Originally performed at Sufi shrines or dargahs throughout South Asia, it gained mainstream popularity and an international audience in late 20th century.
Many Pakistani website have great collection of Islamic qawwali mp3 download facility.
It is part of a musical tradition that stretches back for more than 700 years. Touring worldwide and receiving prizes and recognition as the world’s greatest exponent of Qawwali in its purest classical form, he is known as Shahen-Shah-e-Qawwali: ‘The King of Qawwali’.Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional music originating from South Asia, and notably popular in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan in Hyderabad, Delhi and other parts of India, especially North India as well as the Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions of Bangladesh. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s rise to fame has been phenomenal. They are the result of improvisation between Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and other performers and the scales depend upon the time of day and the quality of the lyric. The melodies and verses, however, are so immediately appealing that they are greatly loved by everyone – including children. The sophistication and complexity of Qawwali music requires years of dedicated training and absolute co-ordination within the Party as a whole.
In 1979 when the singer and his Party visited the famous shrine as pilgrims, Nusrat was invited to sing -the very first Qawwal to have received this honour. Astonishingly enough, Nusrat’s dream proved to be true. He was sufficiently persuaded, however, that he should follow in his father’s footsteps -and he became leader of the Qawwali Party in 1971. At first he believed it to be absurd -no Qawwal had ever been allowed to sing inside this most famous of Muslim shrines.
He dreamt he was singing at the famous shrine of Hazrat Khawaja Moin-ud-Din Chishtie at Ajmer in India. He only decided to sing after a recurring dream convinced him this was the path to follow. Nusrat himself, however, had no intention of becoming a Qawwal. The Khan family have been developing the art of Qawwali for over six centuries. Their tragic affair ended with Ranjah giving up the world to become a jogi. Sung in praise of the jogi, or devotee, it also tells the story of the legendary lovers Heer and Ranjah. Lyrics by 17th century saint and Sufi poet in traditional Punjabi. “Listen to me carefully one who does not obtain Ali’s favour cannot obtain the favour of God.”Īnother Manqbat in praise of Hazrat Ali, sung in Punjabi: “The name Ali should be in my soul and in my every breath…”Ī Ghazal or love song with contemporary lyrics … “Beware of these killing beauties, for they will take your heart away.” In the style of Manqbat (in praise of saints). “Truth is Ali” -referring to Hazrat Ali, the fourth Caliph. “The Garden of the Prophet Mohammed is fragrant with all sorts of scents.” A song in the style of Naat (in praise of Mohammed) and describing the first Kalmah: “God is everything, he is even in your eyes, your soul, your body, your heart … everything will perish but he will remain.” A religious chant designed to elevate the spirit. Qawwali means literally “utterance” and, like the Christian Logos or Word of God, the Qawwali is a mouthpiece of Divine Power “We do not sing -we are made to sing.”Ĭontemporary song in the Hamad style -in Praise of God. In the lyric of one of the Qawwali songs we are warned: “Do not accept the heart that is the slave to reason” which points towards the embrace of ecstasy and uninhibited release of energy which is advocated by some Sufi sects, although shunned by Orthodox Islam. Sufi belief is the mystical branch of Islam and advocates the use of many paths to attain a state of grace or enlightenment -a “stateless state.” Sufism is, fundamentally, a devotional form based upon the love of Allah, Mohammed and Ali. The music on this album concentrates mainly on traditional religious songs.