Nur Ali Elahi
Encyclopedia
Nur Ali Elahi (September 11, 1895 - October 19, 1974) was a spiritual thinker, musician, philosopher and jurist who dedicated his life to investigating the metaphysical dimension of human beings.
, a small Kurdish
village near Kermanshah
. His father, Hajj Nematollah
(1871–1919), was a mystic and poet who was a leader of the Ahl-e Haqq
and revered as a saint. From early childhood, he led an ascetic, secluded life of rigorous discipline under his father's supervision with a special focus on mysticism
, music, and ethics. In addition to religious and moral instruction, he received the classical education of the time. It was during his youth, devoted to study and contemplation
, that he established the basis of his philosophical and spiritual reflections.
By the time his father died in 1919, Elahi had concluded that the time for classical spirituality
had come to an end, and that the quest for spiritual development could no longer take place in the tranquility of ascetic seclusion. Instead, Elahi believed that spirituality had to be practiced within the context of an active and productive life in the midst of society. Thus, at the age of twenty-four he left behind a contemplative life to test his ethical principles in the crucible of society. Eventually settling in the capital city of Tehran, he cut his long hair and beard, replaced his traditional robes with a Western-style suit, and entered the civil service.
A few years later, as the country was undergoing extensive governmental reforms that included the establishment of an entirely new judicial system, Elahi enrolled in the newly formed National School of Jurisprudence. He finished a three-year curriculum in just six months, and graduated with distinction in 1934.
Elahi then embarked on a 23-year legal career, which began with his first assignment as Justice of the Peace in Larestan, and culminated in his appointment as Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals and the High Court of Criminal Appeals of Mazandaran. He was highly regarded both for the precision with which he observed rights and duties, and for the importance he placed on the rule of law and the equality of women. Elahi retired in 1957 at the age of 62 and settled in Tehran.
Throughout his legal career, Elahi devoted time to his personal studies and research, especially in philosophy and theology. This period of metaphysical investigation helped him to formulate his later works.
Elahi's philosophy addresses questions about the origin and nature of human beings, their role and responsibilities in the world, and their ultimate destination. His work highlights the duality of man as both a material and spiritual being, and reasserts the importance of their metaphysical dimension. He believed that self-realization requires more than mere reflection, and that spirituality, like any science, must necessarily be grounded in verifiable experiences. Elahi's written and oral teachings are thus the direct result of his personal experiences and not just philosophical reflections.
In 1963 Elahi published his first book, Demonstration of the Truth (Burhān al-Ḥaqq
), a theological work which presented for the first time an authoritative historical account of the mystical order of the Ahl-e Haqq, including its development, fundamental principles, and sacred rites, which until then had been kept secret. The book also addressed the esoteric aims shared in common by the Qur'an, Islam, and the Ahl-e Haqq.
In 1966 he published his second work, Commentary on the Book of the Kings of Truth (Ḥaqq al-ḥaqāyiq yā Shāhnāmah-ʾi ḥaqīqat), a commentary on his father's epic poem that expounded upon the determination of places and dates, the historical accuracy of certain events cited therein, and the concept of divine manifestation.
His third and final published work, a philosophical treatise titled Knowing the Spirit (Maʻrifat al-rūḥ), was published in 1969 and addresses the existence and immortality of the soul, as well as the soul's gradual process of maturation and perfection.
Elahi's music is rooted in a tradition involving the rhythmic recital and invocation of sacred texts in devotional gatherings, accompanied by various instruments such as the tanbour (an ancient lute), the ney
(reed flute) and the daf
(frame drum).
Elahi began playing the tanbour at the age of six and was recognized as a master of the tanbour by the age of nine. He would eventually revive this ancient art, composing over 100 original pieces that he used as the basis for his improvisations. His musical ornamentations and complex playing technique, which for the first time involved the use of all five fingers of both hands, as well as his physical modifications to the instrument itself - namely, the doubling of the higher string so as to dramatically increase its expressiveness - earned him a reputation as an innovator of this art form and a master of the tanbour.
Since the commemoration of his centennial in 1995, nine CDs of his music have been released. The bulk of the original recordings were made on basic mono tape recording equipment during the 1960s and '70's in the context of informal gatherings with family and friends. These tapes have since been digitally remastered and restored.
