Qawwali

People sing special songs called Qawwali.

These songs show love and prayer. A group of men sits on the ground to sing. They use drums and a box with keys.

The music starts slow and soft. Then it gets fast and loud. The singers try to show great skill. This music makes people feel very close to God. It is a beautiful way to share faith.

Qawwali is a special kind of singing.

It comes from South Asia. People use it to show love for God. A singer who does this is called a Qawwal.

A Qawwali group is often called a party. It usually has eight or nine men. They sit on the ground in two rows. The lead singer sits in the front. He might play a harmonium, which is a box with keys. Other men play drums like the tabla or dholak. A chorus of men also sings and claps their hands.

The music starts slow and soft. It uses a long, slow melody called an alap. Then the rhythm starts. The songs build up speed and power. The singers use great skill to show their talent. Some songs are very long. One song lasted over 115 minutes!

Many songs use poems. Some praise Allah or the Prophet Muhammad. Other songs use metaphors. A metaphor is a way to describe one thing by using another. For example, singers might talk about wine to show the joy of God. This music helps people feel a deep spiritual connection.

Qawwali is a powerful form of devotional singing from South Asia.

People use this music to express deep love and longing for the Divine. It is a central part of Sufi Islamic traditions. A singer who performs this music is known as a Qawwal. These performers often belong to families that have practiced this art for many generations. They traditionally serve at Sufi shrines, especially during special events called Urs.

These festivals celebrate the death anniversaries of Sufi saints.

A Qawwali group is often called a party or a Humnawa. This group usually includes eight or nine men. They sit cross-legged on the ground in two rows. The lead singer and side singers sit in the front row. They might play the harmonium, which is a keyboard instrument. The back row holds the chorus and the percussionists. One person might play the tabla and the dholak at once. The chorus helps by repeating verses and clapping their hands to the beat.

The history of Qawwali reaches back to the late 13th century. A Sufi saint named Amir Khusrow is credited with creating it. He blended Persian, Arabic, Turkic, and Indian traditions together. This happened during the time of the Delhi Sultanate. In the past, some leaders even said musical instruments were not allowed. However, instruments like the harmonium and tabla eventually became very common. Some famous groups, like the Qawwal Bachon ka Gharana, moved from Delhi to Pakistan after 1947.

Qawwali uses many different types of songs and poems. A Qaul is a basic ritual song that uses the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. A hamd is a song that praises Allah. A naat is a song used to describe the Prophet Muhammad. Singers also sing manqabat to praise Sufi saints. Many songs are ghazals, which are love songs. These songs use metaphors to talk about spiritual feelings. For example, they might use the idea of wine to describe the joy of knowing God.

The music follows a very specific structure. It usually begins with a soft instrumental part on the harmonium. Then, the singers perform an alap, which is a slow, improvised melody. As the main song starts, the drums and clapping begin. The music builds in speed and energy to create a hypnotic feeling. Some songs can be incredibly long. One famous recording by Aziz Mian lasts over 115 minutes. Famous singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan helped bring this music to people all over the world.

Qawwali is a powerful form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing. It originated in South Asia and is deeply connected to Sufi traditions. The music serves as a spiritual bridge. It helps listeners experience mystical love for the Divine. A person who performs this music is called a Qawwal. The music itself is known as Qawwali.

While it began in shrines, it has gained massive international popularity. Famous performers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan brought it to global audiences.

A Qawwali group is often called a party or a Humnawa. This group typically consists of eight or nine men. They sit cross-legged on the ground in two rows. The front row contains the lead singer and side singers. These musicians often play the harmonium, which is a keyboard instrument. The back row holds the chorus and the percussionists. The chorus of four or five men repeats key verses. They also aid the rhythm by clapping their hands.

One percussionist might play both the tabla and the dholak. The tabla is a pair of small drums. The dholak is a larger drum. If there are two percussionists, one may play the tabla while the other plays the dholak.

The history of Qawwali traces back to the late 13th century. A Sufi saint named Amir Khusrow is credited with its creation. He lived during the Delhi Sultanate. Khusrow fused Persian, Arabic, Turkic, and Indian traditions. This fusion created the unique sound we recognize today. Originally, the use of musical instruments was prohibited. Some Sufi saints were very strict about this rule. However, instruments eventually became a standard part of the practice. The harmonium replaced the sarangi because it did not need constant retuning. Some famous schools, like the Qawwal Bachon ka Gharana, moved from Delhi to Pakistan after the 1947 Partition.

Qawwali uses a specific set of song types. A Qaul is a basic ritual song. It contains the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. This song often opens or closes a session. A hamd is a poem that praises Allah. This usually follows the obligatory hymns. A naat is a song that describes the Prophet Muhammad. After the naat, singers often perform a manqabat. This is a song of praise for Imam Ali or a Sufi saint. In Shi'a gatherings, a marsiya may be sung. This is a lamentation regarding the death of Imam Husayn's family.

Many Qawwali songs are ghazals. A ghazal is a love song made of independent couplets. These songs use metaphors to express spiritual longing. For example, singers might mention wine or drunkenness. In Qawwali, these are metaphors for spiritual joy or knowledge. A scorned lover represents a soul longing for God. There are also kafis, which are poems in Punjabi, Seraiki, or Sindhi. Some singers also perform a munajaat. This is a song of prayer or thanks to Allah. These songs help maintain a religious focus during the performance.

The musical structure of a Qawwali is very deliberate. It usually begins with a gentle instrumental prelude on the harmonium. This is followed by the alap. The alap is a long, improvised melody using single notes. Next, the lead singer performs preamble verses. These verses are often unrhythmic and improvised. When the main song begins, the percussion and clapping start. The music is based on a Raga from Hindustani classical music. The tempo and passion build steadily. This build-up is meant to induce a hypnotic state in the audience. Some singers even use sargam, which is singing the notes of the scale.

Qawwali is a highly skilled and disciplined art form. Performers often receive hereditary training. They learn within a brotherhood or a Sufi teaching circle. This training requires literacy to understand the complex poetry. The songs can be extremely long. One commercial recording by Aziz Mian lasts over 115 minutes. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had songs exceeding 60 minutes. While traditionally a male profession, the art is changing. Female singers like Abida Parveen have gained great popularity. This shows how the tradition continues to evolve in the modern world.