My Ummah

Date of release: 30 Sep, 2005

Album Cover

Tracklist + Liner Notes

  1. My Ummah Intro

    Aynal ummah?
    Where is the ummah?

    Rabbana unsurna
    Qawwina wahhidna
    Ilayka iltaja’na
    Our Lord help us
    Make us strong and united
    In You we have sought refuge

    Music & lyrics by Sami Yusuf
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  2. My Ummah

    My ummah, my ummah
    He will say
    Rasulullah on that day
    Even though we’ve strayed from him and his way

    My brothers, my sisters, in Islam
    Let’s struggle, work, and pray
    If we are to
    Bring back the glory of his way

    CHORUS:
    Ya Allah ya rabbal ‘alamin
    Ya rahmanu ya rahim
    Ya rabbi
    O Allah Lord of the Worlds
    O Merciful and Beneficent
    O my Lord

    Let the Ummah rise again
    Let us see daylight again
    Once again

    Let’s become whole again
    Proud again
    ’Cause I swear with firm belief in our hearts
    We can bring back the glory of our past

    My ummah, my ummah
    He will say
    Rasulullah on that day
    Even though we strayed from him and his way

    Look at where we were
    And look at where we are
    And tell me
    Is this how he’d want it to be?
    Oh no! Let us bring back our glory

    Music & lyrics by Sami Yusuf
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  3. Hasbi Rabbi

    O Allah the Almighty
    Protect me and guide me
    To your love and mercy
    Ya Allah don’t deprive me
    From beholding your beauty
    O my Lord accept this plea

    CHORUS:
    Hasbi rabbi jallallah
    Ma fi qalbi ghayrullah
    My Lord is enough for me, Glory be to Allah
    There is nothing in my heart except Allah

    CHORUS

    Hindi:
    Wo tanha kaun hai
    Badshah wo kaun hai
    Meherba wo kaun hai
    Who is the only One?
    Who is the King?
    Who is the Merciful?

    Kya unchi shan hai
    Uskey sab nishan hai
    Sab dilon ki jan hai
    Who is the most praised and benevolent?
    Whatever you see in this world is His sign
    He’s the love of every soul

    CHORUS

    Turkish:
    Affeder gunahi
    Alemin padisahi
    Yureklerin penahi
    He is the Forgiver of all sins
    He is the King of the universe
    He is the Refuge of all hearts

    Isit Allah derdimi, bu ahlarimi
    Rahmeyle, bagisla gunahlarimi
    Hayreyle hem aksam hem sabahlarimi
    O Allah hear my sorrows and my sighs
    Have mercy and pardon my sins
    Bless my night and days

    CHORUS

    Arabic:
    Ya rabbal ‘alamin
    Salli ‘ala Tahal amin
    Fi kulli waqtin wa hin
    O Lord of the worlds
    Send peace and blessings
    On Ta-ha the trustworthy
    In every time and at every instant

    Imla’ qalbi bil yaqin
    Thabbitni ‘ala hadhad din
    Waghfir li wal muslimin
    Fill my heart with conviction
    Make me steadfast on this way of life
    And forgive me and all the believers

    Hindi lyrics: Ustadh Mehboob
    Turkish lyrics: Ustadh Firooz
    Arabic & English lyrics: Bara Kherigi
    Melody: Afghani folklore
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  4. Ya Rasulallah

    Ya sadiqal aqwal ya Muhammad
    O truthful one in sayings O Muhammad
    Ya tahiral akhlaq ya Muhammad
    O pure one in character O Muhammad
    Ya hadiyal akwan ya Muhammad
    O guide of all the worlds O Muhammad
    Ya taja ruslillah ya Muhammad
    O crown of God’s messengers O Muhammad
    Ya khayra khalqillah, ya rasulallah
    O best of creation O Messenger of God

    CHORUS:
    Ya nabiyyallah, safiyyallah ya Muhammad
    Ya waliyyallah, hafiyyallah ya Muhammad
    Ya bashirallah, nadhirallah ya Muhammad
    Ya habiballah, shafi’allah ya Muhammad
    Ya khayra khalqillah, ya rasulallah