One of the characteristic aspects of Elahi's music was the use of improvisation, in which he would weave together pieces of diverse tempo and rhythm while maintaining a coherent whole. One such piece, Improvisations in Baba Jalili in the fourth followed by the Suite Zang-e Shotori in the second, found on the CD Destinations (Le Chant du Monde, 2008) exemplifies this aspect. Here, Elahi shifts back and forth between several different melodies and mixes the rhythm of one melody into that of another.
Elahi's tanbour playing was also known for its use of complex ornamentations as well as the density of the notes, with up to 12 notes being played per second at times. These features are apparent in Suite Sahari from the CD The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi (Le Chant du Monde, 2004), a melody which was played at dawn to awaken dervishes for prayer.
Elahi transmitted the entirety of his repertoire for the tanbur to his youngest son, Dr. Shahrokh Elahi, who has recorded some of his father's compositions on video, demonstrating Elahi's style and technique.
During the latter part of his life, Elahi was surrounded by individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests: the atheist who came for a debate, the musician who sought advice on some technical point, the scholar who wished to broaden the scope of his research, the simple villager or seeker who sought spiritual guidance. He welcomed them all and took the time to address each of their concerns.
Elahi died on October 19, 1974 at the age of seventy-nine. A memorial, which continues to be visited by thousands each year, was erected in his memory in Hashtgerd
, a rural town located on the outskirts of Tehran
.
After his passing in 1974, his philosophy and teachings were continued by his son, Prof. Bahram Elahi (b. 1931), a former pediatric surgeon and medical school dean who has written several books analyzing and elaborating upon this line of thinking.
After he died in 1974, his sister Malak Jân Nemati
assumed responsibility for continuing his legacy. In accordance with the custom of referring to elders with deference, Malak Jân referred to her brother with the title "Hazrat Ostad" for the next twenty years as she continued explaining his teachings.
When the Organizing Committee for the commemoration of his centennial planned the 1995 commemoration events in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, and Tehran, they had to translate the title "Hazrat-e Ostad" into Western languages. However, the literal translation of this title in English conflicted with Elahi's reputation for humility (for example, His Highness or Majesty Master Nur Ali Elahi). With the permission of his family, the Committee settled on the title "Ostad Elahi" to retain the respect intended by his sister, and to convey that he was a master musician. As a result, most books and articles written about him since 1995 have used the title "Ostad Elahi," and it is both the name and the honorific by which he is most widely known today.
Under the patronage of UNESCO
and the French Ministry of Culture, and in collaboration with the Academy of Paris, a two-month exhibition was concurrently organized on "The Life and Work of Ostad Elahi" at the Chapelle de la Sorbonne in Paris from September 6 to October 31, 1995. The exhibition was divided into three distinct sections that traced the chronology of his life: Dawn (1895–1920), Rising Sun (1920–1957), and Full Sun (1957–1974). Each of these periods was illustrated by a set of texts, photographs, autobiographical anecdotes, and personal objects that allowed one to become acquainted with Elahi and the different periods of his life.
The exhibition also featured a special music chamber filled with the sounds of melodies composed and played by Elahi. This music, previously reserved for devotional settings, was revealed to the public for the first time on this occasion. A collection of traditional instruments belonging to Elahi and his father, including tanbours, setar
s, and dafs, were also on display in the chamber.
The early years
Elahi was born in JeyhounabadJeyhounabad
Jeyhounabad is a city in Kermanshah Province , in the middle of the western part of Iran. It is from Tehran.The city lies in close proximity to Mount Bisotoun, known for its rock relief in which Darius the Great, the Achaemenian King, had the narrative of his exploits engraved around B.C. 500...
, a small Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
village near Kermanshah
Kermanshah
Kermanshah is a city in and the capital of Kermanshah Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 784,602, in 198,117 families.The overwhelming majority of Kermanshahi people are Shi'a Muslims...
. His father, Hajj Nematollah
Hajj Nematollah
Hajj Nematollah was born in Jeyhounabad, Persia and is considered one of the greatest leaders and mystics in Kurdish and Ahl-e Haqq history. Two of his most famous works of poetry and history are Furqān al-Akhbar and Ḥaqq al-Ḥaqāyiq yā Shāhnāmah-ʾi Ḥaqīqat...
