcollier]

Just another demonstration of the genius of this channel.

[@MrMikkyn]

Why hilarious?

[@abrahamcollier]

@@MrMikkyn Watching Filip's clever mind at work often brings a smile to my face. Hilarious in the way that beauty can sometimes make you laugh for joy.

[@mohammadreaz5372]

🛑🛑🛑The biggest deception🛑🛑🛑 The Most Important Videos are "Beware of Angels" And "Charmed by Darkness", See them Now on KZbin !!!

[@zahrabahjawi867]

This was beautiful. Sufi practices like Sama' can be used as a means or as an end, and according to Ibn Arabi's Unity of Being, both at the same time. The closer you get to truth, the more oxymorons you face, and one learns to see that as indicative of a path worth exploring.

[@rizj]

Yes amazing. I love it that sufism isn't black and white like for example the salafi creeds claim. Love the sufi path we all travel together. Some caravans travel slow, some quicker but the destination is the same.

[@rodneywarr4873]

Bida

[@mohammadreaz5372]

🛑🛑🛑The biggest deception🛑🛑🛑 The Most Important Videos are "Beware of Angels" And "Charmed by Darkness", See them Now on KZbin !!!

[@Nedwin]

Aqeedah-->fiqh-->thareeqah-->constantly practiced-->Unity of being.

[@Nedwin]

@@rodneywarr4873 Al Imam Asy Syafi'i once said that there are two bid'ah; bid'ah mahmudah/hasanah and bid'ah madzmumah. This one might be bid'ah mahmudah.

[@usmang5542]

I an an avid follower. This channel is like none other and has earned a special place that cannot be measured by Views or Likes. It is becoming an ocean that has the rare quality of depth as much as the sparkly shallows. I'm patiently waiting for the the next level of discussion: What is the purpose of religion? Kudos

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Very kind of you!

[@rajesh_shenoy]

That's in the realm of *Cognitive Science of Religion*. Not sure this channel would cover such a deeply scientific topic.

[@usmang5542]

@@rajesh_shenoy I humbly refuse to give science a monopoly on reason.

[@rajesh_shenoy]

@@usmang5542 That's your prerogative.

[@lemonbalm3781]

depending on the cultural context there are a lot of anthropologists who cover this question! a good place to start would be functionalist anthropology of religion

[@syrinetrabelsi3183]

Sufi music is still very popular in my country Tunisia , its no longer a practice but an important part of our heritage, every Tunisian however how religious or pious or on the contrary even atheist , cant help but give UP and enter in that ecstatic mood listening to Tunisian sufi music. It even Plays a colossal part in mariage ceremonies , i really Want to introduce you all to Tunisian sufi music , blessings 🇹🇳

[@comrad011]

The quality of this channel is astounding ! Thank you so much for the effort you put in all of these videos

[@HasanNassrallah]

Thank you so much for another amazing and well researched topic. Your love of music comes through. Learning to play the Oad, very soothing instrument indeed.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Lovely! Good luck on your journey of learning the instrument!

[@mohammadreaz5372]

🛑🛑🛑The biggest deception🛑🛑🛑 The Most Important Videos are "Beware of Angels" And "Charmed by Darkness", See them Now on KZbin !!!

[@alaahamza62]

we should take a moment and appreciate all this amazing videos, we all know how much takes times to bring all this wide information to make this precious content, thank you

[@mglaffin3907]

I owe my deepest gratitude to both your channel and ESOTERICA for helping influence me to major in my current major, which means i will learn about many different cultures. All the best to you and your channel Filip, you’re doing great work here!

[@letssmile5031]

Very profound research video. This was so interesting and informative and the perspectives and views of RUMI and Ibn-al-arabi made it more beautiful with deep knowledge and understanding. I appreciate your effort and hard work you put in to this video. 👏🏻💙

[@laststorm7726]

This is great. Philip, you have helped learn a lot of my own religion and drove my to learn on my own time. thank you so much.

[@justinbirkholz7814]

Another great video! I was so happy to see you mention Hazrat Inayat Khan and The Mysticism of Sound and Music! It's a fascinating book.

[@varuanda]

Your research game is unbeatable. Love the subject and you my friend are truly a YT gem!

