The Beloved

[egrorian]

A great, catchy track. Interesting how it seems to have been carefully written with universal appeal and not to reflect any particular religion - on first listen, you might assume the titular person is Jesus but of course nowhere is this stated.

[Ruins]

He says "Ya Habiba" after 2 minutes and 16 seconds, the rest are not arabic, Senegalian i think

[arne]

Hm, also to me, it doesn't sound Arabic. Isn't it a language of Senegal? Sorry, but I have no certain idea about African languages. If there is somthing, which reminds in Arabic, it may be loans in Islamic context in that African language.

However, this song is very special. It is the one, which makes the entire album to a piece of world music, and I enjoy it very much.

[m@kansascity]

senegal language, thats right

i agree that musically speaking this is the best track... there are a lot of people who are not in cat stevens at all, these days, that are saying how great this song is

i think that the mix between gaelic and middle east music was the genius behind this song - plus youssou n'dour, which is a terrific singer

[Huru]

maxkansascity said:

...i agree that musically speaking this is the best track... i think that the mix between gaelic and middle east music was the genius behind this song - plus youssou n'dour... a terrific singer

plus Lu Edmonds, a terrific musician (oud, saz, etc.)

[Lucy13]

maxkansascity said:

i think that the mix between gaelic and middle east music was the genius behind this song - plus youssou n'dour, which is a terrific singer

I totally agree. It's aurally delectable.

And I loooovvee Youssou N'Dour...

(Yusuf too, of course... )

[Ruins]

But let's face it, only Muslims will love this song

[Huru]

nahhh, one of my close friends isn't muslim and she loves it.

[m@kansascity]

i'm not muslim and i love it

i just dont pay attention to the lyrics :-)

[egrorian]

ruins said:

But let's face it, only Muslims will love this song

I don't see why. As I posted earlier, the song seem to have been carefully written to avoid specifying any particular religious figure, leaving that up to the listener.

[Ruins]

egrorian said:

ruins said:

But let's face it, only Muslims will love this song

I don't see why. As I posted earlier, the song seem to have been carefully written to avoid specifying any particular religious figure, leaving that up to the listener.

It is talking about prophet Muhammad (PBUH), so if you are not a Muslim, and you don't believe in him as a prophet, how on earth are you going to listen to a song that was written about him??!!!

[m@kansascity]

ruins said:

egrorian said:

I don't see why. As I posted earlier, the song seem to have been carefully written to avoid specifying any particular religious figure, leaving that up to the listener.

It is talking about prophet Muhammad (PBUH), so if you are not a Muslim, and you don't believe in him as a prophet, how on earth are you going to listen to a song that was written about him??!!!

are you serious?

i'm not a muslim, i dont know if Muhammad was a prophet or not, but i have a lot of respect and interest in his persona - i dont have any problem in listen to a song that tell the story of Muhammad, and if the music is good as is in The Beloved, is even better

is like saying: i dont believe that jesus was the son of god, therefore i wont listen any gospel music or any song that quote the name of jesus

dude, gram parsons was certainly not somebody who was going in church every sunday, but he did one of the greatest recording in the history of country music, a song called "I love the christian life"


listen to some gram parsons, is good

[1976]

max nails it again.

[cristobal]

I'm no muslim but I think this is one of the best songs on the album!! I appreciate his tribute to god, although I myself am Christian.

[Ruins]

Thanks a lot

[arne]

I think, Muslims will understand it right clear, who is the subject of that song. But so what? As mentioned before, we can also listen to gospels and be very glad of it, also as non-Christs. For instance do I love the German Christian musician Xavier Naidoo (with family roots in India, I guess).

Once, I told that in a German Muslim forum - and was attacked by some users with Arabic nicknames (maybe just faking Muslims, who knows? Or just young radical converts?). However, I was blamed to act against Islam, when listening to spiritual music made by a Christian.

Boy, you can imagine, that I left that place, although a "true muslim" woman came, and said, that I am obviously not "far enough in the faith". It was like a nightmare to me, and looked like the meeting point of anti-muslims with faked identities.

You know, I just said, that I love peace songs and artists, who believe in God and say it open in public. Artists, who are ridiculed for that, even when they are Christians in a socalled "Christian" country.

[arne]

ruins said:

It is talking about prophet Muhammad (PBUH), so if you are not a Muslim, and you don't believe in him as a prophet, how on earth are you going to listen to a song that was written about him??!!!

Well, the world is not that black-and-white. I Jewish friend of me said once to me in one of our first meetings: "Ofcourse do I believe, that Muhammad was a prophet of God". I starred at him and asked: "So you read the Holy Qur'an?" - "Yep!" - "But then, you are a Muslim?" - "Well I believe in Allah after my Jewish tradition".

I think, there are many people like this man.

[Turan]

The song can be read as about any messenger from God. There have been several, enough for everyone to be able to identify with the song.

Its a sad person who can only listen and like what fits in his own tight box.