(1871–1919), was a mystic and poet who was a leader of the Ahl-e Haqq
Ahl-e Haqq
The Ahl-e Haqq or Yârsân , are members of a religion founded by Sultan Sahak in the late 14th century in western Iran. The total number of members is estimated at around 1,000,000, primarily found in western Iran and Iraq, mostly ethnic Kurds and Laks, though there are also smaller groups of Luri,...
and revered as a saint. From early childhood, he led an ascetic, secluded life of rigorous discipline under his father's supervision with a special focus on mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
, music, and ethics. In addition to religious and moral instruction, he received the classical education of the time. It was during his youth, devoted to study and contemplation
Contemplation
The word contemplation comes from the Latin word contemplatio. Its root is also that of the Latin word templum, a piece of ground consecrated for the taking of auspices, or a building for worship, derived either from Proto-Indo-European base *tem- "to cut", and so a "place reserved or cut out" or...
, that he established the basis of his philosophical and spiritual reflections.
By the time his father died in 1919, Elahi had concluded that the time for classical spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
had come to an end, and that the quest for spiritual development could no longer take place in the tranquility of ascetic seclusion. Instead, Elahi believed that spirituality had to be practiced within the context of an active and productive life in the midst of society. Thus, at the age of twenty-four he left behind a contemplative life to test his ethical principles in the crucible of society. Eventually settling in the capital city of Tehran, he cut his long hair and beard, replaced his traditional robes with a Western-style suit, and entered the civil service.
Judicial career
Elahi then embarked on a 23-year legal career, which began with his first assignment as Justice of the Peace in Larestan, and culminated in his appointment as Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals and the High Court of Criminal Appeals of Mazandaran. He was highly regarded both for the precision with which he observed rights and duties, and for the importance he placed on the rule of law and the equality of women. Elahi retired in 1957 at the age of 62 and settled in Tehran.
Throughout his legal career, Elahi devoted time to his personal studies and research, especially in philosophy and theology. This period of metaphysical investigation helped him to formulate his later works.
Philosophy
Writings
Elahi began to gradually reveal his system of thought after his retirement from the judiciary in 1957. It was during this period of his life that he wrote and published two scholarly works in the fields of religious science and authentic spirituality, as well as an extensive commentary on his father's writings. The practical aspect of his thought, on the other hand, was conveyed mostly in the form of oral teachings and instruction to close friends and acquaintances who sought his advice and guidance. Two volumes of his sayings have been published to date on the basis of notes transcribed by these individuals. He also authored several manuscripts that remain unpublished, including Unveiling of the Truths (Kashf al-Haqa'iq), which describes the genesis of the universe and the role of human beings.In 1963 Elahi published his first book, Demonstration of the Truth (Burhān al-Ḥaqq
Burhan al-Haqq
Burhan al-Haqq is a 1963 seminal work by Nur Ali Elahi which is a theological and spiritual work, dedicated to showing the inner spiritual aims shared by the Quran, Shia Islam and the Ahl-e Haqq order. The author M. Reza Hamzeh'ee writes in The Yaresan that "Elahi can be regarded both as a...
), a theological work which presented for the first time an authoritative historical account of the mystical order of the Ahl-e Haqq, including its development, fundamental principles, and sacred rites, which until then had been kept secret. The book also addressed the esoteric aims shared in common by the Qur'an, Islam, and the Ahl-e Haqq.
In 1966 he published his second work, Commentary on the Book of the Kings of Truth (Ḥaqq al-ḥaqāyiq yā Shāhnāmah-ʾi ḥaqīqat), a commentary on his father's epic poem that expounded upon the determination of places and dates, the historical accuracy of certain events cited therein, and the concept of divine manifestation.
His third and final published work, a philosophical treatise titled Knowing the Spirit (Maʻrifat al-rūḥ), was published in 1969 and addresses the existence and immortality of the soul, as well as the soul's gradual process of maturation and perfection.
Music
For Elahi, music was primarily a means of engaging in contemplation and prayer. He never performed in public and did not make any recordings of his music in a professional setting.Elahi's music is rooted in a tradition involving the rhythmic recital and invocation of sacred texts in devotional gatherings, accompanied by various instruments such as the tanbour (an ancient lute), the ney
Ney
The ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
(reed flute) and the daf
Daf
A daf is a frame drum used as a musical instrument in popular and classical music. The term daf is used in Iran / Kurdistan for a large drum that has a series of four interlinked rings in the frame. Daf is mostly used in Middle East, Iran, Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and ...
(frame drum).
Elahi began playing the tanbour at the age of six and was recognized as a master of the tanbour by the age of nine. He would eventually revive this ancient art, composing over 100 original pieces that he used as the basis for his improvisations. His musical ornamentations and complex playing technique, which for the first time involved the use of all five fingers of both hands, as well as his physical modifications to the instrument itself - namely, the doubling of the higher string so as to dramatically increase its expressiveness - earned him a reputation as an innovator of this art form and a master of the tanbour.