[@sariahmarier42]

For six months post concussion, I could percieve the nature, quality, resonance, frequency, depth and tone of Everything I could see. All color took on sound, a kind of transparent life force resonance which I could both see and hear simultaneously. (*Synesthesia) Even now I can sometimes hear the landscape like a multitude of symphonies playing in perfect harmony at a million times our average musical speed. Notes upon notes layered three dimensionally into colorful songs and each song: a flower or person, a blade of grass or tree. And all serenading one another, influencing one another, being one HUGE symphony and becoming time itself. (*String Theory)

[@sariahmarier42]

@@jayrober4834 For years is was continous, now it's occasional. I concentrate like you would with any background music playing, although it does frequently take precedence over other stimuli. It certainly changed the way I perceive people because each individual has their own sound/song resonating at any given time. And it's changed my perception of reality because nothing is ever out of tune, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, angry like heavy metal, sometimes lighthearted, sometimes slow and dull, but never out of tune. Certain cities sing their own tunes, and certain landscapes. A soundtrack to life made of life. It's nifty.

[@AlineInGreen]

Excellent video!! I just wanted to add an example of modern day sufi music: the incredibly popular song about AbdulKader Al Jilani entitled "AbdulKader" by Cheb Khaled, Faudel, and Rachid Taha. A lot of people, mostly in non-maghribi countries, listen to it and sing along without knowing the Sufi nature of the lyrics.

[@crvlegal]

Your videos reflect how deeply in love you're with the subjects you talk about. This video was a real trip for me, loved how you put in to words the spiritual potential great music have. Thanks

[@marin4311]

I encountered a small group and have been practising a few Sama sessions in the South of France recently, and your video gives some deep and interesting information and context on this spiritual practice. The music played during these sessions of Sama is deep and incredible. Thank for providing us all this information. Your channel is a pure gem.

[@Delhi_Sultan]

Another very interesting and enlightening video! Thank you for showing a very important part of Islamic spirituality that is often either deeply misunderstood or even ignored. This video does a great job showing the creativity of Islamic culture.

[@philesq9595]

Excellent video, brother. I always learn so much from your content. May God bless you with success and happiness for all your efforts.

[@MollySato]

I’m so happy to have found your channel, you’re a true goldmine, Filip!! Tack!! 🤗🌷🤗

[@eloujtimereaver4504]

I find it interesting how many religions seek ego annihilation, but deny other intoxicants that can make that process easier.

[@FatumaFarah-pv8xm]

It's funny

[@wwondertwin]

I'm not necessarily against them but: Why should it be easy? Fast track solutions rarely teach people the same way as the real solution. You can train a muscle by working it or giving it electrical pulses, but the latter can't replace the former in real world applications.

[@JeremydePrisco]

So glad that you didn't leave out Inayat Khan. That is actually where my journey into all of this started. Loved this video. So good!

[@headphone40]

Dear Filip, you really outdid yourself in the latter part of this wonderful composition of Sufi Music. You inspired me and uplifted my heart with your poetic and eloquent explanation. God bless you, preserve and increase your good work!

[@SeekersofUnity]

This is huge. Can’t wait.

[@jmiller1918]

Impressive bibliography! Thank you for your research and presentation.

[@tcl5853]

Wow, I enjoyed the video. The way I think about the relationship between the divine, music and human beings will never be the same. Thanks!

[@jacobbernard1393]

This is a wonderful video; thank you for sharing it with us. Your pronunciation of Arabic is beautiful.

[@kevin71127]

I just discovered this channel and I'm so stoked. Amazing content.

[@charesshlarraga7420]

Love the topic, very informative and interesting, thank you for sharing! Hope you get the time to do more on this topic and on Sufism in general.

[@issa9732]

Monumental Effort Filip! Great thank you for putting this together, The Theory part sent shivers down my spine. Would’ve been great if you included an example of a traditional Smaa’ session. Nonetheless phenomenal video.

[@sadiyazh]

You beautifully captured an ocean in a cup! Amazing work indeed!! Thank you!

[@heanjie]

I have been waiting 30 years for this video. Many thanks!

