Recently, musicians from the Muslim and Christian traditions have been amalgamating two spiritual musical styles important to both religions. Qawwali, a mystical Islamic music that aims at dikr -- bringing the players and listeners in closer proximity to experiencing God, remembering God -- has been combined with many kinds of music, such as local musics from around the world, rock, reggae, hip-hop, and electronica.
At the latest Muslim Voices Festival musicians married Qawwali and an influential Christian spiritual music - Gospel. Hussein Rashid, who regularly attends the Muslim Voices Festival, provides a short commentary and review of the experience at Religion Dispatches.
Though I wasn't there, I would imagine that, having listened to both styles separately and understanding the deep spiritual feelings and inspiration behind these types of music, this would be an intriguing and fruitful cross-fertilization. Each has its own unique contribution of musical power, so experiencing them together with any amount of mutual influence must be an exhilarating and heartening.
Since music speaks a language all its own, one that transcends words, musical interaction can be a beautiful and advantageous way of interfaith dialogue conducive to peacable co-existence.
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