The members of the Ibn Arabi Ensemble is born from Sufi families in Tangier… Read Full Bio ↴The members of the Ibn Arabi Ensemble is born from Sufi families in Tangier. So it's no surprise that it was exposed to the Sama chants -- the sacred song of the Sufi sect of Islam -- ever since they were young children. Ahmed Kelig, founder of the group, has formed an original ensemble that encompasses a Moroccan musical tradition in which the plaintive melodies of the ney (end-blown flute), the rhythms of the bendir (Moroccan snare-drum), and the tones of the chants evoke the deep spirituality of the Sufi sect.

Je crois en la religion de l'Amour
Ensemble Ibn Arabi Lyrics

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تَنَاوَحتِ الأرْوَاحُ فِي غَيْضَةِ الغَضا
فمَالَتْ بأفنان علىّ ، فأفناني
وجاءت من الشوق المبرّح والجوى
ومن طُرَف البلوى إلى بأفنان
لقد صار قلبي قابلاً كل صورة
فمرعىً لغزلانٍ، ودير لرهبانِ
وبيتٌ لأوثانٍ، وكعبة طائفٍ
وألواح توراةٍ، ومصحف قرآنِ

أدين بدين الحب أنَّى توجهتْ

ركائبه، فالحب ديني وإيماني

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Ensemble Ibn Arabi's song "Je crois en la religion de l'Amour" talks about the meeting of souls, which are drawn to each other in a state of turmoil and desire. The singer mentions that they are drawn to them with great force, so much so that it feels like their own self is being pulled towards them. They describe the source of this longing as being both intense and painful. The singer suggests that their heart has become capable of holding all forms of love, as it has become a haven for different creatures and entities. The list of things that their heart is capable of holding includes fields, trees, monks, idols, holy sites and scriptures. They proudly declare that they have embraced the religion of love, and that they see it as their faith and their belief.

This song is very much inspired by the spiritual philosophy of the Sufis, and it stresses on the importance of love as a form of worship. The lyrics pay homage to the teachings of the great Islamic philosopher Ibn Arabi, who believed that love was the path to enlightenment and a way to connect with the divine. The verses of the song use vivid imagery and metaphor to describe the intensity of the singer's love, which is all-encompassing and all-embracing. The song echoes the central message of Ibn Arabi's teachings - that love transcends all boundaries and that it is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe.

Line by Line Meaning

تَنَاوَحتِ الأرْوَاحُ فِي غَيْضَةِ الغَضا
The souls whispered in the silence of the night

فمَالَتْ بأفنان علىّ ، فأفناني
And they leaned towards me, embracing my being

وجاءت من الشوق المبرّح والجوى
Out of longing and deep sorrow

ومن طُرَف البلوى إلى بأفنان
And from the edge of affliction to embracing

لقد صار قلبي قابلاً كل صورة
My heart has become capable of all forms

فمرعىً لغزلانٍ، ودير لرهبانِ
A pasture for gazelles, a monastery for monks

وبيتٌ لأوثانٍ، وكعبة طائفٍ
A temple for idols and a Kaaba for pilgrims

وألواح توراةٍ، ومصحف قرآنِ
The tablets of the Torah and the pages of the Quran

أدين بدين الحب أنَّى توجهتْ
I adhere to the religion of love, wherever it takes me

ركائبه، فالحب ديني وإيماني
In its caravans, for love is my religion and faith

Writer(s): Abdellah El Kheligh, Ibn Arabi, Haroun Teboul

Contributed by Ella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.