*Sweete Sounds* مع الله Ma Allah (With Allah) أنشودة لمحمد العزاوي

Assalamu aleikum,

This is a great nasheed, this version especially (By Muhammad Al-'Azawi with minimal/no vocalizations). Just a note, the images used by this TV channel don't match the words much. I'll translate the first few verses now (with hopes for a complete translation and follow-up!). *Edit: more verses added! Hopefully correct.
*Update #2: Arabic lyrics added! View lyrics (poetry) in Arabic >>

مع الله

مع الله في القلب لما انكسر .... مع الله في الدمع لما انهمر
مع الله في التوب رغم الهوى .... مع الله في الذنب لما استتر
مع الله في الروح فوق السما .... مع الله في الجسم لما عثر
مع الله في الروح فوق السما .... مع الله في الجسم لما عثر
ينادي يناجي .. أيا خالقي .... عثرت .. زللت .. فأين المفر
مع الله في نسمات الصباح .... وعند المساء في ظلال القمر
مع الله في يقظة في البكور .... مع الله في النوم بعد السهر
مع الله فجرا .. مع الله ظهرا .... مع الله عصرا .. وعند السحر
مع الله سرا .. مع الله جهرا .... وحين نجد .. وحين السمر
مع الله عند .. رجوع الغريب .... ولقيا الأحبة .. بعد السفر
مع الله في .. عبرة النادمين .... مع الله في العبرات الأخر
تبوح وتخبر..عن سرها .... وفي طهرها يستحم القمر
مع الله في جاريات الرياح .... تثيرالسحاب فيهمي المطر
فتصحو الحياة ويربو النبات .... وتزهو الزهور.. ويحلو السمر
مع الله في الجرح لما انمحى .... مع الله في العظم لما انجبر
مع الله في الكرب لما انجلى .... مع الله في الهم لما اندثر
مع الله في .. سكنات الفؤاد .... وتسليمه بالقضاء والقدر
مع الله في عزمات الجهاد .... تقود الأسود .. إلى من كفر
مع الله عند التحام الصفوف .... وعند الثبات .. وبعد الظفر
مع الله حين يثور الضمير .... وتصحو البصيرة يصحو البصر
وعند الركوع .. وعند الخشوع .... وعند الصفا حين تتلى السور
مع الله قبل انبثاق الحياة .... وبعد الممات .. وتحت الحفر
مع الله حين نجوز الصراط .... نلوذ .. نعوذ .. به من سقر
مع الله في سدرة المنتهى .... مع الله حين يطــيب النظر

View my crude translation>>

With Allah, in the heart when it had broken
With Allah, in the tears when they ______(*Edit: mistaken word! Will look it up.)
With Allah, in repentence despite desires [which had been followed]
With Allah, in sins when they were concealed
With Allah, in the soul over the heights
With Allah, in the body when it stumbles

With Allah, in the soul over the heights
With Allah, in the body when it stumbles

Calling out, calling out: "Oh my Creator!
I have stumbled, tripped [into error]," then where is the refuge

With Allah in the breezes of the morn
And in the evening, in the darknesses of the moon
With Allah, in an early awakening
With Allah, in sleep after waking

With Allah at dawn
With Allah at noon
With Allah in the afternoon
and the time before dawn.

InshaAllah, correct me if I'm wrong - all mistakes are mine!

*Sweete Sounds* Nursery Rhymes and Songs

Assalamu aleikum,

I am fond of children's songs and nursery rhymes: I see them as a wonderful early form of expression that can aid development in multiple ways, as well as serving as a very accessible educational tool. Plus, they're fun!

I grew up on English nursery rhymes. These can now seem dated and have lost some of their relevance, but they can be nice to read over if you're interested, if only for the historical significance. You can view one of the earliest texts, the Halliwell "Nursery Rhymes of England" (1846) here, courtesy of Presscom: http://www.presscom.co.uk/nursery.html

You can find various Arabic songs for kids at http://www.enshad.net/kids/. If you're looking for unaccompanied songs, I recommend the حـديقة الأخـلاق (Garden of Character) series; the songs are mostly sung by فـوزي الـسـعـيد(Fawzy Al-Sa'eed) in the Gulf dialect.

I myself find learning simple rhymes helps me in the acquisition of new languages. Here are some Japanese rhymes; Zou-san is my favourite.

http://www.thejapanesepage.com/songs.htm

I recommend you make up your own nursery rhymes; those are always the most fun, and you can incorporate moral/religious themes if you so wish.

Sekat al Teeh (the path astray)

Assalamu aleikum,
I've been meaning to post this up with a rough translation - but I'm busy, so I figure better something is better than nothing. When I get around to it, I will add a summary of what it says in English. InshaAllah I'll post the links for the mp3 audio too.

The nasheed is about youth who go on the path that leads astray; specifically, it is in response to the rash, agressive and baseless acts perpetrated in the Middle East. It's in the Gulf dialect of Arabic commonly spoken in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other places. It's a great nasheed, and very valid.