Well, the world is not that black-and-white. I Jewish friend of me said once to me in one of our first meetings: "Ofcourse do I believe, that Muhammad was a prophet of God". I starred at him and asked: "So you read the Holy Qur'an?" - "Yep!" - "But then, you are a Muslim?" - "Well I believe in Allah after my Jewish tradition".

I think, there are many people like this man.

A testiment to universalness of Islam.

[arne]

turan said:

Well, the world is not that black-and-white. I Jewish friend of me said once to me in one of our first meetings: "Ofcourse do I believe, that Muhammad was a prophet of God". I starred at him and asked: "So you read the Holy Qur'an?" - "Yep!" - "But then, you are a Muslim?" - "Well I believe in Allah after my Jewish tradition".

I think, there are many people like this man.

A testiment to universalness of Islam.

Yes, but also to intelligence of many Jewish people. Here in Germany I see it in general, that Jews and Muslims support each others. Sounds strange, but at least the German Jews and Muslims are used to do so (in my humble experience). I guess, it's due to the fact, that both are minorities, and that the anti-semites nowadays focus on the Muslims. We share somehow the same "programm" by the majority in this country.

[Turan]

arne said:

turan said:

A testiment to universalness of Islam.

Yes, but also to intelligence of many Jewish people. Here in Germany I see it in general, that Jews and Muslims support each others. Sounds strange, but at least the German Jews and Muslims are used to do so (in my humble experience).

Not strange at all, in my experience. It is only when the discussion turns to Israel that things get touchy.

[salsabil]

It's obvious who this song is about, coming from Yusuf's perspective.

Of course, music can be applied however we like and as someone said, since no particular name/prophet is mentioned, apply it as you like.

[Lucy13]

The Beloved is clearly about the Prophet Muhammad to me (a non-Muslim who has a basic understanding of Islam). Great. It's a wonderful song for his Muslim audiences. And it's a beautiful, enriching song as well for non-Muslim listeners, exactly because (as someone noted) Yusuf was careful to generalize the lyrics and the message.

But beside that point, even if he *had* specified "Muhammad (SAWS)..." in the song, would it have been much different than Jesus on Buddha and the Chocolate Box in which he extolls not only the virtues of Jesus Christ but also of the Buddha?

This is just the same artist we always knew and loved. Being himself.

[Turan]

Of course it is about Muhamad, Kareema. However if you think about the stories of Jesus and Moses especially you can easily relate them to the song. I know the story of the Miraj and the text you site, but many of the listeners do not. I related the line of fleeing to God and God sent him back to Moses first and can see how it relates to all of them. We all know that Yusuf likes to accent that Islam honors many prophets. All the prophets are a mercy to the world.

[Chris]

salsabil said:

It's obvious who this song is about, coming from Yusuf's perspective.

Of course, music can be applied however we like and as someone said, since no particular name/prophet is mentioned, apply it as you like.

Exactly, even though we know who Yusuf was singing to in "The Beloved". What makes the song special is that anyone can put in their own religion and be able relate to the song. You can substitute Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Mohammad or Buddah as the beloved, and not be wrong. It can be looked upon as a non-denomination song, which is why I like it so.

[salsabil]

admin said:

salsabil said:

It's obvious who this song is about, coming from Yusuf's perspective.

Of course, music can be applied however we like and as someone said, since no particular name/prophet is mentioned, apply it as you like.

Exactly, even though we know who Yusuf was singing to in "The Beloved". What makes the song special is that anyone can put in their own religion and be able relate to the song. You can substitute Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Mohammad or Buddah as the beloved, and not be wrong. It can be looked upon as a non-denomination song, which is why I like it so.

Right, Christine!
I couldn't agree with you more.

[salsabil]

kareema113 said:

Guys, it's about the Prophet Muhammad. Clearly in the references. But if others relate, great.

"He left his self to flee to God and God sent him back to us": Al 'Israa and Al Miraj

"He was a mercy to the worlds and unto the universe": in the Qur'an

etc.

And I can hear "Khayrul, khayrul SamiAllah" and "Ya Khaliq" in the nasheed lyrics too, so perhaps this is hybrid Arabic/French like in Morocco or Algeria.

kareema

We know, Kareema.
Yes, it is about Mohammed, having been written by Yusuf, it's obvious.

I see no harm in others relating it to whom they wish.

[walter]

and musically it is a very hot song - don't forget after all these discussions

[Huru]

"and musically it is a very hot song - don't forget after all these discussions"


hehhehheh... how true. balance, it's all about balance...!

[cristalina]

I think so far Beloved is my favourite song, its the one I choose to forward to if I'm short of time and I'm probably about as non religious as you can be, doesn't stop me loving the song though

[demitasse]

Does anyone know what Youssou N'Dour is saying? Is there anyone here who knows the language and can translate his words?

I came across this article today and thought it was nice. www.pakistanlink.com/Opinion/2006/Dec06/08/08.HTM