Introduction
House of Iman is excited to present Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachaye, an enchanting qawwali made world famous by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party. This is a musical piece that has had a profound effect on our musical journey. A beautiful recording of khansaab’s where he creates a beatiful melody in the Raag Darbari was one of the reasons we fell in love with this music & the Indian Classical Music tradition. The recording can be found here - Nusrat Fateh - Mast Nazron (Raag Darbari)
Mast Nazron Se, like many other works of great Qawwali, creates the true effect of entrancement. One of our favorite part’s is where Khansaab takes the chorus and repeats the first part of it in a rhythmic fashion sure to entrance any seeker. “Mast Nazron se Allah…. Allah Bachaye, Mast Nazron se Allah…. Allah Bachaye, Mast Nazron se Allah…. Allah Bachaye”. During practice we often repeat this part for what can feel like hours because of the state of rapture it can create.
During our recording we were able to explore this musical piece in depth. As we learned the intracacies of Khansaab’s magic including exploration of sargam (exploration of notes), layakaari (rhythmic exploration), and poetry we fell more & more in love with this beautiful Qawwali. Shooting a video and performing Khansaab’s music is always an intimidating task but when the passion burns inside there is no choice but to express it!
Our recording’s are always an enjoyable time of family gathering, discussion of musical history & intracacy, and enjoyment. After dinner we all move into the musical space and begin the discussions over Chai. During this time we may have fun playing a recent piece of popular music, discuss classical music & poetry, play new rhythms for fun, or just catch up on the events of life. Before this recording we spent some time listening to Naji perfom “Bakadere Josh”, a ghazal composed by Ustad Jahan Khan.
Ultimately, this is the most beautiful and enjoyable time where we are honored to spend time with our family and do something we truly love.
The musicians involved were:
Zain - Lead Vocals
Naji - Vocals & Dholak
Omer - Harmonium
Cheeko - Tabla
Erum - supporting Percussion
Poetry
This qawwali speaks to the effect of an intoxicating gaze from your lover, a gaze that can change your whole world! The poet asks for God’s protection, that he will brave any other situation but please protect him from the gaze of the beautiful one. The poetry expands to include different instances where we seek protection from those who are not genuine, but give a beautiful outwardly intent. In each verse he asks for God’s protection (“Allah Bachaye”) from those that may steal his heart or move him off the path.
The interpretations of this qawwali can be vast, from playful to very spiritual. For us there is a deep meaning of the gaze that is being spoken of, as symbolic of anything enticing that does not serve the journey towards truth. In the Sufi tradition there are many paths towards realization. One of the main practices of Sufi Dhikr is Sama (musical audition), which in Arabic now translates as “listening”.
Sama is the practice of listening to music and chanting to induce a state of ecstasy or trance. The Sufi’s warn in this tradition that if the training of the aspirant is not pure, if he/she is not pure in heart and strong in character, then Sama will arouse the wrong desires. If the aspirant is pure then Sama will help the Sufi realize deeper truths and divine realities.
In the musical tradition if we focus on our art, on the journey towards truth, we will prosper. However if we give into the enchanting gaze, which can be symbolized as worldly rewards in many ways, then we have gone astray.
Full Translation
Please enjoy the full translation below. Credit to Jimmy Baba for the beautiful work. Thank you!
کوئی کھوئے ہوئے اوزان چلا جاتا ہے
حسن والوں سے کہہ دو نا نکلیں باہر
دیکھنے والوں کا ایمان چلا جاتا ہے
Koi dil mein liye armaan chala jaata hai Koi khoye huay ausaar chala jaata hai Husn walon se yeh keh do ke na niklein bahir Dekhne walon ka eimaan chala jaata hai
Some are lost with a longing in their heart (and) some lost in dismay Let the enchanting ones stay veiled else the lovers, enamored by the beauty, lose their way
مست نظروں سے اللہ بچائے
مہ جمالوں سے اللہ بچائے
Mast nazron se Mahjamalon se Allah bachaye Mahjamalon se Allah bachaye
Intoxicating glances! God save us from intoxicating glances! (and) may god save us from the radiant ones!
حسن والوں سے اللہ بچائے
Har bala sar pe aa jaye lekin Husn walon se Allah bachaye
I can bare all afflictions save I’m spared from the enchanting ones
ان کے دھوکے میں ہرگز نہ آنا
لوٹ لیتے ہیں یہ مسکرا کر
ان کی چالوں سے اللہ بچائے
Inki maasoomiyat par na jaana Inke dhoke mein har giz na aana Loot lete hain yeh muskura kar In ki chalon se Allah bachaye
Let not their innocence deceive you nor be entrapped by their intrigue With a smile, they pillage your soul God save us from their spells!
منہ میں کچھ ہے مگر دل میں کچھ
لاکھ چہرا سہی چاند جیسا
دل کے کالوں سے اللہ بچائے
Bholi surat hai baatein hein bholi Muh mein kuch hai magar dil mein kuch hai Laakh chehra sahi chaand jaise dil ke kalon se allah bachaaye
Innocent are they in their appearance & words (yet) their hearts are mired in distrust though they possess such radiant faces their hearts are entrenched in darkness
