Why Abida Parveen's song 'Mulk-e-Khuda' on New Year is a gift to whole Humanity

By Naved Ashrafi

When people on social media and internet with faltering acumen and feeble understanding are always ready with their fatwas against people's wishes on New Year, Christmas, or even Eid-e-Milad (Prophet Muhammad's birth), when they are vigilant enough to gag any opportunity of dispersal of love in the humanity; there always comes strong voices against these boobs. This time a voice has come with a beautiful message and music. 😊

Abida Parveen, the Sufi Queen of Melody, recently sings a beautiful song on New Year's eve. The song that starts and ends with Persian couplets, as I take it, has been dedicated to 'the People'. This is essentially a People's Song as the song with its title signifies that 'Mulk-e-Khuda' i.e. the territory of God is for the People and is due to the People. 

Taa'meer-e-Do Jahan Ki Buniyad Hain to Hum Hain !! [We, the People, are the foundation of the creation of all worlds in the universe] soulfully says that the whole play of God revolves around the 'existence of mankind'. This is the same analogy that is found in Allama Iqbal's Sufi poetry and that of other Sufi poets.

On the spread of love, peace and harmony, she sings further: Thehra Hai Ishqbazi Din Raat Khel Apna / Gar Qais Hain To Hum Hain, Farhad Hain to Hum Hain !! [Love has remained our quotidian business, If there would Qais; We are! If there would Farhad, We are! ] We, the People, are eternal lovers !

Strings and melody go further to paint and portray a plural and multicultural mural of love. Kaaba Manam, Haram Manam, Dair Manam, Sanam Manam / Momin-o-Birehman Manam, Man Manam Na-Man Manam !! [ We are Kaaba, We are Sanctuary of Oneness of God, We are Temple, We are idol. / We are believer and Priest, We are; yet We are not !] 

The song has been produced by Sarang Latif and directed by Athar Abbas-Bilal Abbas. Ammar Ashraf and Ali Akhtar have contributed in a versatile way to the filmography of the song. Amanat Ali has decorated the world of musical ecstasy. The poetry was written by 18th century Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Niyaz Ahmad. 

In Pakistani media, the song has been considered a great gift to the nation [Pakistan]. Praising the beautiful scenery of Pak landscapes The Express Tribune writes:

Abida latest release Mulk-e-Khuda takes the listeners to the vast horizons of Pakistan’s landscape – from Sehwan Sharif in Sindh to astonishing lakes and monuments in the northern areas. It sounds like a thanksgiving to divine for gifting us a beautiful region.

In the truest spirit and sense, the song should be taken beyond any national and cultural boundary as the essence of Hazrat Niyaz's sufi poetry and voice of Abida Parveen can't be shackled within physical boundaries. This is New Year gift from Abida Parveen to entire humanity. How can Abida's heavenly renditions of 'Maula !' be limited to Pakistan, India or any political territory ! When she calls her Maula [i.e.Lord or Master], she always meant it with the Lord of Mercy, Love, Peace and Harmony. And this is the actual ground of her "Mulk-e-Khuda".

This is high time that humanity could understand the real meaning and motto of "Mulk-e-Khuda" lest ISIS and similar ilk of fanatics hijack it perversely  like they did with 'Hukumat-e-Ilahiya'.

Lyrics of song goes as below

Ijz-o-Niyaz Ham Manam, Khoobi-o-Naaz Ham Manam
Husn Manam, Mahn Manam, Man Manam Na Man Manam !!

Mulk-e-Khuda Me Yaron Aabad Hain To Hum Hain
Taa'meer-e-Do Jahan Ki Buniyad Hain to Hum Hain !!

Thehra Hai Ishqbazi Din Raat Khel Apna
Gar Qais Hain To Hum Hain, Farhad Hain to Hum Hain !!

Kaaba Manam, Haram Manam, Dair Manam, Sanam Manam
Momin-o-Birehman Manam, Man Manam Na-Man Manam !!

Ishq Manam, Jinan Manam, Dard Manam, Zubaan Manam
Rooh Manam, Badan Manam Man Manam Na-Man Manam !!

Mulk-e-Khuda Me Yaron Aabad Hain To Hum Hain
Taa'meer-e-Do Jahan Ki Buniyad Hain to Hum !!
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Author is researcher at Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. He can be reached at navedashrafi@gmail.com Views expressed by the author are personal.