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Under the benevolent auspices of Ramadan, Cairo adorns itself with a special aura: spirituality embraces more than ever the paved streets of its ancient heart. Lea Samara had the privilege of attending a Sufi concert within Beit El Sennary, a hidden gem in the Al Sayeda Zeinab District. She recounts.
Sufi music, “the sonic emanation from the mystical depths of Islam,” as described by Michael Frishkopf, a musicologist specializing in the sounds of Islam, “transcends mere vibrations to become a bridge between man and the divine.” This musical genre is intended to be a universal language where each note, each rhythm, and each breath exhales the quest of the soul in search of transcendence.
“As Egyptians celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, our hymn traditions captivate the heart and reveal the secrets of love and the Creator,” eloquently stated Fatemah Farag, one of the organizers of this exceptional event. Her words resonate in the emotionally charged atmosphere. At the heart of this sonic bliss lies the exquisite art of ‘Inshad Dini,’ a religious chant whose melodies are “prayers whispered in the ear of the Almighty.” The enchanting presence of a whirling dervish made this event even more memorable. Dressed in white, he moves with grace and harmony, his circular movements evoking the cosmic rotations of the universe. Each swirl seems to erase the boundaries between the visible and the invisible, offering the spectators an almost hypnotic journey.
In this setting of emotions, Beit El Sennary — packed — transforms into a theater of togetherness and sharing, where children frolic between the legs of their elders and voices blend in a symphony of unity. The choir, composed of about twenty singers, accompanies the audience on a musical journey that oscillates between solemnity and joy, between prayer and festive atmosphere. A soloist (who was no more than eight years old) moved the hundreds of people gathered on Monday with one of those “pure” voices, impressively pitch-perfect.
And what can be said about the architectural splendor of this place? A jewel of the Ottoman era, nestled in the heart of Downtown, whose walls still resonate with the echoes of history. A witness to the twists and turns of the French Expedition in Egypt (1798–1901), Beit El Sennary is much more than a simple building: it is a sanctuary of memory, where past and present mingle in a timeless ballet.
As the last notes faded away and the night enveloped Beit El Sennary, I remained there, imbued with this experience, grateful to have witnessed this musical odyssey in the heart of Cairo. In the silence that follows the show, I can still feel the heartbeat of the city vibrating to the rhythm of Ramadan.
Originally penned in French by Léa Samara
https://www.agendaculturel.com/article/je-vous-ecris-du-caire-leclosion-soufie-du-ramadan