    Ya badrat tamam
    O full moon
    Nuradh dhalam
    Light of the darkness
    ‘Aliyal maqam
    In possession of a high rank
    Sayyidul kiram
    Master of the noble & generous
    Monqidhal anam
    Saviour of humanity
    ‘Alaykas salatu wassalam
    May peace & blessings be upon you

    CHORUS
    Ya nabiyyallah, safiyyallah, waliyyallah, Muhammad
    Ya habiballah, khalilallah, nadhirallah, Muhammad

    Ya khitamal anbiya’i ya rasulallah
    O seal of the Prophets, O Messenger of Allah
    Ya imamal atqiya’i ya rasulallah
    O leader of the God-fearing, O Messenger of Allah
    Ya dawa’a kulli da’i ya rasulallah
    O cure for every disease, O Messenger of Allah

    Ya rabbal Mustafa
    O Lord of al-Mustafa
    Bi jahil Mustafa
    For the sake of al-Mustafa
    Ighfiridh dhunub, usturil ‘uyub,
    Forgive all sins, conceal all faults,
    ihdil qulub, likay tatub
    guide the hearts, so that they repent;
    Dha’ifi thawab, yamminil kitab,

    Multiply our reward, make our books in our right hands;
    ab’idil ‘athab, yawmal hisab
    make us far from the Fire, On the Day of Judgement

    Ya rasuli, ya habibi, ya nabiyallah
    Ya shafi’i, ya bashiri, ya safiyyallah
    Ya rasulallah

    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics by Bara Kherigi
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  5. Try Not to Cry

    You, you’re not aware
    That we’re aware
    Of your despair
    Don’t show your tears
    To your oppressor
    Don’t show your tears

    CHORUS:
    Try not to cry little one
    You’re not alone
    I’ll stand by you
    Try not to cry little one
    My heart is your stone
    I’ll throw with you

    Isam:
    ‘Ayn Jalut where David slew Goliath
    This very same place that we be at
    Passing through the sands of times
    This land’s been the victim of countless crimes
    From Crusaders and Mongols
    to the present aggression
    Then the Franks, now even a crueller oppression
    If these walls could speak,
    imagine what would they say

    For me in this path that I walk on
    there’s only one way
    Bullets may kill, bones may break
    Still I throw stones like David before me and I say

    CHORUS

    You, you’re not aware
    That we’re aware
    Of your despair
    Your nightmares will end
    This I promise, I promise

    CHORUS

    Lenny:
    No llores, no pierdas la fe
    La sed la calma el que haze
    Agua de la arena
    Y tu que te levantas con orgullo entre las piedras
    Haz hecho mares de este polvo
    Don’t cry, don’t lose faith
    The one who made water come out of the sand
    Is the one who quenches the thirst
    And you who rise proud from between the stones
    Have made oceans from this dust

    Waqas:
    I throw stones at my eyes
    ’cause for way too long they’ve been dry
    Plus they see what they shouldn’t from oppressed babies to thighs
    I throw stones at my tongue
    ’cause it should really keep its peace
    I throw stones at my feet
    ’cause they stray and lead to defeat
    A couple of big ones at my heart
    ’cause the thing is freezing cold
    But my nafs is still alive
    and kicking unstoppable and on a roll
    I throw bricks at the devil so I’ll be sure to hit him
    But first at the man in the mirror
    so I can chase out the venom

    Isam:
    Hmm, a little boy shot in the head
    Just another kid sent out to get some bread
    Not the first murder nor the last
    Again and again a repetition of the past
    Since the very first day same story
    Young ones, old ones, some glory
    How can it be, has the whole world turned blind?
    Or is it just ’cause it’s only affecting my kind?!
    If these walls could speak,
    imagine what would they say
    For me in this path that I walk on
    there’s only one way
    Bullets may kill, bones may break
    Still I throw stones like David before me and I say

