Labib Mahfuj Chisty
Sama is not just music, it is a surreal meditation. When Sufis immerse themselves in spiritual music in a frenzy of thought, it is not just to satisfy the ears, but rather a spiritual bridge to reach deeper levels of the soul. This music sometimes takes the form of Qawwali, sometimes classical music, and sometimes silent meditation, where even sound dissolves into soundlessness. Why do Sufis enter meditation through music? What is in these sound waves, which float the soul to the sky? In this article, we will discuss the spiritual and scientific basis of Sufi music, Quranic verses and historical references, the definition of cosmic frequencies, and how Sama helps in revealing the secrets of the human soul.
Chapter 1: Meaning and Etymology of Sama
The word Sama comes from the Arabic word سماع, which means to hear or to listen. But in the Sufi terminology, it is not just hearing, but also understanding with the heart. Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti (RA) said, Sama is a holy ray that awakens the inner being and drives it towards Allah. The purpose of Sama is spiritual training, illuminating the soul, soothing the soul and losing oneself in divine love.
Chapter 2: Is Sama music forbidden?
Many people ask, does Islam allow music? In the context of Sufis, it is necessary to analyze some important examples from the Quran.
The voice of David (AS) – And We bestowed on David a favor from Us. O mountains! Praise Allah with him, and so do the birds. (Surah Saba 34:10) Ibn Kathir (RA) and other commentators explain that the voice of David (AS) was so sweet that even the birds and the mountains joined him in remembrance. It is a type of Sama.
The voice of Allah — the vibration and sound — when your Lord appeared on the mountain, it was reduced to ashes and Moses became unconscious. (Surah Araf 7:143). According to Imam Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him), this revelation was a kind of vibration of light, at the sound of which Moses (peace be upon him) became unconscious — this is the sound of Tajalli.
Chapter 3: History of Sama – Tradition of the Chishtia and Maulvi Order
In the Chishtia Order, Sama is one of the components of spiritual practice. Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (may Allah be pleased with him) and Amir Khusrau established this trend in the subcontinent. They understood that music is a language of the heart, which reaches the soul through feeling, not logic. On the other hand, in the Maulaviyya Tariqa inspired by Maulana Rumi, the whirling of dervishes or Sama Rocks symbolizes the rotation of the universe around Allah.
Chapter 4: Vibration of the Soul and Cosmic Frequency
Modern physics has shown that the entire universe vibrates indiscriminately—at a specific vibration or frequency. Every substance, cell, and even thought vibrates at a specific vibration. If this vibration is in harmony with music, both the body and mind attain well-being and peace. According to the Sufis, the human soul comes from the Lawh Mahfuz, and that Lawh is a wave of soundless sound. Therefore, music is the soul’s own mother tongue.
Chapter 5: Sama and Meditation—From Sound to Soundlessness
When a true Sama lover sits in meditation and listens to Qawwali, a state is created in his heart, which is called Ojd or Hal. In that state, he may dance, cry, or faint. This is not an external reaction, but rather a touch of God in the inner soul. Allah says: When My servants listen to the Quran, they listen attentively and remain silent so that mercy may be showered upon them. (Surah A’raf 7:204). Many Sufis consider this verse to be applicable to Sama’a as well—whether the Quran or Qawwali, if it is for the remembrance of Allah, then it is a means of meditation.
Chapter 6: Science and Music — Meditation and Music Therapy
Modern research has shown that music of specific frequencies activates alpha and beta waves in the human brain, which are favorable for meditation. Research by the HeartMath Institute says that the heart’s vibration is affected by music and this creates heart-coherence — a kind of harmony between the heart and the brain. The Sufi Sama does exactly this — it unites the soul with the vibrations of God by creating harmony with the innermost parts of the heart.
Chapter 7: Sama and Hal – A Kind of Autobiographical Transformation
Through Sama, Sufis enter a spiritual state called Hal. This is a mental state in which a person forgets his own being and is absorbed in the love of God. In Rumi’s words, when a bee tastes honey, it forgets its hive. When a Sufi tastes Sama, it forgets its body and becomes a soul.
Chapter 8: Sufi Sayings and the Greatness of Sama
Hazrat Amir Khusrau says, this music opens the closed doors of the heart — and through it the light of love descends. Hazrat Shams Tabriz says, true music is that which immerses you within yourself, and from there your soul emerges like a fountain of light.
Chapter 9: Soundless Melody — The Inner Level of Sama
True Sama is where soundlessness is found even in the midst of hearing sounds. This is possible only when a kind of melody is touched deep within the heart, where not only the melody, but also the emptiness after the melody can be felt.
Chapter 10: The Nature of Sufi Music, a Divine Language
Sufi music is a miraculous language, where words exist, but the meaning lies deep within. Every word is like a prayer, every melody is like a compass of the soul. It would be wrong to consider it an ordinary song.
Chapter 11: Response to Criticism – Is Music Haram?
No, music is not haram. Many renowned scholars including Imam Ghazali (RA), Ibn Hajar Asqalani (RA) and Shah Waliullah (RA) have admitted that if music helps in remembering Allah, abstaining from sins and awakening the heart, then it is permissible.
Chapter 12: Conclusion – Silence from Sound, Light from Tune
Sama is a spiritual food. It removes illusion from the human mind and draws the heart towards Allah. When the body trembles, tears appear in the eyes and the heart calls, then the true form of Sama is revealed. It is then no longer music, but prayer, dhikr, the call of the soul.
Finally: Sufis are immersed in music because this sound opens the spiritual doors of their hearts. The words of the Quran, the music of Prophet David (PBUH), the vibrations of the universe and the melody of the heart, all come together in the melody of Sama. Starting from melody and moving towards silence, this is Sama, this is the meditation of the soul.