Presence (AlḥamduliLlāh)

“Presence”, also known by its refrain “AlḥamduliLlāh”, is a soulful Muslim reimagining of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” by Canadian singer–songwriter Nader Khan, from his 2015 album Water. The song explores the etiquette (adab) of knocking on the “door” of Divine Presence, capturing the journey of a seeker coming to the profound realisation that “He is with you wheresoever you may be” (Q. 57:4). To learn more about the story behind the song, check out this page on Nader Khan’s website. For a different Islamic rendition of “Hallelujah”, in Arabic, see Muḥammad al-Ḥusayān’s Yā Ilāhī.

Lyrics

– verse 1 –

At the doorstep to Your abode,
I dismount from the ride I rode,
And drag my guilty feet, alhamduliLlah.
The shoes come off as I knock the door.
Eyes downcast upon the floor,
Struggling to repeat “alhamduliLlah”.

– verse 2 –

Waiting for You to let me in,
I cast a blaming glance within,
And I’m grateful that I’m here, alhamduliLlah.
I’ll knock forever if I must,
Though my knocking hands may turn to dust,
Every knock with hope and fear, alhamduliLlah.

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– verse 3 –

I’ve been knocking a while, and I’ve grown so old.
Glad I’m a knocker, not a wayward soul,
But it’s You that I desire, alhamduliLlah.
More than anyone, or anything,
More than heaven and earth and all within,
More than freedom from the Fire, alhamduliLlah.

– verse 4 –

How could I have been so wrong?
You’ve been with me all along,
On the path, and at the door, alhamduliLlah.
When I fell, got up, and raised my hands,
And prayed again for one more chance,
When my face was on the floor, alhamduliLlah.

– verse 5 –

Now I celebrate like a little boy,
Once guilty feet now dance with joy,
My Lord is here with me, alhamduliLlah.
I whirl and dance with no restraint,
No grievances, nor complaint,
The Truth has set me free, alhamduliLlah.

Audio Samples

🎙️a cappella · 🪘drum(s) · 🎶music · ♀️female vocals

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