From the archive No. 29

Al Muta'ali

The Most Exalted

The Mirror of My Soul · Rim Banna · Palestine·originally posted 13 September 2016

According to my source the 77th Name Al Muta’ali is the means by which you connect to God/Allah through what is called the higher self, the soul or ruh. With Al Muta’ali there is an elevating journey, which is like an ascending flight of the spirit. Its divine quality is the invitation to pure transcendence. It offers a path of the wayfarer to travel from immanence to transcendence. In this way, you progress to the centre beyond the beyond, higher than the high. You are moving towards pure transcendence.

I have been wanting to write about Rim Banna who blows my mind. She is a singer from Palestine and you can learn more about her here. Her album The Mirror of my Soul helps make the connection with Al Muta’ali. You can youtube her and there are so many songs she has done. But years ago I was sent an album by her label KKV and so am starting with this. Ive managed to find the songs on youtube I wanted to share, but they are not the official owners of the music, so can be pulled down at any time, but I felt it was important for you to sample this music.

The first song that really moved me is called Sarah. I didnt know what it was about, I just listened to it loads as it drew me in. After learning more about it - it broke my heart. I didn't want to write about Palestine and what we already knew about the war. But maybe this is my ego. Or fear. Or denial. I feel this is on the path to reaching Al Mutaali.

You can find out about the song lyrics and peoples comments here. Please listen you dont need the translation for it to move you.

Then next song is called The Voice, the fragrance and the figure:

Lyrics:

Oh root of my roots, I will surely return, so wait for me

Wait for me in the cracks of the rocks and the thorns

In the olive blossoms, in the color of the butterflies

And in the echo and the shadows in the mud of the winter

And in the dust of summer in the tracks of the gazelle

And in the wings of every bird

The thorns of the storm are in my path

And the call of the land is victorious in my veins

I am coming back, so keep my voice, my scent, and my form for me, oh flowers

Ya Jammal : Arabic Song by Rim Banna - English translation below:

The Jammal made my heart miserable
When he chose to go
I said, "Jammal, be patient"
He said, "my patient has dried up"

I said, "Jammal, what's your destination ?"
He said, "the desert of the south"
I said, "what are you carrying with you ?"
He said, "Arabic gum and essences"

I said, "tell me what is your sickness"
He said, "Longing for the one I love"
I asked, "have you visited the healer ?"
He said, "ninety healers"

I said, "Jammal, take me with you"
He said, "no, my burden is too heavy"
I said. "Jammal, I will walk"
He said, "no, my road is too long"

I said, "I will walk one thousand years
I will follow after your eyes"
He said, "hey, little pigeon, bitter like myrrh
is the living of the migrant"

The Jammal made my heart miserable
When he chose to go
What he left behind are tears
That stream over my cheeks

Which Rim Banna songs do you like? From above or from your own research. Lets use this space to draw from her as an inspiration. Lets cultivate song ideas related to your own responses, in thoughts and emotions to her lyrics.

Also referenced in this post

Reader comments

AM·

Truly authentic and so powerful, simplistic and pure .
I would buy this album without hesitation. I can't choose between them all touch me.
Not only the lyric content but the clarity and sincerity of her voice. Truly blessed women.

I also love the way she sees and interprets Gods creation, how she presents it along with her own personal experience.

For me this just echoes my own understanding and experience of viewing and know God. Through His word, my personal experience of Him in my daily life and His creation, all has life and value. All tells a story be it happy or sad and for me the one constant is regardless of which one He remains the one true constant - Always by my side, caring, sharing, protecting and comforting from my Sunrise to my Sunset this will be true.

Sufi Punk·

I love your comment, when you wrote from Sunrise to Sunset is something that stands out for me here. Its like coming home in the evening but thinking about this over a lifetime - sunrise is coming into life towards sunset when you leave your physical form. I think this is a seed of an idea for a song to formulate.

Aya·

Mashallah, wow, how wonderful to find within this beautiful, inspiring blog series this blog on Rim in connection to Al-Muta'ali.. You chose two exemplary songs, thank you! Rim Banna sure is a marvellous singer/songwwriter, one who preserved a wide range of folkloristic songs widely prevailing in Palestine especially amongst women and their offspring. I do not have this album at home but I've been listening to Rim's songs on YouTube often and invited her for an interview for al.arte.magazine almost two years ago (unfortunately haven't followed this up, could not establish the contact) since I stumbled upon another very special song of hers, called Salat ('Prayer'), which she recorded together with a Buddhist monk called Siddharta (his name is spelled differently by the one who uploaded the song). I wish to share it with you:

Bless you and keep shining your light! <3

Sufi Punk·

Aya, I have been searching all evening as I know I have this album somewhere. I totally forgot I had it until I followed your link. So great for you to share more about her. I didn't realise it was a Buddhist monk as I just thought it was an indian artist - shows you how much attention I was paying at the time. I will include this alongside our inspiration for song creation. Bless you!

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No. 29 · Al Muta'ali — Inspiring the Sufi · Inspiring the Sufi