The Ballad of Layla’s Name

Описание: The Ballad of Layla’s Name
© Muslim Tunes

This nasheed is inspired by the timeless poetry of Jalāl ad-Dīn Rumi, particularly his retelling of the story of Layla and Majnun in the Masnavi. While many know Layla and Majnun as a tragic love story, Rumi transforms it into something far deeper - a spiritual allegory about the soul’s journey toward Divine love.

In Rumi’s vision, Majnun’s “madness” is not romantic obsession but spiritual awakening. Layla becomes more than a woman; she represents Divine Beauty, the presence of God, the Beloved. Majnun represents the human soul. As his love intensifies, he loses his sense of self - until he can say, “I am Layla.” This is not ego, but the annihilation of ego.

Rumi’s intent was to show that true love dissolves separation. The lover and the Beloved are not two. When the “I” disappears, only Love remains.

Brief Interpretation of Rumi’s Intent
Rumi uses the Layla–Majnun story as an extended metaphor:
Layla → Divine Reality / God
Majnun → The seeking soul
Desert → Spiritual isolation and purification
Madness → Ecstatic devotion (fana, annihilation of the ego)
Union → Spiritual awakening
The core message:
Worldly love is a mirror reflecting Divine love. When love becomes pure enough, it burns away the self. What remains is unity.

This nasheed attempts to echo that transformation - the journey from longing… to loss… to union.