Ilahije

Update: It seems as though “righteous Muslims” seem to have a problem with this Ilahija .. from woman singing in front of man, to woman singing, to music playing see here.   

Ilahije are a form of Bosnian spiritual recitation and the more modernized version is actually spiritual music.  I may get blasted here for saying that it is music but the example I am posting to this blog is sung (and not the nasaly recitation that once were common to ilahije – and I’m not complaining – I really do like this).

As a teenager I would regularly partake in mevluds at the mosque and so I have a certain appreciation and love for ilahije.  A mevlud is a program which consists of ilahije, poems and quranic recitations.

I’ll post the translation at the end.

Enjoy:

Translation:

Don’t grieve with tears
Instead remember with duas (prayers)
Don’t let a tear start when you wake the memories
Don’t let a tear start when you wake the memories

Don’t grieve, my father, when you see my gravestone
Don’t let a tear start when you remember me, my father
Don’t let a tear start when you remember me, my father

Don’t grieve with tears
Instead remember with duas (prayers)
Don’t let a tear start when you wake the memories
Don’t let a tear start when you wake the memories

Like the heart begins to fly
In Nur (the light) I completely ignite
(He)Stops by the gate
Ridvan, the keeper of the garden