Since the commemoration of his centennial in 1995, nine CDs of his music have been released. The bulk of the original recordings were made on basic mono tape recording equipment during the 1960s and '70's in the context of informal gatherings with family and friends. These tapes have since been digitally remastered and restored.
One of the characteristic aspects of Elahi's music was the use of improvisation, in which he would weave together pieces of diverse tempo and rhythm while maintaining a coherent whole. One such piece, Improvisations in Baba Jalili in the fourth followed by the Suite Zang-e Shotori in the second, found on the CD Destinations (Le Chant du Monde, 2008) exemplifies this aspect. Here, Elahi shifts back and forth between several different melodies and mixes the rhythm of one melody into that of another.
Elahi's tanbour playing was also known for its use of complex ornamentations as well as the density of the notes, with up to 12 notes being played per second at times. These features are apparent in Suite Sahari from the CD The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi (Le Chant du Monde, 2004), a melody which was played at dawn to awaken dervishes for prayer.
Elahi transmitted the entirety of his repertoire for the tanbur to his youngest son, Dr. Shahrokh Elahi, who has recorded some of his father's compositions on video, demonstrating Elahi's style and technique.
Legacy
Elahi died on October 19, 1974 at the age of seventy-nine. A memorial, which continues to be visited by thousands each year, was erected in his memory in Hashtgerd
Hashtgerd
Hashtgerd is a city in and the capital of Savojbolagh County, Alborz Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 45,332, in 12,122 families.Hashtgerd is located west of the city of Tehran. It is the capital of Savojbolagh County....
, a rural town located on the outskirts of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
.
After his passing in 1974, his philosophy and teachings were continued by his son, Prof. Bahram Elahi (b. 1931), a former pediatric surgeon and medical school dean who has written several books analyzing and elaborating upon this line of thinking.
History of the title "Ostad Elahi"
Born with the name "Fatollah", Nur Ali's childhood nickname was "Kuchek Ali". At the age of eleven, he went through a spiritual transformation during an ascetic retreat with his father, who subsequently changed the child's name to "Sayyed Nur Ali". In 1941, while working as an attorney general in Khorammabad, Nur Ali legally changed his family name to "Elahi."After he died in 1974, his sister Malak Jân Nemati
Malak Jân Nemati
Malak Jân Nemati was born in 1906 in Jeyhounabad, a village in Iranian Kurdistan. Also known as Sheikh Jâni and Saint Jani, she was a charismatic figure and a mystical writer and poet in Kurdish and Persian language. She was the daughter of Hajj Nematollah and the sister of Ostad Elahi. There are...
assumed responsibility for continuing his legacy. In accordance with the custom of referring to elders with deference, Malak Jân referred to her brother with the title "Hazrat Ostad" for the next twenty years as she continued explaining his teachings.
When the Organizing Committee for the commemoration of his centennial planned the 1995 commemoration events in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, and Tehran, they had to translate the title "Hazrat-e Ostad" into Western languages. However, the literal translation of this title in English conflicted with Elahi's reputation for humility (for example, His Highness or Majesty Master Nur Ali Elahi). With the permission of his family, the Committee settled on the title "Ostad Elahi" to retain the respect intended by his sister, and to convey that he was a master musician. As a result, most books and articles written about him since 1995 have used the title "Ostad Elahi," and it is both the name and the honorific by which he is most widely known today.
Centennial commemoration
Elahi dedicated the greater part of his life and work to the pursuit of self-knowledge and mysticism. In 1995, to celebrate the centennial of his birth, symposia were convened at universities in Paris, London, Los Angeles, and New York, where authorities in science, jurisprudence, literature, and music gathered to reflect on the theme of "Spirituality: Plurality and Unity." Lectures and roundtables were presented on a variety of topics, including the unity of religions, ethics and jurisprudence, science and spirituality, and the relevance of contemporary mysticism.Under the patronage of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and the French Ministry of Culture, and in collaboration with the Academy of Paris, a two-month exhibition was concurrently organized on "The Life and Work of Ostad Elahi" at the Chapelle de la Sorbonne in Paris from September 6 to October 31, 1995. The exhibition was divided into three distinct sections that traced the chronology of his life: Dawn (1895–1920), Rising Sun (1920–1957), and Full Sun (1957–1974). Each of these periods was illustrated by a set of texts, photographs, autobiographical anecdotes, and personal objects that allowed one to become acquainted with Elahi and the different periods of his life.
