The Story of a Song: I Entered the Bond of Conversation Tonight

Today I would like to speak with you about one of the most famous compositions in Turkish music—"Muhabbet Bağına Girdim Bu Gece"—a piece that, likely, each of us has heard at least once in our lives, its melodies deeply etched into our memories. How many of us realize that this work, often heard today as part of festive gatherings or entertainment settings in the hicaz makam, was born out of a profound and spiritual atmosphere, and carries a spiritual narrative of great value?

Hafız Sadettin Kaynak’s student Hafız Ahmet himself recounted that this immortal melody did not arise from ordinary inspiration but from an indescribable state of vecd and cezbe—a spiritual ecstasy—experienced by the artist after a visionary encounter with our Prophet (peace be upon him) in his dream, during which he conversed with him. Let us examine, in light of historical sources, the story behind the song "Ararım", which we have all heard at least once in our lives.

^{Hafız Sadettin Kaynak}

(TDV İslam Ansiklopedisi)

One of the esteemed figures of classical Turkish art music, Hafız Sadettin Kaynak was born in İstanbul in 1895 as the eldest of five children of Ali Alaaddin Efendi and Havva Hanım. From an early age, he underwent a disciplined educational journey, memorizing the entire Qur’an by the age of ten and attaining the status of hafız. After completing his primary and secondary education in İstanbul, he finished his higher education at the Faculty of Theology.

During World War I, he fulfilled his national duty as a reserve officer in Diyarbakır. After his military service, he became actively involved in religious duties. In 1928, he began serving as the second imam at Sultan Selim Mosque, later rising to the position of chief imam, a role he held until 1930.^【1】

Sadettin Kaynak’s musical ear was cultivated through comprehensive instruction from the most accomplished masters of his time. He studied notation, rhythm, fasıl, and ilahi under Hafız Melek Efendi, Hafız Cemal Efendi, Neyzen Emin Dede, and Muallim Kazım Uz, thereby establishing a solid theoretical foundation in music.

^{Hafız Sadettin Kaynak}

(Anadolu Ajansı)

When examining his compositional journey, we see that he gained official recognition in 1926 with his composition "Hicran-ı Elem" in the hüzzam makam. That same year, he traveled to Berlin through a recording initiative, striving to elevate Turkish music to an international level.

In the early stages of his composing career, because he could not read musical notation, his compositions were transcribed by others. However, this did not diminish his mastery as a composer.^【2】

One of the composer’s most renowned, and widely recognized, works is the song "Muhabbet Bağına Girdim" ("Ararım Seni Her Yerde"), composed in the hicaz makam. Behind it lies a profound spiritual state, a dream, and deep love.

According to his student Hafız Ahmet, Sadettin Kaynak was once found weeping with joy at home in his later years. When Hafız Ahmet inquired about this emotional state, his master revealed that he had seen our Prophet (peace be upon him) in a dream and had engaged in a direct spiritual conversation with him. Inspired by the love, spiritual ecstasy, and divine inspiration from this experience, he composed and wrote the song that night specifically for our Prophet (peace be upon him).