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In some districts the brethren perform every Friday evening for their own practice and edification, as well as on other occasions by special invitation.
The brethren divide into two equal sides, which take up their position opposite one another in several parallel rows. At the top, between the two parties, sits the guru, who is respectfully saluted by all present. He begins by reciting the fātiḥah, the Mohammedan Lord's Prayer, and other passages from the holy writ; then he leads off the ratéb, which is intoned to the Achehnese and Malabar tunes, as they are called, alternately slow (jareuëng) and quick (bagaïh) tune. It consists of Achehnese verses, two at a time being sung to each tune, mixed with corrupt Arabic expressions the meaning of which is unknown to the hearers.
The leader sings alone three successive times the words: ya hō alah, ya mèëlòë[1]; then all intone in chorus after him, "o sòydilah[2], oh my lord Amat! (i. e. Aḥmad Rifāʾī)". Thereupon commence the verses, the recitation of which is accompanied by an orchestra of great rapaʾiʾs, while the actual performers occasionally strike smaller tambourines or wave them in the air with graceful motions. We append a translation of some of the verses.
Oh my Lord, we pray thee help us—against the point of the reunchōng (the ordinary Achehnese dagger) whose blade is exceeding sharp?
O sòydilah, O Abdulqādir—the prophet Chidhr lives in the great sea.
His abode is in the waters, yet does his body never become wet—through the favour of the Lord and Master, oh our Lord!
O iron, iron bélah[3]! wherefore art thou refractory?
- ↑ Oh He, Allah, Oh my Lord! Mèëlòë is corrupted from the Arabic maulāy = maulāya "my Lord."
- ↑ This word is a corruption of the Arabic shaiʾ lillāh "something done for the sake of God" which is frequently found in ḍikirs, and which is used to introduce a fatihah recited in honour of a prophet or saint. As it is here entirely out of place, I have left it untranslated.
- ↑ This word is a corruption of billāhi, i.e. "By God! for God's sake!", but it conveys no meaning to the ordinary Achehnese.