The exhibition also featured a special music chamber filled with the sounds of melodies composed and played by Elahi. This music, previously reserved for devotional settings, was revealed to the public for the first time on this occasion. A collection of traditional instruments belonging to Elahi and his father, including tanbours, setar
Setar
SETAR N.V., is the privatised full telecommunications service provider for the island of Aruba. The services provided by SETAR include: telephone, internet and GSM-related wireless services. SETAR also owns Tele Aruba....
s, and dafs, were also on display in the chamber.
English
- Knowing the Spirit. Translated and with an introduction by James Winston Morris. (Albany: SUNY Press, 2007) ISBN 978-0-7914-6858-6
- Words of Faith: Prayers of Ostad Elahi (Paris: Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 2911331022
- 100 Maxims of Guidance. Introduction by Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 978-2-911331-00-8
French
- Connaisance de l'âme. Translated by Clara Deville. (L'Harmattan, 2001) ISBN 2-7475-0452-2
- 100 Maximes de Guidance. (Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 978-2-221-08206-5
- Confidences Prières d'Ostad Elahi (Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 978-2-221-08205-8
Persian
- Borhan-ol Haqq [Demonstration of Truth] 1st ed. (Tahuri, 1963)
- Haqq-ol Haqaiq [Commentary on Shahnameh Haqiqat (The Book of the Kings of Truth)] (Husseini, 1967)
- Ma'refat-ol Ruh [Knowing the Spirit] 1st edition (Tahuri, 1968)
- Asar-ol Haqq [Words of Truth] ed. B. Elahi. Volume I (Jeyhoun, 1978)
- Asar-ol Haqq [Words of Truth] ed. B. Elahi. Volume II (Jeyhoun, 1991)
English
- Shifting Perspectives: Changing Your Outlook for Positive Results. By Olivier Brizevac and Emmanuel Comte, translated by Benjamin Ivry. (New York: Paraview, 2007) ISBN 978-0-9764986-5-0
- Ostad Elahi on Spirituality in Everyday Life. By James W. Morris. (Public Lecture presented at University of California at Santa Barbara, Department of Religion, May 2, 2007)
- Overcoming Jealousy. By Beatrice Guernier and Agnes Rousseau, translated by Benjamin Ivry. (New York, Paraview, 2006) ISBN 978-0-9764986-4-3
- The Path of PerfectionThe Path of PerfectionThe Path of Perfection is the title of a book written by Bahram Elahi, M.D., presenting an approach to the philosophy of his father Ostad Elahi. It was published in 2005 by Paraview Inc.. It is the English translation of the latest edition of the French book La Voie de la Perfection, which was...
. By Bahram Elahi. (New York: Paraview, 2005) ISBN 978-0-9764986-0-5 - Orientations: Islamic Thought in a World Civilization. By James Winston Morris. (Archetype, 2004) ISBN 978-1-901383-10-2
- The Spirit of Sounds: The Unique Art of Ostad Elahi. By Jean During. (New York: Cornwall Books, 2003) ISBN 978-0-8453-4884-0
- Medicine of the Soul: Foundations of Natural Spirituality. By Bahram Elahi. (New York: Cornwall Books, 2001) ISBN 978-0-8453-4875-8
- Spirituality is a Science: Foundations of Natural Spirituality. By Bahram Elahi. (New York: Cornwall Books, 1999) ISBN 978-0-8453-4868-0
- Foundations of Natural Spirituality: A Scientific Approach to the Nature of the Spiritual Self. By Bahram Elahi (Dorset: Element Books, 1998) ISBN 978-1-86204-238-4
- "Symposium on Spirituality Celebrates the Centennial of Ostad Elahi." In UNESCO News, Vol. 2, No. 6, (November 10, 1995)
- The Life and Work of Ostad Elahi. Directed by Marion Sarraut. (A video published on the occasion of his centenary in 1995)
- "Unicity" A Collection of Photographs of Ostad Elahi 1895-1974. [Centennial Commemoration Volume] (Paris: Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 2911331015
- The Way of Light. By Bahram Elahi. (Dorset: Element Books, 1993) ISBN 978-1-85230-381-5
French
- Vérité et jugement: Ostad Elahi, juge et philosophe iranien (1895–1974). S. Marin. Thèse de l'Université de Paris-X, Nanterre (2006)
- Ostad Elahi et les droits de l'homme: Ethique et modernité, in Le Code civil et les droits de l'homme, textes réunis et publiés par Jean-Luc Chabot, Philippe Didier, Jérôme Ferrand, (Paris: L'Harmattan, 2005) pp. 418–434. ISBN 2-7475-8893-9
- Une philosophie du droit en Islam? Un exemple iranien, Journées de la recherche en théorie et philosophie juridiques et politiques, p.23
- La Voie de la Perfection. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Albin Michel, 2002) ISBN 978-2-226-13260-4
- L'éveil de l'intelligence spirituelle et les dimensions du processus éthique selon Ostad Elahi. By James Winston Morris. In Dieu a-t-il sa place dans la ethique?, ed. E. During, 86-99. (Paris: L'Harmattan, 2002) ISBN 2-7475-2168-0
- L'âme des sons. Jean During. (Gordes: Editions du Relié, 2001) ISBN 978-2-909698-71-7
- Le rôle de la traduction et de l'interprétation du droit en Iran dans la première moitié du XXème siècle: l'exemple d'Ostad Elahi (1895–1974), S. Marin and F. Ameli. Droit et Cultures, Revue trimestrielle d'anthropologie et d'histoire, publiée avec le concours du CNRS, 44/2001, pp. 183–201.
