About

As the Sheikh notes, "the Muslim world is a world of music", and so it is of no surprise that Sheikh Abdal Hakim follows in a long line of scholars and awliya who have used this arguably universal mode of cultural expression to worship Allah. "Perhaps it is in music, more than in any other cultural form, that Islam expresses its universalism and its celebration of cultural difference. As the Holy Koran says: 'And of God's signs is the way heaven and earth are created, and the diversity of your tongues and your colours,' (30:22)".

Through projects and sites like Britishmuslimsong, which we would strongly urge you all to visit, the Sheikh has worked hard at re-integrating this almost primordial form of ibada back into our daily lives as worshippers. We hope that through this section of the website we can in some small way help in this enjoyable task. Where possible we have included notes and translations of the songs and hymns to give some background information. Currently we will just be posting songs sung or arranged by the Sheikh but insha-Allah as we develop we can include those that come from around the Muslim world. All audio is sung acapella or with a daff (drum) unless otherwise specified.

"Everywhere, Muslims have used music as a medium to express their joy in their faith": we hope you will enjoy these offerings as much as we do, and pray that they draw you closer in proximity to Allah the most high.

All quotations above taken from the introduction to 'Muslim Songs of The British Isles'.

The image is of Hadrami singers reciting qasaid in a gathering held just outside Tarim, Hadramawt in Yemen (2006). Image taken by the CKETC team.