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

I was NOT expecting the spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical conceptions of music by Sufi thinkers to be so in tune (wink) with my own ideas and feelings. Truly a wonderful video you've given us here. Thank you so much!

[@emmcee662]

Beautifully presented and very informative. Thank you!

[@echols108]

I fell in love with the music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the mid-90s. I had tickets to see him but unfortunately he passed away shortly before I was able to see his performance.

[@AskForTruth]

I have been so impressed with your many videos on famous Sufis and their belief in the Unity of Being and poetry. Watching this to learn about Sufi music as well.

[@HiDesert004]

I saw Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan live. It was amazing.

[@umarahmad9381]

What I love most about catching the premier for each video is listening to the countdown music.

[@archi066]

Thank you so much for sharing these value information and I sending a lot of love and good vibration in your way bro

[@musamusashi]

The concepts explained in part 2, are not dissimilar from how great composers from very different traditions, from Bach to Coltrane, would visualise the role of music and musicians. As a musician who is also a Muslim, i am so appalled by the narrow minded and illogical, when not plainy stupid, arguments against music so prevalent in some Islamic quarters these days. Thanks for one more great video!

[@kassimtufail9061]

You’re amazing very nice detailed research 🔬 right on the spot your work almost covered everything any one need to know about Soofie music and soofi Islam I am personally very impressed very nice informative research 🧐 of yours!👏🏻

[@StevenLee-nn6sn]

dude your voice is just perfect for this. you're such a good narrator.

[@nataliekazful]

This was a wonderful video, especially the second part on theory. It was a joy to listen to and a sama3 of sorts.

[@ace1234LIVE]

Thank you so much for this video. I am fascinated by qawwali and you did an excellent job presenting the spiritual ideas associated.

[@Cobaltblueprism]

An amazing video. My favorite of this channel this far.

[@kuroazrem5376]

I literaly had to pause the video to listen to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan because the topic just inspired his music into my head and I knew it wouldn't stop until I listened to it. Thanks for that!

[@ArunSaha9]

This guy has got everything covered! You think of any topic and boom it’s there! Pure Genius!

[@potoole]

Absolutely love your contributions and your videos. Thank you so much.

[@elaschannel942]

Loved this video so much. A lot of the theoretical ideas you outlined about the relationship between music and the divine reminded me of Hinduism. I would love if you could do an episode on Indian Classical Music and its relationship to spirituality/bhakti. Carnatic music and Hindustani music

[@aleemqureshi8560]

Simply, a great scholar. His facial expressions are the testimonial of the indepthness of the subject knowledge he takes upon.

[@deepquake9]

So happy to catch this 🥰

[@nicolesawyer-jm6ir]

Love love love this !!! More please. Thank you !

[@PascalDavidoff]

Amazing job! Thank you for your effort!

[@UlyssesJonah]

This is now my favourite video on KZbin. Thank you.

[@lindachandler6986]

So when do you play and sing and dance? Amazing scholarship, as expected, but when can we get the cd?

[@linaalqassab8049]

I've been following this channel for a while and it's very interesting and informative. I haven't come across many western scholars who can academically tell the untold part of the Islamic and middle eastern culture. If you ever come to Damascus, I'd love to have a coffee with you :)

[@noahdanielg]

Hazrat Inayat showed up right at the end! First person I think of when thinking about "Sufi Music". Interestingly enough he is much more famous where I live in the Netherlands than internationally.

[@c.a.t.732]

A small volume of his writings entitled "Music" by "Sufi Inayat Khan" that I came upon in the early 1970s set me on a lifelong musical journey, for which I am very grateful... it still sits on my book shelf today.

[@RodgerHuse-bq1pr]

I love the content you create. Thank you.

[@Kkinder-zy4ui]

Passed really quickly for me- felt like 10 minutes long. Very enjoyable video thank you.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Glad to hear it!

[@africanhistory]

Downright AMAZING! one of your best pieces to date. I almost thought you were going to discuss this entire thing and leave off Sub- Africa. Boy, did you do it justice when you started talking about the Kora and Baba Mal. The strongest traditional African music traditions dating back to 11th century come out of the sufi music tradition. Most people continue to divorce Islam and Africa which is akin to talking about Western classic music and leaving of Bach and Mozart.

