The Mysticism of Sound ~ London
Thursday, 4th September – 7:30 pm
Colet House, 151 Talgarth Rd, London W14 9DA & Online
“The knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe.”
– Hazrat Inayat Khan
You are warmly invited to an evening of music and contemplation with Pir Zia Inayat Khan and Universerai, a new collective of musicians devoted to the sacred through sound.
Through word and music, we will journey into the mysticism of sound, inspired by the luminous cosmology of Hazrat Inayat Khan—musician, mystic, and teacher of the Sufi message— who, in 1910, journeyed from India to the West bearing the wisdom of the Sufis.
He gave a series of lectures and musical performances on Mysticism of Sound at venues including London’s Theosophical Society and Leighton House, sowing the seeds of a spiritual path that continues to resonate today. Now, over a century later, his grandson Pir Zia continues this transmission.
Logistics
- Colet House – 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm; doors open at 7:00 pm
- Online – details will be sent on the day
Biographies
Pir Zia Inayat Khan, PhD, is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, a school of Sufi contemplative study and practice. He is the author of Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions; Saracen Chivalry: Counsels on Valor, Generosity and the Mystical Quest; and the editor and compiler of Dream Flowers: The Collected Works of Noor Inayat Khan, for which he also wrote the critical introduction. Pir Zia divides his time between Richmond, Virginia and Suresnes, France. inayatiyya.org
Mehboob Nadeem Vocals | Sitar
Links: Website | YouTube | Instagram
Mehboob, grandson of legendary musicians Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan and Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan, comes from the illustrious Agra Gharana. Trained initially by his father Ustad Yakub Hussain and later by his uncle Shri Rafat Khan, he now studies under the renowned Pandit Arvind Parikh. Known for his rich voice and mastery of the sitar, Mehboob is celebrated as one of the leading practitioners of the Vilayatkhani Gharana and is regarded as one of the best sitar players in the UK.
RuhiyaVocals | Celtic Harp | Tanpura
Links: Website | YouTube | Instagram
Ruhiya is a singer-songwriter whose voice calls listeners into sacred remembrance, with original melodies that stir the heart with love and longing. Her distinctive sound weaves together folk, soul, poetry, and chant—creating a timeless tapestry inspired by dreams, mysticism, and the natural world. Ruhiya holds a Master’s in Music (with Distinction) from SOAS University of London and is a certified sound healing practitioner through the College of Sound Healing UK.
Zayn MohammedNey | Turkish Rebab | Guitar | Daf
Zayn Mohammed is a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, composer, and winner of Sky Arts Guitar Star (2016). A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he was mentored by jazz greats Ahmad Jamal, Wayne Shorter, and George Benson. Drawing on influences from Jazz, Flamenco, Indian Raga, and Turkish makam, Zayn crafts soul-stirring soundscapes that transcend genre. He is a regular collaborator with UK jazz pianist Robert Mitchell and is widely recognized for his fearless musical innovation. With a passion for pushing creative boundaries, Zayn continues to redefine the possibilities of contemporary music.
John WalklateVocals | Guitar
John Walklate is a musician and healing guide whose work draws from timeless wisdom traditions, while feeling distinctly fresh and unconstrained by convention. With a soulful baritone voice and mystical guitar style, his offerings include songs of inner yearning, flowing invocations, and mantras lovingly borrowed from several paths toward the One. Grounded and free from spiritual performance, John opens a space where sound becomes sanctuary, inviting a recognition of the life we see around us as the life we truly are.
Hanif Khan Tabla | Darbouka
Hanif Khan is a professional tabla player who has been based in London for the past 20 years. His musical journey began under the tutelage of his father, Ustad Hidayat Khan who was a well respected tabla player in India. Hanif Khan’s performance credentials include both international and nationwide theatre tours with The Kiterunner, major festival appearances including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Womad and Glastonbury. He is also a well established tabla teacher.
Chloë Butterworth Cello
Chloë Butterworth is a Somerset based cello teacher, musician, artist, and trainee luthier. Having grown up surrounded by music, with professional violinists as parents, Chloë has been playing the cello since she was 6 years old. She received her music degree from the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where she took training in pedagogy and gained a 1st in the subject. As a musician, teacher, and artist, Chloë puts passion into every aspect of her life.