Sufism is an age-old lyrical path, which is now captivating the attention of  ‘New Age Gurus’, ‘Seekers’ and the young generation alike. A Sufi is humanity’s most passionate poet and conveys the messages of love and peace through mystical lyrics, music and dance. One of the greatest Sufi poets Rumi said that music is the highest expression of love, and dance is the highest expression of music. Sufism is not the legacy of any religion but a religion in itself as it teaches equality, humanity and harmony and asks us to blend with the flow of life, musically. A Sufi can be a Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh or Zen because when all barriers are broken and the ego is allowed to go away, one begins the dance of dervish, Sema. (Sufi dervish dance)

Sema is a spiritual connection where the dividing lines of different faiths blur, once the spirit begins to move and the restraint and limitations give way to freedom and bliss. In Sema bodies and minds that appeared deadened, numb and incapable of life or love begin to sway to the soft and gentle tune of music, giving way to the movement of mystical exaltation and spiritual enfoldment.

“Dance when you are broken open,

Dance if you have torn the bandage off.

Dance in the middle of the fighting,

Dance in your blood.

Dance when you are perfectly free.”

-Rumi

Sema is the ecstatic aspect of Sufism and is an integral part of a Sufi lifestyle. In this rapturous state of dancing, the Sufi becomes the entranced lover who is unaware of everything but -the Beloved.

“I am happy even before

I have a reason.

I am full of light even before the sky

Can greet the sun or the moon.

Dear companions,

We have been in love with God

For so very, very, long.

What can Hafiz now do but

Forever dance!”

-Hafiz

The practice of Sufism is also called Tariqat, which is the Arabic word for ‘way towards the spiritual path’. It enables us to get in touch with our real self and helps us to recognize the transcendence of our own being. To rejoice, in our own true nature.

“I wish I could show you

When you are lonely

Or in darkness,

The astonishing light

Of your own being.”

-Hafiz.

The Sufi way of greeting is a slight bowing down with one hand on the heart. It suggests that when one is in love, one cannot but help touch his aching heart. The heart of a Sufi yearns for the beloved; it is but natural that he keeps his hand on his heart.

It also implies that my heart is open for you. I accept you just as you are; because Sufism is about the selfless experience and intention of moving towards a higher self, surcharged with love and devotion.

“If you are not one with the Beloved

Seek!

And if you are in Union

Rejoice!”

-Rumi.

In today’s adrenaline charged world where much of humanity lies battered and brutalized in the harsh glare of “I against you”, Sufism teaches the art of acceptance, submission, egalitarianism, peace and serenity. It is about shutting out the brain, releasing the mauling ‘Me’ inside us, and opening up the heart in surrender to the cosmos with a selfless love and purity of heart. To understand this absolute surrender to music and art, one must watch the dance of whirling dervish, Sema. The dervish gets into such a trance while dancing to the mystical music that he becomes oblivious to his surroundings and could dance for hours without a single break.

“I tried to give you up

And live without the pain of longing.

I tried to be empty of all passion for you.

I failed.

Now, I know my master

Had I been a real man

I should have never tried.”

-Rumi.

The story of the French rapper Abd al Malik is the perfect example of how music has the power of transformation and how Sufi music changed him from living a violent life of a thief and drug dealer to one of France’s most successful rapper. Having grown up in the xenophobic society where racial discrimination was wide spread like an infectious disease, he channeled his anger into music and his music became an authentic call for tolerance and humanity in the discordant atmosphere of hatred and racism. From being a drug dealer and car thief, to rap star and finally to Sufi mystic was a phenomenal journey of inspiration and faith. He found answers in the contemplative and mystical Sufism to escape from a grim life of deceit and crime.  After being introduced to Sufism, he left behind his hard-core rap roots, and began to collaborate with a range of musicians to develop a new sound that mixes jazz, chanson, and the aesthetic of slam poetry.

In his autobiography entitled, Sufi Rapper he says, “ In music as in life, I decided…to simply translate the language of the heart.”

Needless to say that Sufi music and poetry speaks the language of heart too.

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