La Ilaha Ila Allah (There is No God But God)

Audio file
Date recorded: September 27, 1967
Contributor(s): Performer: The Men of God; Performer: Unidentified; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: amdah nabawiya, sacred song, song of praise
Culture: Arab, Moroccan
Instruments: bendir, voice
Setting: The tomb of Moulay Idriss
Location: Fez, Fès-Meknès, Morocco
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T2099
Track Number: 11
Archive ID: T2099R11
Note: The men of God (an association of men who always speak of God) -chorus of 10-12 males with frame drums (poor recording). "There is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet, there is no God but God in heaven, Allah, the God who sees all, the good and the bad." The text "La ilaha ila Allah" (There is no God but God) is part of the Islamic shahada, or profession of faith. Traditionally, all that is required to convert to Islam is to publicly recite the shahada: 'Ashadu an la ilaha ila allah wa ashadu anna muhammadan rasul-ullah' (I testify that there is no God but God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God).
Belongs to: Fes III 9/67
About the session: More recordings from the moussem of Moulay Idriss in Fes. This session comprises mostly religious folk songs and music of Sufi orders (ar. turuq, sing: tariqa). The tradition of celebration and veneration of holy men (ar. auliya') such as Moulay Idriss stems from Sufism, the mystical strand of Islamic belief, and several turuq incorporate music into their ritual practice, including the Hamadcha and 'Aissaouia orders.
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