Tawfik Al Munjed

Religious Muwashahat

• Ya Emam Al Rusl (O Nobel Leader of Messengers)
• Atainaka Belfakr (We Brought You Poverty)
• Ayuha Al Moushtaq (Oh, Who Are Longing)
• E'lahi Sabaht Behamdk Al Ashia' (My God, All Things Glorify You With Praise)
• Ya Rasul Sallam A'laik (O Messenger, Peace Be Upon You)
• Malel Al Moulk (O Sovereign of All)

• Da' Tark Al Ghai (Abandon the Darkness)
• Da'ouni Da'ouni (Leave Me, Leave Me)
• Khirt Allah (God Wealth)
• Ya Ajuad Al Rakbo (O Best of Origins)
• Ya Khair Khalq Allah (O Best of God's Creations)

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A collection of religious nasheeds and prophetic praises performed by iconic Syrian chanter Tawfik Al Munjed recorded in the Umayyad Mosque. Tawfik Al Munjed (1910-1998) was born in Damascus and was influenced during his upbringing by the melodies of Sayed Darwish and his muwashahat, which he memorized perfectly and borrowed several musical parts from, performing them with a small group of amateur musicians and singers. He impressed Sheikh Taj Al Din Al Hasani, who was the president of Syria at that time, with his voice when he asked him to sing the poem Ya Layl al-Sabb Mata Ghaduh (O Night of the Passionate Lover, When Will Its Dawn Come). His prophetic praises and religious nasheeds were broadcast during the month of Ramadan. His reputation spread throughout Damascus and he was nicknamed The Nightingale of the Levant. He regularly accepted invitations with his band to perform at religious celebrations and weddings in Damascus and its countryside, becoming within a few years the main singer in Sufi order gatherings. His first composition in poetry and melody was a prophetic muwashah in the Zanjaran maqam that included: "O travelers to the Prophet / Deliver my greetings to the beloved / The fire of my heart has not been extinguished / Until I visit you, O beloved." Al Munjed remained the head of the Chanters' Association in Syria until his death in 1998.