I hosted my first Gathering of Remembrance at my house on September 26, 2014. I was truly exhilarated for a great program. My friend and I sang my first written duet, as well as traditional Arabic and English Nasheeds/Qasidahs.
Before we started I welcomed everyone and gave a brief introductory talk on the importance of having these gatherings in which we can safely express our musical creativity and direct it toward a Higher Purpose and Reality.
One of the scholars of our past said that the Messengers of God were not sent to instruct humans to eliminate their desires, or their natural instincts. They were sent to refine and polish the human instincts, such as hunger, thirst, and the desire for intimacy. One aspect of humanity that is instinctual is our affinity for rhythm and music. Across the earth you will see mothers singing to their babies to cajole them to sleep at night. When people are in love they tend to break out into tune. If you attend any popular, contemporary musical concert, you will see people swaying in their seats, many times with their hands raised or snapping/clapping to the beat. Music is played EVERYWHERE-from supermarkets to malls, elevators, hotels, doctors’ offices, lobbies, buses and more. It is obvious that music is a part of human nature. It is obvious how music can affect the human brain and mood. However we must polish and refine this innate need for beautiful melodies. God has set guidelines and restrictions for music. Yes, there are differing opinions with regard to the types of instruments allowed. I like to stay on the side of caution, and revel in the angelic sounds of the human voice. Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad stated it nicely:
“My own sense in the arguments over instrumental music of various kinds is that the never-ending debate can be shortcircuited quite simply by remembering that the human voice is the most beautiful of instruments, and that by cultivating its correct harmonies we can produce genuinely spiritual sounds that are superior to anything that an instrument could generate.”
Thus we MUST hold gatherings in which we can channel our musical energy to the Creator. We MUST create music that extols God and His Messengers. We MUST write and compose music that encourages humans to become victorious in the battle against their egos, rather than to worship their egos and cave into lust, violence, and untamed desires. Music should be heavenly, and we must reciprocate this heavenliness with our hearts. We must sing for the sake of God.
Sis. Sanaa, the chaplain of Stony Brook University MSA, invited me to a Gathering at her place a week later and asked me to discuss the same issue regarding music for the sake of God. At her Gathering I was overjoyed to meet a new sister that enjoyed playing the duff and singing. Sis. Sanaa is a follower of the Naqshbandi Tariqah and their repeated dhikr of La ilaha il Allah was absolutely enchanting and rejuvenating.
