Arts – Page 2 – Ansari Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order

New Zikr group in Shoreditch – starting 21st July 2016

Posted on July 9, 2016July 12, 2016 by ansariuk

** Note this event has been re-scheduled to the 21st of July – apologies for any inconvenience caused **

Dear all,

We will be starting a new Zikr (Sufi Meditation) group in Shoreditch from the 21st July 2016. Initially the Zikr will run monthly and then hopefully weekly.

Briefly, Zikr is “Remembrance of God” and we do this through chanting the Most Beautiful Names of the Beloved, singing hymns and performing simple sacred movements – all accompanied with frame drumming.

Details:
Thursday 21st July
7:15 PM – 9:00 PM
Kobi Nazrul Centre
30 Hanbury St, E1 6QR, London
(Meetup Link)

This is an open group for spiritual exploration in the widest sense with no prior knowledge required. We welcome everyone who comes in peace regardless of their faith/non-faith background.

For this first event (21st July 2016) there will be a short workshop of Sufi chants and movements, and perhaps practising a Sufi song, before starting the zikr ceremony.

We can share tea and something nice to eat at the end. So if we each bring fruit or fresh bread and humous or cheese, what better way to taste the Divine.

Kobi Nazrul Centre is a pleasant walk from Liverpool St station down Brushfield St and Spitalfields market. Aldgate East and Shoreditch Overground are just as near.

Zikr is free to attend, and we suggest a small donation for those who are able (£4) to contribute towards the rent.

Our Zikr at Notting Hill Gate will continue every Monday as usual (Meetup Link) – we hope to see you in Notting Hill and/or in Shoreditch!

Arts, Events, Interfaith, London

‘Rubaiyat’: New Translations and New Poetry, and Zikr (Saturday, May 7, 7 PM, London)

Posted on May 7, 2016May 7, 2016 by ansariuk

Do not worry , O Khushal!

No matter how wretched you are

You are only flesh and blood

And not some heavenly seraph.

We are delighted to welcome Sami ur Rahman who has flown in from Pakistan to present his new translations of the national poet of Afghanistan – Khushal Khan Khattak. A contemporary of Bulleh Shah, he likewise rejected caste and clerical edicts. Part warrior poet who led the Pashtun struggles against emperor Aurangzeb, part mystic, part scholar, he produced ghazals, rubaiyat, and verse treatises on the body and falconry.

Sami ur Rahman (journalist, translator, lover of mystic poetry and theoretical physics), hails from the same obscure village as the 17th century Khushal, and has published two books of translations. He will be reading in Pashtu, Farsi and English, and will include Rumi in Farsi and English.

In the other half we have original poetry from guest Jane Silk who studied Islamic and Sufi philosophy at Kings College and SOAS and then deepened her academic experience with a spiritual awakening in Isfahan. She took to a form of meditation-writing at night, covering her wall with scores of jottings. This outpouring is sometimes described in farsi as ‘taravoosh zehniyat’ – a ‘dripping of the mind’.

As always we keep our floor open to contributions of original poetry or music from our audience.

Ending with a Sufi zikr- a traditional meditation of remembrance with chanting, movement, breathing, and music, which closes with prayers for humanity and the planet.

Please note: the Sufi zikr at approximately 9pm is FREE and you are welcome to come only for the zikr.

‘Rubaiyat’: New Translations and New Poetry, and Zikr

Poetry Cafe
22 Betterton St, Covent Garden WCH2 9BX
Saturday 7th May 2016
7pm to 9:45pm

£8 on the door

http://www.meetup.com/SufiMusic/

Arts, Events, Interfaith, London, Web site notification

Festive wishes from us – and last Zikr for this year (21 Dec 2015)

Posted on December 19, 2015 by ansariuk

shaykhanneoxford

On behalf of Shaykh Taner Ansari and Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari, the Heads of the Ansari Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order, we would like to thank everyone for attending our Zikr and all of our events this year. Thank you also for all your contributions, your help and assistance, your prayers and kind thoughts.

May Allah be happy with all our Zikrs, prayers, positive actions and intentions, and may He bless you, your family and loved ones.

Next Monday, the 21st December, will be the last Zikr of the year. We will resume again on the 4th of January, if God is willing, at the same time and place, celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) birthday (Milad-un-Nabi).

We wish you a merry festive season and a happy 2016 that is full of love and light. We look forward to seeing you soon in the new year.

Ya Wadud Ya Salaam Ya Jami (Love, Peace and Togetherness),

Ansari Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order of the United Kingdom

Arts, Interfaith, Words of Wisdom