*Sweeete!* Nasheed Radio: Muslim Starz

Assalamu aleikum,

Now this is a real gem - nasheed radio! I totally did not know about this; this saves me time setting up my playlists before I start work - how great is that? Like any radio, there are some good choices and some passable ones, but hey, did I mention this saves me having to find anasheed and set up my own playlists?! And what a great way to discover new treasured jewels I will then hunt down and continue to loop in those playlists :)

"Muslim Starz, International Nasheed Radio"
(www.muslimz.com)

*Sweete Sounds* Surah alNaml verses 59-79, by Sheikh Muhammad Jebril

Assalamu aleikum,

Sheikh Muhammad Jebril is a well known Quran reciter from Egypt. Those who have heard him know he needs no introduction; his recitation is simply exquisite. This clip is from the 4th Reviving the Islamic Spirit convention in Toronto ( N.B: for those who are wondering, I did not upload this myself ;) ). You can listen to and download (in mp3!) his recitation of all the Surahs (chapters) of the Qur'an from his site.

The reason I presented this clip is because it is the recitation of a beautiful section in the Qur'an from Surah Al-Naml ("The Ants") which is well known, and much loved. I adore the verses themselves, and every reciter seems to bring his own beautiful emotion to the section.



The piece that is repeated is, أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ (Is there anything worthy of worship besides Allah?)
I've provided the verses recited plus translation (M. Pikthall) below.

قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَى آللَّهُ خَيْرٌ أَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

[AlNaml (27):59] Say (O Muhammad): Praise be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom He hath chosen! Is Allah best, or (all) that ye ascribe as partners (unto Him)?

أَمَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَأَنبَتْنَا بِهِ حَدَائِقَ ذَاتَ بَهْجَةٍ مَّا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُنبِتُوا شَجَرَهَا أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ

[AlNaml(27):60] Is not He (best) who created the heavens and the earth, and sendeth down for you water from the sky wherewith We cause to spring forth joyous orchards, whose trees it never hath been yours to cause to grow. Is there any God beside Allah? Nay, but they are folk who ascribe equals (unto Him)!

أَمَّن جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلَالَهَا أَنْهَارًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 27:62

Is not He (best) who answereth the wronged one when he crieth unto Him and removeth the evil, and hath made you viceroys of the earth? Is there any God beside Allah? Little do they reflect!

أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

27:63Is not He (best) Who guideth you in the darkness of the land and the sea, He Who sendeth the winds as heralds of His mercy? Is there any God beside Allah? High exalted be Allah from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!

أَمَّن يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَمَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْضِ أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

27:64 Is not He (best), Who produceth creation, then reproduceth it, and Who provideth for you from the heaven and the earth? Is there any God beside Allah? Say: Bring your proof, if ye are truthful!

قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ

27:65 Say (O Muhammad): None in the heavens and the earth knoweth the Unseen save Allah; and they know not when they will be raised (again).

بَلِ ادَّارَكَ عِلْمُهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ بَلْ هُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهَا بَلْ هُم مِّنْهَا عَمِونَ

27:66 Nay, but doth their knowledge reach to the Hereafter? Nay, for they are in doubt concerning it. Nay, for they cannot see it.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَئِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا وَآبَاؤُنَا أَئِنَّا لَمُخْرَجُونَ

27:67 Yet those who disbelieve say: when we have become dust like our fathers, shall we verily be brought forth (again)?

لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا هَذَا نَحْنُ وَآبَاؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

27:68 We were promised this, forsooth, we and our fathers. (All) this is naught but fables of the men of old.

قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

27:69 Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Travel in the land and see the nature of the sequel for the guilty!

وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُن فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ

27:70 And grieve thou not for them, nor be in distress because of what they plot (against thee).

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

27:71 And they say: When (will) this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?

قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ رَدِفَ لَكُم بَعْضُ الَّذِي تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

27:72 Say: It may be that a part of that which ye would hasten on is close behind you.

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

27:73 Lo! thy Lord is full of bounty for mankind, but most of them do not give thanks.

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُكِنُّ صُدُورُهُمْ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ

27:74 Lo! thy Lord knoweth surely all that their bosoms hide, and all that they proclaim.

وَمَا مِنْ غَائِبَةٍ فِي السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

27:75 And there is nothing hidden in the heaven or the earth but it is in a clear Record.

إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَقُصُّ عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَكْثَرَ الَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

27:76 Lo! this Qur'an narrateth unto the Children of Israel most of that concerning which they differ.

وَإِنَّهُ لَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

27:77 And lo! it is a guidance and a mercy for believers.

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُم بِحُكْمِهِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْعَلِيمُ

27:78 Lo! thy Lord will judge between them of His wisdom, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ

27:79 Therefor (O Muhammad) put thy trust in Allah, for thou (standest) on the plain Truth.

