theAlchemy of Happiness, his elder brother Abu Hamid Muhammad al-
Ghazali went even further, indicating audition as the only path to spiritual
transformation.
Know that hearts and consciences are treasuries of secrets and mines of jewels.
Wrapped within them lie their jewels just asfire is enveloped in iron and stone, and
hidden like water is concealed under dust and loam. There is no way of extracting
such hidden things save by theflint and steel of audition to poetry andsama,and
there is no entrance to the heart save by the antechamber of the ears. So musical
tones, measured and pleasing, bring forth what is in it and make evident its
beauties and defects.^49
Such a perspective was not, however, universal. Ibn Arabi understood
audition as a path for beginners, but unnecessary for more advanced
adepts.
He who listens with his mind hears in everything, from everything, and through
everything, without restriction; and the sign of that [type of listening] is silent
amazement and physical motionlessness. He who listens with hisflesh (nafs)–not
with his mind (‘aql)–can hear only through melodies and sweet, yearning voices;
and the sign of this is his motion while listening, in a manner of passing-away
(fan’a) from perception.^50
Later Sufiorders held diverse opinions about music. Some, like the
Chisti order, use it ritually, sometimes even overshadowing medita-
tivedhikr. Others, like the Suhrawardiyya or the Naqshibandi, dis-
dain it.^51
Reflecting on this tension between transgression and transcendence,
Amir Khosrau of Delhi (1253–1375), considered the father ofqawalli
devotional trance music, intertwines a discourse of drinking and music
with the Quran. Echoing earlier assertions of the emotive power of music,
he says:
Blessings upon he who, in a single moment, can move another
To weeping, to laughter, to wakefulness, to slumber!
God’s leave upon those persons who, when they sing:
By their song is raised up the gathered multitude–
andyou will behold the people drunk!
Q 22:2 and you will behold the people drunk, but they will not be drunk (on the
Judgement Day)(^49) Lewisohn, 1997 :1. (^50) Gribetz, 1991 : 51. (^51) Kugel, 2012.
70 Seeing with the Ear