BREATH IN SUFI MUSIC: FROM THE BREATH OF THE COMPASSIONATE TO MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study explores the practice of breath (nafas) in Sufi music through the lens of Ibn al-ʿArabī’s doctrine of nafas al-Raḥmānī (the divine breath of compassion), examining its spiritual and musical dimensions within an integrated framework. In Sufi thought, breath represents the origin and continuity of existence, embodying the most fundamental connection between the human being, creation, and the creator. Acordingly this study argues that breath is not merely a biological act but a spiritual reality reminding one of the perpetual manifestation of divine creation. Drawing upon classical sources (Ibn al-ʿArabī, Qushayrī, al-Ghazālī, Mawlānā Rūmī) and modern interpretations (Schimmel, Chittick, İnançer, Erguner), the research analyzes the metaphysical significance of breath and its manifestations in Sufi musical practices such as the ney, dhikr, and samāʿ. Methodologically, it adopts a hermeneutic and comparative approach, offering an interpretive reading of classical Sufi texts alongside selected contemporary performance recordings. The findings reveal that breath in Sufi music is not a mere technical element but a metaphor for the continuity of being and the flow of divine grace. the results further indicate that traditional understandings of breath have been reinterpreted in contemporary performances (e.g., Mercan Dede, Erguner, Özhan), showing how an ancient spiritual knowledge is harmonized with modern sound aesthetics. Thus, breath emerges as a shared language of both creation and music. © 2025, Tolga Karaca. All rights reserved.