[@odlani]

Thank you for your excellent content.

[@barefootarts737]

This is a wonderful subject, and very well articulated. I would listen to 20 more of these talks. Immense subject spanning into prehistory. Sufism is a good example of how to preserve culture and memory in the face of Fundamentalism. Here in the US we have Fundamentalism to thank for a wealth of knowledge on this subject. Ironic broadcast of wisdom.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Glad you liked it!

[@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl]

You do realize that sufism is considered part of the fundamentals of Islam right?

[@barefootarts737]

@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl Fundamentalism has a very specific context in the way that I'm using it. And has nothing to do with what you're talking about.

[@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl]

@@barefootarts737 the context you are talking about comes from a Christian European context. Which has nothing to do with an Islamic context

[@barefootarts737]

@@MohamedRamadan-qi4hl Islam certainly has fundamentalists, just like any Hierarchy has its thugs. If you have a question that would help you understand the context please bring it here. An agreement on terminology is necessary before any conversation even begins. So far you and I have nothing together. What would you like to do?

[@mattisvov]

I cannot in words express how profoundly beautiful and beautifully profound this is.

[@jenna2431]

Western science is just learning about the influence of music on the human brain and mind....which these other cultures have long understood. Visual and auditory treat, the video. Thank you.

[@esotericbullshit4542]

Hey brother, I think I posted this a little while ago but still would love to see a video on the Mouride Sufi order of Senegal (and in particular the subject known as the Baye Fall who are allowed to violate Islamic taboos on drinking and smoking) -- I've seen your video on the Tijaniyyah, and that was wonderful but as someone who's spent a little time in Senegal a couple years ago I think the world deserves to know more about this very fascinating Islamic sect and I feel you will undoubtedly do it justice. Just a thought, always love your videos!

[@diarrasarr7595]

I went to bed with dikhr being sang every night during ramadan and every Friday to this day. It's a lulluby in my neighberhood in senegal. When I asked if I could join the Tidiane sufi order in senegal, they said I need to be given the Word and a prayer bead from another to join. I know people who would allow me to join but it seems formal but I just want to join because ecstatic, a selfish reason. Thanks for such an informative video!

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Excellent video. Very interesting, informative and worthwhile video. Sufi music is very beautiful.

[@kuroazrem5376]

I didn't know Sufi rock existed until today thanks to your video. Thanks a lot Filip for such an amazigh finding.

[@thespasm86]

Loved this video. I occasionally go to sufi-like "concert" by a commercial Singer called Ahmad Hawili. Although not entirely authentic, it is as close I can get as possible to the local Sufi scene in my area, and I do enjoy the performances.

[@Blady99]

40:53 “music is a lot like love, it’s all a feeling, and it fills the room from the floor to the ceiling” -ICP “Miracles”

[@ww-bp9el]

I'm not a student of religion, but have found that music creates a feeling of connection and peace in myself. Have found music from that part of our world that has in its creation the intention of allowing me feel allowed and open to spiritual expression of love, thru language I don't understand. This is real beauty, only possible thru music.

[@salvas7376]

This was well done. Very well instructed and part 2 was enticing… very Sufi. I am feeling inspired. I guess you can say I feel God.

[@davidcheater4239]

wonderful video as always.

[@Catonius]

These guys like music almost as much as I. Another excellent video, cheers bud. takk, hej.

[@nitinrege7060]

Very informative. You must include modern musicians like AR Rehman or Shankar, Ehsaan Loy who has given so many numbers based on Sufi music which has helped its popularity worldwide especially among Indian / Asians.

[@rizj]

Excellent video. Filip I have a few possible requests as they are fresh in my mind for topics to cover. Since the ongoing unrest in the world sadly, would it be possible to cover eschatology of non-Abrahamic religions? I am intrigued on their take of the end-times. Maybe Buddhism, Hinduism eschatology would be interesting. I just want to see if there is any correlation with the Abrahamic faiths. Also, maybe your music that you make could be inspired by Sufi Music? Artists such as Al Firdaus Ensemble. :) Love your work, thanks!