    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics: Waqas Qadri, Sami Yusuf, R. Lenny Martinez, Isam Bachiri, Bara Kherigi, Omar Shah
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  6. Muhammad (Pbuh)

    Dedicated to the innocent children of Beslan

    Every day I see the same headlines
    Crimes committed in the name of the divine
    People committing atrocities in his name
    They murder and kidnap with no shame
    But did he teach hatred, violence, or bloodshed? No… Oh No

    He taught us about human brotherhood
    And against prejudice he firmly stoodHe loved children, their hands he’d hold
    And taught his followers to respect the old
    So would he allow the murder of an innocent child? Oh No…

    CHORUS:
    Muhammad ya rasulallah
    Muhammad ya habiballah
    Muhammad ya khalilallah
    Muhammad

    Muhammad ya rasulallah
    Muhammad ya shafi’allah
    Muhammad ya bashirallah
    Ya rasulallah

    Muhammad the light of my eyes
    About you they spread many lies
    If only they came to realise
    Bloodshed you despise

    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics: Sami Yusuf & Bara Kherigi
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  7. Make a Prayer

    O people
    In a hut made of tin and clay
    A small boy dreams away
    Of clean water and a meal a day
    And not to fear mines as he plays each day

    O people
    Somewhere dark and out of the way
    Aids has found yet another prey
    To save his life he just couldn’t pay
    Tell me what we’re going to do

    For our brothers in Durban
    For our sisters in Darfur
    Show me what we’re going to do
    Are we just going to sit there?
    Nice and cosy on our armchairs
    Will we not even make a prayer?

    You might ask yourself
    Why should I help these people?
    They’ll tell you why
    We’re not so different from you
    We have dreams just like you
    But they were buried with the
    bodies of our loved ones

    O people
    Are we deaf, dumb, and blind?
    What is going through our minds?
    Don’t we care for the rest of mankind?

    O people
    We claim to love peace and justice
    Why do we preach what we don’t practice?
    Let’s help them out of this darkness

    Tell me what we’re going to do
    For our brothers in Ethiopia
    For our sisters in Rwanda
    Show me what we’re going to do
    Are we just going to sit there?
    Nice and cosy on our armchairs
    Will we not even make a prayer?

    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics: Sami Yusuf & Bara Kherigi
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  8. Eid Song

    Let us rejoice indeed
    For this is the day of Eid

    CHORUS:
    La ilaha illallah
    Muhammad rasulallah
    La ilaha illallah
    Muhammad rasulallah
    ‘Alayhi salatullah
    ‘Alayhi salatullah

    Children are wearing new clothes
    Bright colours fill the streets
    Their faces full of laughter
    Their pockets full of sweets
    Let us rejoice indeed
    For this is the day of Eid

    CHORUS

    Mosques are full of worshippers
    in rows straight and neat
    Their Lord they remember, His name they repeat
    Their hands are raised to the sky
    They supplicate and plead
    On this blessed day
    Forgive us they entreat
    Let us rejoice indeed
    For this is the day of Eid

    CHORUS

    People are giving charity
    And helping those in need
    In giving they’re competing
    Today there is no greed
    Let us rejoice indeed
    For this is the day of Eid

    CHORUS

    Enemies embracing each other
    All hatred is buried
    Everyone is celebrating
    Greeting everyone they meet
    Let us rejoice indeed
    For this is the day of Eid

    Music: Persian Folklore
    Lyrics by Bara Kherigi
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  9. Free

    What goes through your mind?
    As you sit there looking at me
    Well I can tell from your looks
    That you think I’m so oppressed
    But I don’t need for you to liberate me

    My head is not bare
    And you can’t see my covered hair
    So you sit there and you stare
    And you judge me with your glare
    You’re sure I’m in despair
    But are you not aware
    Under this scarf that I wear
    I have feelings, and I do care

    CHORUS:
    So don’t you see?
    That I’m truly free
    This piece of scarf on me
    I wear so proudly
    To preserve my dignity…

    My modesty
    My integrity
    So don’t judge me
    Open your eyes and see…
    “Why can’t you just accept me?” she says
    “Why can’t I just be me?” she says
    Time and time again
    You speak of democracy
    Yet you rob me of my liberty
    All I want is equality
    Why can’t you just let me be free?