- Médecine de l'âme. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Editions Dervy, 2000) ISBN 978-2-84454-023-2
- La spiritualité est une science. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Editions Dervy, 1997) ISBN 978-2-85076-927-6
- Fondements de la Spiritualité Naturelle. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Editions Dervy, 1996) ISBN 978-2-85076-860-6
- Le Spirituel: Pluralité et Unité [The Acta of the Symposium, "Spirituality: Plurality and Unity"] (Presses de l'Université de Paris-Sorbonne, 1996)
- La Pensée d'Ostad Elahi. In Le Spirituel: pluralité et unité, actes du symposium (Cahiers d'Anthropologie Religieuse, ed. M. Meslin, volume 5), 137-147 (Presses de l'Univesité, 1996)
- De l'unité des religions et Conclusion. Andrei Chouraqui. Cahiers d'Anthropologie Religieuse, n° 5, under the direction of Professor Michel Meslin, University of Paris-Sorbonne Press, 1996, pp. 25–33, 187-88
- Ethique et droit. F. Terre, Symposium in French Supreme Court (Sept. 1995), in Cahiers d'Anthropologie Religieuse, n° 5, under the direction of Professor Michel Meslin, University of Paris-Sorbonne Press, 1996, pp. 179–186.
- Musique Et Mystique Dans Les Traditions de L'Iran. By Jean During. (Paris: Institut français de recherche en Iran, 1989) ISBN 978-90-6831-191-4
- Le Chemin de la Lumière. Bahram Elahi. (Parsi: Albin Michel, 1985) ISBN 978-2-226-02467-1
German
- Medizin der Seele. Bahram Elahi. (Wien: Ibera Verlag, 2007) ISBN 978-3-85052-157-4
- Spiritualität ist eine Wissenschaft. Bahram Elahi. (Wien: Ibera Verlag, 2001) ISBN 978-3-85052-112-3
- Grundlagen Natürlicher Spiritualität. Bahram Elahi. (Wien: Ibera Verlag, 1999) ISBN 978-3-900436-85-8
- Weg und Vollendung. Bahram Elahi. (München : Heyne, 1995) ISBN 978-3-453-08744-6
Italian
- La Via della Perfezione. Bahram Elahi. (Astrolabio Ubaldini, 2004) ISBN 978-88-340-0699-3
Polish
- Droga do doskonałości. Bahram Elahi. (Warszawa: Nowe Wydawnictwo Polskie, 1991) ISBN 978-83-85135-07-4
Discography
- The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi(1996), CMT 774 1026 Le Chant du Monde (Originally released in 1995 as The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi Vol. I)
- Dialogue with the Beloved (1997), CMT 774 1100 Le Chant du Monde (Originally released in 1995 as The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi Vol. II)
- Paths of Divine Love (1997), CMT 774 1083 Le Chant du Monde
- Celestial Harmonies (1999), CMT 774 1122 Le Chant du Monde
- A Spiritual Epic (1998), CMT 774 1432 Le Chant du Monde
- Mystical Orison (2000), CMT 774 1137 Le Chant du Monde
- Cascade (2002), CMT 774 1150 Le Chant du Monde
- Celestial Danses (2005), CMT 774 1327 Le Chant du Monde
- Destinations (2008), CMT 774 1626 Le Chant du Monde