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Monday Mixtape: Tunes That Make You Go Act (A Special Ramadan Edition), Part III

Music hardly exists in a vacuum. Like an interconnected web, each tune, each track released to the world both came from somewhere and leads to something else. At Aslan Media, we recognize that very few albums come to us without influence, and it’s those artists that walked the road before who helped shape the styles and expressions of the music artists we profile in this website today.

To show that music, in its purest form, is an expression that knows no physical, cultural, societal or economic boundaries, Aslan Media is proud to bring you Monday Mixtape, a regular new feature where profiled artists on this site share with us the tracks that inspire and influence who and where they are as music artists. The genres covered by these playlists are limitless, as are the artists they include, which can include those from countries outside the Middle East that carry universal messages found in every region of the world.

When we originally began compiling suggested tracks for a Ramadan series of Mixtape, our aim was to use this special month as a springboard in providing readers with music that both inspires and reflects the views and practices of various Muslim artists. What we quickly found is that like anything that holds a personal ideal or commitment, belief is not simply triggered by an on-off switch, but rather situates itself on an ever-growing continuum, each variegated form of commitment just as valid as all the others.

For many, belief is a shared moral compass that brings people together in both times of distress and celebration. In honor of Ramadan, and the sacrifices we all make for whatever we believe in, this Mixtape is deliberately open-ended, allowing each artist to redefine his/her interpretation of Islam as not necessarily religion, but as trust, loyalty, action, consolation, teacher… and to describe spiritual fulfillment in songs that are not necessarily about faith.

Take a listen of our series’ third and final installment:

Straight Street – Omar Offendum, featuring Meryem Saci

Watch the video here

I love this track by Syrian-American rapper Omar Offendum – definitely one of my favorites to come out this year. It’s got a great old school R&B feel, and while the references and images in it are geared more towards Muslims, the song’s overall message is universal: keeping on the straight path, however you interpret it, is a holistic journey, and to stay on it, you need to be mindful of your health, firm in your morals and dedicated to hard work.

- Safa Samiezade’-Yazd, Aslan Media Arts, Culture & Music Editor

I’ve Seen – Outlandish, featuring Sami Yusuf

Watch the video here 

Everytime I watch or read any of the stories about the Prophets days and his and the Sahaba's struggle and their pain and tears, I find myself sobbing with them and hurting with them… I feel those people went through a lot to pass the real religion to us, and the real Islam is far from what we claim now... we have unfortunately abandoned the Qur’an and get Sharia now from man-made books instead, against Prophet Mohammed’s orders... millions of us are hurting and no one wants to move, yet we bicker and argue why things God never made haram on us are or aren’t haram... at times like these, I wish Prophet Mohammed was around to tell the people that the reason our Umma is so down below everyone else is because we are NOT following the Qur’an and we are busy adding to God’s own scriptures...and adjusting after our beloved prophet… like the great Sahaby and Khalifa Omar Ben El Khattab.

- Rush Saifullah, rapper, Arabian Knightz

Bhar Do Johli Meri Ya Muhammad – Sabri Brothers

Watch the video here 

Allah Hu – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Watch the video here 

I really like this Qawwali track by the Sabri Brothers. Everyone knows and loves Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and rightfully so: he was brilliant and popularized and globalized traditional devotional South Asian music. Sabri Brothers are vastly underrated. One of their most enduring songs is "Bhar do Johli Meri ya Muhammad" - which is an old school "aashiq-e-rasul" poem which means "one who is passionate for the prophet." It's a staple in South Asia and connects one's faith and belief to love for the messenger, Prophet Muhammad.

Another one is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's “Allah Hu” - yes, a clichéd choice, but, man, it's awesome. It's a "can't lose perennial favorite" that takes on heightened spiritual meaning during Ramadan. It is the ultimate manifestation of appreciating the sheer awesomeness, utter omniscience and presence of the Creator - "Allah, Just He."

- Wajahat Ali, playwright / writer / lawyer

The Saint – Abdul Ghani, Ajah Maideen, Saburmaiden Babha Sabeer

Watch the video here

Sufism for me has been about reaching for love, peace and harmony within oneself and among individuals around us. Sufi Music of the world from India and Iran to Turkey and Africa has helped me put sounds into the beliefs I've been taught. During Ramadan, when Muslims sacrifice for the self and from all corners of the world follow the same rituals, I cannot help but ponder how beautifully this song (which I understand no words of) lets me hear the harmony and peace I strongly believe in.

- Parisa Saranj, Aslan Media columnist: I Heart Iran

Foundation – Mos Def

Watch the video here 

I love this old Mos Def Track. It’s an obscure one that only the pure fans are sure to be familiar with. What makes this track special is Mos Def's approach to the male and female relationship, mirroring a respectfulness and kindness that Islam teaches us. It isn't your typical song about seeing a girl in a club and being attracted...this focuses on having pure intentions and building a foundation the correct way.

It says in the Quran: "And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. Verily in that are signs for those who reflect." (30:21)

You can feel Mos Def's awareness of the importance of these true relationship builders, as opposed to just admiring a woman's body:

"The foundation of love, is tenderness

The foundation of love, is sincerity"

He goes on with a clever line:

"How will you build this house, she asked

And I said, carefully"

He continues to use the "house" metaphor throughout the song to represent a relationship:

"Wanna build my house on solid ground

To make it strong so that you'll stay around"

The artists now know as Yasiin Bey takes extra precaution to make sure that the woman (and obviously the listener) are aware that his intentions are pure:

"Intention is all of life

Like clarity is all of sight

Intention is all of life

It ain't pure then it can't be right"

This isn't your everyday love song. This represents something deeper than an initial chemistry or attraction between two people. This represents the intention to form a strong household and foundation for something that will last forever. Mos Def's Islamic influence is evident throughout the piece.

"The most perfect of the believers is the best of you in character, and the best of you are those among you who are best to their wives." -Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Hadith-Tirmidhi

- Khaled M, rapper

In case you missed it, make sure to check out the first and second installments of our Ramadan Mixtape series.

*Photo Credits:

Omar Offendum: Mosaic Initiative for Syria via Flickr

Meryem Saci: Thien V via Flickr

Outlandish: denmarkdotdk via Flickr

Mos Def: Volker Neumann via Flickr

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