This is an excerpt from the film 'Cities of Light' which is about the history of Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain) and the incredible flourishing of philosophy, theology, medicine, translation, and much more, among the Jewish and Muslim scholars and mystics.

In the final part of this documentary, William Dalrymple visits Sufi orders in Morocco where the music is very ‘loud and exuberant’. Dalrymple calls it ‘a sort of spiritual music jazz’. Here we also see many female musicians who perform healing with music. Dalrymple also visits the Fez Festival of Sacred Music where musicians of all faiths participate. Youssou N’Dour, who also performs at the festival, is interviewed and expresses his belief that Sufi music can correct the present image of Islam.

This is part four of the film, Sufi Soul, and William Dalrymple goes to the Pakistani province of Sindh to visit the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif. He was a poet-saint who died in 1752 and to this day his music is played every night at his shrine using an a string instrument called the dambar which Shah Abdul Latif invented himself. Dalrymple also speaks to mullahs of a more recent movement influenced by Wahhabi ideas that are anti-music and anti-Sufi. However, a musician he speaks to says that the majority of

Here is Part 3 of this beautiful film. Part 2 was in Turkey, now in Part 3, William Dalrymple visits Sufis in Pakistan where he says the sema is more raw, more elemental. Also showing the Qawwalis of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his nephew, Rahat.

This is the second part of the Sufi Soul documentary. There may be a short overlap with the first part. The documentary has been divided into five parts on you tube. I will post all five parts.

A beautiful video on Sufism, its origins and context, by the acclaimed author, William Dalrymple. It contains a description of the meaning of the sema of the whirling dervishes and focuses on the power and transformative effect of music. This is a very informative video and a treat to watch.

Palestine is Still the Issue by John Pilger. He speaks to Palestinians and Israelis.

This is Karen Armstrongs speech when she received a TED award. It is very moving and pertinent to the global situation today. Religion can and should be a force for change today. Using the Golden Rule of every faith: Do not do unto others what you would not have them do to you. Karen Armstrong is working on creating a Charter of Compassion for the whole world.

"A giant statue of a Buddha has been discovered in central Afghanistan, near to the ruins of the world-famous Bamiyan Buddhas.

Archaeologists say the 19m (62ft) statue is in a sleeping position and dates back to the Third Century.

Other relics such as coins and ceramics were also found."

This is a fascinating archaeological discovery in Afghan that also includes the world's oldest oil paintings.

I don’t know a great deal about the Muslim community in South Africa but I have just watched this video and found it very informational and fascinating. The video listens to several women from diverse backgrounds about their lives as Muslims and the activities they pursue. It is 30 minutes long which gives the chance to hear many voices.

I don't know a great deal about the Muslim community in South Africa but I have just watched this video and found it very informational and fascinating. The video listens to several women from diverse backgrounds about their lives as Muslims and the activities they pursue. It is 30 minutes long which gives the chance to hear many voices.

This video shows the historic launch of the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equity in 2006. This is a gathering of Muslim women scholars who are working hard for the benefit of Muslim women

Here is a short video about the Hui Chinese Muslims and women learning Arabic

Stunning imagery accompanying the words of Jalaluddin Rumi

Coleman Barks reading his interpretation of Rumi's work