*Sweete Sounds* Verse of Light

This is one of my favourite verses, recited by one of my favourite recitors.

Surah Al-Nur (The Light), vs 35:

اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونِةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ

شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

(24:35) Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.

*Sweete Sounds* Tamayal Wantashi Sa'daa

Okay. Why have I not heard Abo Ali's anasheed before? *Why* have I not heard this nasheed before? And it's available in mp3 format!

Listen to "Tamayal Wantashi Sa'daa" (RealMedia file)

Save "Tamayal Wantashi Sa'daa" by Abo Ali (right click, "save target as")

The main page for this nasheed is here, and the nasheed is available in various file formats.

This is all found on the Abo Ali site (www.abo-ali.com) - highly recommended, though you have to know Arabic to make sense of it. Alternatively you can just follow this link to the anasheed page and click on random anasheed. ;)

---------------
p.s. - yes, so I've made this empty promise before, but I will (inshaAllah) try to translate this, as it's so much better when you understand at least some of what it says (the lyrics are very good. It's a special nasheed which addresses sisters who have reached the end of their Islamic gatherings for a term).

*Sweete Sounds* Ya 3adheeman, By Ahmad Bukhatir

Assalamu aleikum,

When you are sad or angry, listen to the Qur'aan. I swear, unless your heart has a seal upon it, you feel like some burden's been lifted, you feel calmer; the effect is ethereal, subliminal.

But when there's far too many distractions, or people are talking, or I can't promise my full concentration (because the Qur'aan deserves respect and full, meditative attention: When the Qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy [Al-A'raf:204]), I listen to certain anasheed (a cappella Islamic songs) instead.

And this is a great one, especially when you're in a sad, subdued or reflective mood.
Dedicated to my awesome friend, Asmaa.

Listen to "Ya 3adheeman" by Ahmad Bukhatir (requires RealPlayer)
Save the nasheed as an mp3 (right click, "save target as" for Windows)

(courtesy of the nasheed collection from www.al-islaam.com)

--------------------------------------
YA ADHEEMAN (Oh Most Magnificent!)

My soul is brightened by a light in my heart
When I praised God of mankind
And my soul is cheered up and the tears were flowing
Oh God! guide my heart to reason
In the tranquility of the night I pray during worshiping
While the black darkness is all around me
Oh Kind! Oh Most Merciful! Oh Most Forbearing!
Oh Kind! Your gifts are endless
Oh All-Hearing! Oh Answerer! Oh Most Magnificent!
Oh Creator of the strong predatory animals! Guide me
Guide me to truth, God
I depend on your guidance today
Oh God of the universe! You are my aid
You are the refuge of man in the afterworld
Here I am God, asking your forgiveness
Forgive me and grant me my wish
***
Lyrics Courtesy of Bukhatir.org

*Sweete Sounds* Qur2aanona , from Rasaa2el

Assalamu aleikum,

Here's a great nasheed by Ibraheem AlHudaib (or AlHadeeb, I can't tell), once again from the album Rasaa2el. I'm trying to find a way to put up a zip file of the nasheeds I listen to on the net; I'm thinking I'll probably have to go with those temporary upload sites, so if you're interested, download them when they're up before they get deleted. : )

Listen to Qor2aanona, from the album Rasaa2el
Save the nasheed as an mp3 (right click, "save target as"

These files are from www.digitaldawa.com, a nice site worth checking out.

Al Akhira - by Meshary Al-Arada

This is a great, great nasheed, mashaAllah. Top of my "translate now!" list. Watch it gain mass popularity soon. So listen to it before you get turned off by the everyone-knows-it factor. I found it on www.lightuponlight.com, which is nice site btw (they have many great things like Quran, documentaries, video lectures etc.). Plus....they have nasheeds like this in mp3. Hug!

There's a brief lag at the beginning if you listen online, so I recommend you stop and play it back from the start.
listen here: Al-2aa'7erah - by Meshary Al3aradah, from the album Rasaa2el

You can listen to/save all the songs from the album Rasaael (Arbicized spelling Rasaa2el) here.

(From www.enshad.net)

Ya Tuyoor Al-Uns

Assalamu aleikum,

I have a bunch of anasheed that I particularly like. There are those choice ones that everyone seems to know about, and then there are those rare, relatively unknown ones that you come accross and enjoy immensely, but that everyone else is oblivious to. So what does one do? Share, of course : )

I heard this on a radio in the Middle East. It took me ages to find it; I didn't know the title nor who sang it. The few words I knew were just "Ya Tuyoor" (Oh birds) and apparently that's some big famous song by an Egyption guy. I'll spare any like-minded folks the trouble of such a search: hear ya go:

Ya Tuyoor Al-Uns
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p.s: yes, that was a sad, intended pun.

pps: I think that inshaAllah I'll post up the list of my Absolutely Excellent Beyond-Par Anasheed Sites. Sometime. Along with an attempt at a translation of this song and others. Somewhere far, far into the future perhaps. *Sigh*