    For you I sing this song
    My sister, may you always be strong
    From you I’ve learnt so much
    How you suffer so much
    Yet you forgive those who laugh at you
    You walk with no fear
    Through the insults you hear
    Your wish so sincere
    That they’d understand you
    But before you walk away
    This time you turn and say:

    But don’t you see?
    That I’m truly free
    This piece of scarf on me
    I wear so proudly
    To preserve my dignity
    My modesty
    My integrity
    So let me be
    She says with a smile
    I’m the one who’s free
    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics: Sami Yusuf & Bara Kherigi
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  10. Munajat (Arabic)

    Wahdi fi dhulmati layli
    Fi wahshati darbi
    Hammi yuthqiluni
    Dhanbi yu’limuni
    Alone, in the darkness of my night
    In the loneliness of my path
    My worries weigh me down
    My sins pain me

    Wahdi, ad’uka wa arju
    Min dhanbi ashku
    Mali siwak
    Ana fi himak
    Alone, I supplicate to You and I hope
    From my sins I complain
    I have no one but You
    I am at Your door

    CHORUS:
    Farham ‘abdan najak
    Ya Allah, ya Allah
    Anta alraja
    Minka alhuda
    Ya Allah, ya Allah
    So forgive a servant who intimately calls You
    O Allah, O Allah
    You are all hope, From You is guidance
    O Allah, O Allah

    Rabbahu hudak
    Ma ziltu asir
    Wa’alal ‘isyan
    Ma ‘udtu qadir
    Fa’anir durubi
    Waghfir dhunubi
    Fa’anal faqir
    O Allah give me your guidance
    For I am still imprisoned
    Of disobedience I am no longer capable
    So illuminate my paths and forgive my sins
    For I am poor and in need of You

    Qad ‘adal qalbu
    Fiddarbi yasir
    Farihan mushtaqan
    Lillahi yatir
    Wa rajahu ridhaka
    Yawma liqaka
    Antal qadir
    My heart has returned to walk on the path
    Full of joy and longing, flying to God
    And its only hope is gaining your pleasure
    On the day of meeting You
    You are the Omnipotent

    Music by Ustadh Firooz
    Lyrics by Ayman Tolba
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  11. Mother (Arabic)

    Blessed is your face
    Blessed is your name
    My beloved
    Blessed is your smile
    Which makes my soul want to fly
    My beloved
    All the nights
    And all the times
    That you cared for me
    But I never realised it
    And now it’s too late
    Forgive me

    Now I’m alone filled with so much shame
    For all the years I caused you pain
    If only I could sleep in your arms again
    Mother I’m lost without you

    You were the sun that brightened my day
    Now who’s going to wipe my tears away
    If only I knew what I know today
    Mother I’m lost without you

    Ummahu, ummahu, ya ummi
    wa shawqahu ila luqyaki ya ummi
    Ummuka, ummuka, ummuka ummuka
    Qawlu rasulika
    Fi qalbi, fi hulumi
    Anti ma’i ya ummi
    Mother… Mother… O my mother
    How I long to see O mother
    “Your mother, Your mother, Your mother”
    Is the saying of your Prophet
    In my heart, in my dreams
    You are always with me mother

    Ruhti wa taraktini
    Ya nura ‘aynayya
    Ya unsa layli
    Ruhti wa taraktini
    Man siwaki yahdhununi
    Man siwaki yasturuni
    Man siwaki yahrusuni
    ‘Afwaki ummi
    Samihini…
    You went and left me
    O light of my eyes
    O comfort of my nights
    You went and left me
    Who, other than you, will embrace me?
    Who, other than you, will cover me?
    Who, other than you, will guard over me?
    Your pardon mother, forgive me

    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics: Sami Yusuf, Bara Kherigi & Zakariya Siddiqi
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  12. Muhammad (Pbuh)

