Over many centuries, Ismaili murids have celebrated their love and devotion for their Imams through expressions of poetry and music. To commemorate the special occasion of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 65th Imamat Day this year, The Ismaili Sounds released one such devotional musical expression, Nur Un Ala Nur. Composed by Salim-Sulaiman, this offering brought together globally renowned Ismaili artists for a soul-stirring expression reaffirming our spiritual allegiance to the Imam-of-the-Time and our commitment to the ethics of our faith.
Inspiration for the song came from Quranic verses, literature on the concept of Imamat, as well as the Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilee motifs. It focuses on the eternal Nur (Divine Light), which illuminates the entire world - day and night - and lights the path of believers who follow the guidance of the Imam, leading them to spiritual enlightenment.
The composition beautifully showcases the power of lyrical simplicity, achieving a perfectly natural balance between repetition and change, making it melodious and appealing to global audiences. “What comes across as a simple phrase ‘Risalat hai Rasool ki, Imamat hai Imam ki’ has a much deeper meaning,” says lead lyricist Kamal Haji. Adding to the beauty of these simple words was the exquisite rendition by Australia’s UNESCO and global music award winning Sufi artist, Farhan Shah.
Renowned Indian composers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant’s skillfully executed composition leaves listeners wanting more. “It’s our Zikr and love for our Imam,” said Salim Merchant, who expressed how fortunate they felt for the opportunity to produce music on this occasion.
“Kamal came up with the phrase Nur Un Ala Nur for the song and I latched on to it,” says Salim when asked about the creative process. “I immediately sang a phrase that came to me...it just naturally comes to you with this kind of music.” Reminiscing that the project had to be completed while juggling many other assignments, he added “when your niyat (intention) is right, everything falls into place.”
The magic unfolded to express a deep and meaningful sentiment. Salim-Sulaiman brought to life a sophisticated and beautiful rhythmic structure by using a range of musical movements including instrumental accents, choral harmonies, and the feel of
“There was a great sense of responsibility for the core team to build bridges among artists to create a body of music that is timeless and that invites the Jamat to reflect upon the notion of Imamat,” said Project Lead Nureen Sumar.
It was a first for Takkat – the five-member band from Syria who have achieved great success with their unique reinterpretations of folk songs from Syria, the Levant, and the Arab world – to be a part of such a collaboration. Expressing their gratitude for being included in this collection of talented musicians, Takkat brought in authenticity by writing and performing lines in Arabic.
Being part of any such production was also a first for Faisal Kapadia, known for his stint as the Producer of Coke Studio, an international music franchise, and lead singer of Strings, among the most revered pop bands in Pakistan. Shehzad Roy, another renowned singer from Pakistan, described the approach of popular and budding Ismaili musicians, some unknown to each other, who came together to create this track. “It was a zabardast (amazing) experience…there was a sense of achievement for everyone to have an opportunity to contribute for such an occasion, and reflect upon and celebrate our faith through our art and music,” he said.
Natasha Baig’s emotional and almost nurturing rendition of lines highlighting the continuity of Imamat beautifully culminates the composition. “There has never been a female musician from Hunza to enter the mainstream music industry in Pakistan,” says Natasha who hails from the mountainous northern areas of Pakistan. “My decision was frowned upon, and I faced a lot of hurdles,” she added, referring to the challenges that she initially faced when entering the music industry. “But I decided to follow my dreams and passion.” In the span of a few years, she has carved a place as a Sufi-rock singer and was thrilled to contribute to this song.
Nobovar Chanorov, a famous singer from Tajikistan, felt that the track was so powerful and timely for the challenging times we live in. “Life has been rather tough on everyone around the globe recently…but there is always light after a dark night, and that’s what this song felt like while creating it back in July this year,” he said. “This form of artistic expression enables people from all walks of life to engage with their faith and connect with each other…music is a language of the soul, and a way to reach God.”
An important and unique element of the composition was the stunning video featuring a combination of live action sequences with the artists, and animation rendered in exquisite Kufic calligraphy. Inspiration came from Ayat an-Nur. “God is the Light of the heavens and the earth” is cleverly depicted with a reflection in the sea of the names of the Imams appearing like stars in the sky.
“There is this indescribable feeling of fulfilment in witnessing artists of this exquisite calibre manoeuvre together so graciously and generously through their creative process,” concludes Nureen. “It is always humbling, fascinating, and inspiring for me.”
