A devotional circle of rhythm, sound, and remembrance
Some people feel something stirring in them. A quiet pull toward the sacred. A longing that does not go away.
If you know that feeling, this gathering is for you.
The Assembly of Lovers is a bi-weekly circle where we chant, drum, and sit in presence together. It is a simple practice built on sincerity, rhythm, and return. No performance. No prerequisites. No pressure to be anything.
Just devotion in its most human form.
What You Will Experience
A grounded, heart-focused spiritual practice
This is a gathering where you enter, breathe, chant, and let the sound carry you inward. There is no lecture to follow and no concept to understand. The rhythm does the work.
A supportive group field
The circle creates an energy you cannot create alone. Voices blend. Drums sync. Something opens. People often describe a calm, quiet fullness that lingers for days.
A space where ego softens and sincerity rises
Here, you do not need to perform, impress, or know anything. You simply participate. The power is in the shared presence.
A return to something real
This practice is rooted in Sufi tradition but accessible to anyone. The focus is remembrance, the return to what the heart knows beneath thought.
How the Gathering Flows
Opening (5 minutes)
We set intention. A short prayer to open the way. To align the heart toward what is Real.
Chanting and Rhythm (30-40 minutes)
Using the Sufi Chants of the Heart as guide (our vision is for the chants to grow to what the individuals in the circle are inspired to invoke), we share simple chants. The drum holds the pulse. The voice follows. The meanings are offered, not explained.
Repetition is the technology. The heart softens through return. Through invoking the Divine until the one invoking dissolves.
Silent Resting (5-10 minutes)
After the chanting, we sit. No guidance. No instruction.
The echo of the words and rhythms settle. The heart rests in what was touched.
Closing (5 minutes)
A prayer of Unity. Of Oneness. We complete the circle and return to silence.
Gratitude for what was offered. For what was received.
Who This Circle Is For
• People who feel a subtle spiritual longing
• Those tired of abstract talk and want something embodied and real
• Those who value sincerity more than belief
• Those seeking connection, stillness, and presence
• Anyone who wants a devotional practice without dogma
Who This Circle Is Not For
• Those looking for a class, peak experience, or quick insight
• Those uncomfortable with sacred language
• Those who need intellectual clarity before participating
If you can sit with not knowing and let the rhythm carry you, you will feel at home here.
The Vision
Our vision is for this to be a recurrent experience. A rhythm we return to, together.
The Assembly of Lovers meets twice each month, a bi-weekly rhythm of remembrance.
Each gathering deepens the last. The circle becomes a living pulse of devotion.
If you have a drum, bring it.
Medicine drums, frame drums, ceremony drums, all are welcome.
The circle grows stronger when every heartbeat joins the rhythm.
Details
Length: 60-90 minutes
When: December 15th at 7PM
Where: The Space, 356 Bloomfield Ave loft #2, Montclair, NJ 07042
Contribution: Sliding scale donation $20–$40 (no one will be turned away)
Hosted by: Bab Al Ilm in partnership with The Space Montclair
Let us know if you’re coming. Donation and RSVP link below.
FAQs
1. I’ve never chanted or drummed before. Can I still come?
Yes. Most people who join have never done this before. The chants are simple and easy to follow, and the circle itself will hold the rhythm. This is not a performance or class, it’s about presence, not perfection.
2. Do I need to be Muslim, Sufi, or follow any tradition to join?
Not at all. The Assembly of Lovers is open to everyone, regardless of background or belief. The language we use is devotional, but what matters is sincerity, not identity.
3. What if I’m not comfortable with religious language or words like “Divine” or “Beloved”?
You’re welcome to come with whatever openness feels real to you. The words are ancient symbols pointing toward something beyond them, you don’t have to “believe” anything to be moved by rhythm, sound, and silence.
4. What happens during the gathering?
We begin with a short opening intention, then move into chanting and drumming for about 30–40 minutes. Afterward, we sit together in silence, letting the sound settle. The evening closes with a simple blessing and gratitude.
5. Why chanting and drumming?
Rhythm and repetition have always been used by mystics and seekers to quiet the mind and awaken the heart. In this circle, the drum becomes the heartbeat of the group, a way to remember something deeper than thought.
6. Is this like meditation or therapy?
Not quite. It can feel meditative, but it’s not a guided process or a method for relaxation. It’s a space of remembrance, a way to return to what’s real beneath ideas and emotions.
7. What should I bring?
If you have a drum (medicine drum, frame drum, ceremony drum, or similar), bring it. If not, bring your breath and your presence. That’s enough.
8. What if I feel shy about singing in front of others?
You won’t be alone. Many people begin softly, and over time the circle draws everyone in. The beauty of this gathering is that no single voice stands out, we blend into one sound.
9. How often does this happen?
The Assembly of Lovers meets twice each month. The circle deepens with each gathering as we build a living rhythm together.
10. What kind of people come to this?
Artists, seekers, teachers, neighbors, and those who simply feel something stirring in them that they can’t quite name. The only requirement is the willingness to sit in sincerity.