[@idkkidkk4059]

Thank you so much for the work and value you put into these videos Can you do a video about music in the Christian world or music in any relegion

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Would love to follow up on this by exploring the music of other religions as well!

[@lemonbalm3781]

@@LetsTalkReligion re: the comment i left above, it could be cool to look at the similar controversies around music in the jewish world, especially looking at the regions with muslim and jewish cultural overlap.

[@irbis_rosh]

I am halfway through the video and what a journey it has been! Thank you a thousand times over for all of your academic and media work. I cannot help but wonder if you have plans to make videos exploring the "fringe Sufi" mystical groups such as Alevi, Yazidi and Yarsani. All 3, in my belief, put a lot of emphasis on the practices such as samaa and musical performance.

[@egomaniac7230]

He's already done a video on the Yazidis, I believe.

[@sherreerichardson623]

I'm so excited for this topic. I love the Sufi music

[@zccau2316]

No such thing. It’s mainly poetry

[@merlinx8703]

@@zccau2316 ever heard of Qawwali

[@ZathrasParadox]

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan became one of my favorite Qawwali artists since a friend introduced me to him a few years before he died in 1997 when he was visiting my friend for a few days.

[@charlesrat3703]

Great title.

[@Nedwin]

Hi, I've been into playing music for years. I play guitar, keys, and drum. I am the listener of many of your content but this one might be my fave. Anyway the notes of do re mi fa sol la si may come from Arabic writing: dal ra mim fa' sadh lam tseen. Nice review as usual bro. 👍

[@YogiMcCaw]

You hit what we Americans would call a "home run" with this video. As a western musician and mystic who has travelled in the east and experienced different forms of meditation, this video helps describe some of what that is all about. The Qushayri quote at 12:11 pretty much nails it. That quote brings together meditation, ecstasy, music and silence into a single experience.

[@bayareaconsult4115]

Excellent analysis thank you 🙏, I would add that Sufism music excised before Islam and all religion and we can see that in the chants of Jews, Catholics and Greek orthodox

[@meppelfood]

Great soufi from pakistan wasif Ali wasif in moderne history. Writer of many books. I sages to you look/read his staf. Thanks for bringing a lot of knowledge.

[@TheAlex008k]

Great video as always. Request; What about a video explaining the book Safinat Al-najat (سفينة النجاة) thanks

[@amineroula]

3 yeara ago i had a enlightenment happened to me your video gave me a lot of insights into what happened to me, i will look into the books and poets you spoke about, i hope i will understand

[@tehreemazmat2929]

I am still my mind-blown by how J.R.R Tolkien's opening of the Silmarillion is centuries of Sufism summed up on two pages.

[@alifaizify]

well done bro.. u r doing a exelent work @ research.

[@farrahyasser1723]

great video as always

[@sulaimantariq907]

Hi Filip, Why not a video on the 4 madhabs? Their brief history, their differences in usul, major differences in legal opinions and key thinkers. Can’t wait, Sulaiman

[@aamirbatatawala3041]

while the idea is very fascinating but you should do your own research (if you have the means),it would be better that a youtube video. p.s no offence to the creator of this channel, he is doing amazing work

[@peace-1712]

Love the breakdown ❤

[@naeemze]

❤ from Pakistan Filip. Even i never knew the facts living in the region where Sufi music is everywhere.

[@cogtomusic4495]

The story of the beautiful secret got me teared up..thank you sir

[@farhanahmed2508]

Yeeeee I'm third Excited for this one

[@JacobBigYankee]

The video came out great!

[@superd96]

Great Video - Thank you !

[@spreadthetruth4935]

Very interesting video I’m Mouhamed from Senegal’ I like the subject you talking about’ just adding a few thing that to listen music you have to reach such a high spritual level because the sound reminds you the حضرة الالهية songs for example as you know all planets had its songs I think nasa discovered that That’s why when the Sufi who reach on that level they even cry when they listen because it’s not giving them physically pleasure but spritual’ and basically tassafouf is علم الذوق knowledge of test That’s why we do suluk to get فتح meaning spritual opening ‘ I would like to get in touch with you if you don’t mind please thanks again for your work 🙏🏿