    Performed, composed & arranged by Sami Yusuf
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  13. We Will Never Submit

    Lan nakhdha’
    Lan narhal
    Lan naskut
    Lan nansa
    We will never submit
    We will never leave
    We will never be silenced
    We will never forget

    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics by Bara Kherigi
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  14. Du'a (Turkish)

    Ne guzel yaratmissin nimetlerini
    biz kullarina ey Yuce Allah
    Nasil sukredelim verdigin bu kadar
    ihsanlarina ey Yuce Allah
    How beautiful are the blessings
    You’ve bestowed upon us your servants O mighty Allah
    How can we ever thank You
    for all the bounties you’ve bestowed upon us O mighty Allah

    CHORUS:
    Her zaman ismin dilimizde ey Allah, ey Allah
    Her zaman askin kalbimizde ey Allah, ey Allah
    Your name is always on our tongues
    Your love is always in our hearts

    Biz gunahkar, biz perisan,
    Sen Rahimsin, hem de Rahman
    Aglarim, yalvaririm,
    Bagisla bizi…
    We are reckless sinners
    You are most merciful and most compassionate
    I cry and implore You to forgive us

    Kendimize yazik ettik,
    Hak yolunda hata ettik,
    Aglarim, yalvaririm,
    Bagisla bizi…
    We’ve wronged ourselves
    From the way of truth we have strayed
    I cry and implore You to forgive us

    Music & lyrics by Ustadh Firooz
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

  15. Mother (Turkish)

    Blessed is your face
    Blessed is your name
    My beloved
    Blessed is your smile
    Which makes my soul want to fly
    My beloved
    All the nights
    And all the times
    That you cared for me
    But I never realised it
    And now it’s too late
    Forgive me

    Now I’m alone filled with so much shame
    For all the years I caused you pain
    If only I could sleep in your arms again
    Mother I’m lost without you

    You were the sun that brightened my day
    Now who’s going to wipe my tears away
    If only I knew what I know today
    Mother I’m lost without you

    Turkish:
    Ben derdimi kime söyleyeyim
    Sensiz ana
    Senin kadrini hic bilemedim ben
    Aziz ana

    Resul buyurdu;
    Cennet analarin ayaklari altinda
    Senin hayalin aklimda,
    ruhumda, ruyalarimda

    Sen gittiginde canim gitti,
    Ayrilik bir yaman dertti,
    Dunya bana cefa etti,
    Benim aziz anam

    Aglarim ben bulut gibi,
    Dilimdesin sarki gibi,
    Gunahlarim derin derin
    Hakkini helal et ana

    To whom will I tell my sorrow
    in your absence, mother?
    I didn’t know your real value, my beloved mother

    The Messenger (pbuh) said
    “Paradise is under the mothers’ feet”
    Your image is in my heart, my soul, and my dreams

    When you left, my soul left
    Our separation was painful
    The world gave me pain
    and sorrow my beloved mother

    I cry like a cloud
    You are like a song on my tongue
    I’ve wronged you countless times
    Forgive me mother

    Music by Sami Yusuf
    Lyrics: Sami Yusuf, Bara Kherigi & Ustadh Firooz
    Produced by Sami Yusuf

Album Description

Following Al Mu’allim came the groundbreaking, genre-defining album, My Ummah. Moving on from Al Mu’allim it was no longer ‘percussive’ orientated and lyrically more generic with more scope. Musically, it is a perfect blend of several different genres, which expose the listener to some truly powerful pieces of music. Whether it’s the haunting and epic string arrangement of Munajaat or lamenting of the nay flute in Muhammad SAS, one never ceases to be amazed by the musicality, versatility and the gifted ability of Sami Yusuf of creating and combining both music and message.

The album revolutionized Islamic music or Fan al Haadif (art with a meaning) and began to give Spiritique form and shape. The most commercially successful track was the Afghani folkloric song, Hasbi Rabbi which became the biggest selling download in the entire Arab world (and much of the Muslim world), which ultimately led to Sami being dubbed by Time Magazine as “Islam’s Biggest Rockstar”.

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