Meaning And Origins Of Qawwali
Qawwali: The roots of Qawwali can be traced back to 8th century Persia (today's Iran). During the first major migration from Persia, in the 11th century, the musical tradition of Sama migrated to the Indian Sub Continent, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
In the late 13th century, Hazrat Amir Khusro Dehelvi of the Chishty order of Sufis is credited with fusing the Persian and Indian musical traditions to create Qawwali as we know it today (Hindustani classical music is also attributed to him). The word Sama is often still used in Central Asia and Turkey to refer to forms very similar to Qawwali, and in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the formal name used for a session of Qawwali is Mehfil-e-Sama.
Qaul (Arabic: قَوْل) is an "utterance {of the prophet (SAW)}", Qawwal is someone who often repeats (sings) a Qaul, Qawwali is what a Qawwal sings.
Song content
The songs which constitute the qawwali repertoire are mostly in Urdu and Punjabi, although there are several qawwali in Persian, Brajbhasha, Punjabi, Sindhi, Bengali and Siraiki. There is also qawwali in some regional languages.
The poetry is implicitly understood to be spiritual in its meaning. The central themes of qawwali are love, devotion and longing (Divine Love).
Qawwalis are classified by their content into several categories:
A Hamd (arabic for praise) is in praise of Allah. Traditionally, a qawwali performance starts with a hamd.
A Naat (arabic for description) is in praise of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The opening hamd is traditionally followed by a naat.
A Manqabat (arabic for characteristics) is in praise of either Hazrat Ali (AS) or one of the Sufi saints. Interestingly, manqabats in praise of Hazrat Ali (AS) are sung at both Sunni and Shia gatherings. If one is sung, it will follow right after the naat. There is usually at least one manqabat in a traditional programme.
A marsiya (arabic for lamentation for a dead person) is a lamentation over the shahadat of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA)'s family in the Battle of Karbala. This would typically be sung by lover of Ahle bait, especially in the month of Moharram.
A munadjaat (arabic for a conversation in the night) is a song where the singer displays his thanks to Allah through a variety of linguistic techniques. It is often sung in Persian, with Maulana Jalal-ad-Deen Rumi credited as its inventor.
Traditional sequence of a Chishtiya Sufi order qawwali performance
Instrumental: This is supposed to be the announcement of the arrival of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA), as Sufi believes their saints are free of time-space. Also that Nabi, Siddiq, Shaheed, and Saleh category of faithful are never dead, just gone into some other state from where they visit whenever they are mentioned, especially if there is a function in their honor (Sama).
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In the late 13th century, Hazrat Amir Khusro Dehelvi of the Chishty order of Sufis is credited with fusing the Persian and Indian musical traditions to create Qawwali as we know it today (Hindustani classical music is also attributed to him). The word Sama is often still used in Central Asia and Turkey to refer to forms very similar to Qawwali, and in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the formal name used for a session of Qawwali is Mehfil-e-Sama.
Qaul (Arabic: قَوْل) is an "utterance {of the prophet (SAW)}", Qawwal is someone who often repeats (sings) a Qaul, Qawwali is what a Qawwal sings.
Song content
The songs which constitute the qawwali repertoire are mostly in Urdu and Punjabi, although there are several qawwali in Persian, Brajbhasha, Punjabi, Sindhi, Bengali and Siraiki. There is also qawwali in some regional languages.
The poetry is implicitly understood to be spiritual in its meaning. The central themes of qawwali are love, devotion and longing (Divine Love).
Qawwalis are classified by their content into several categories:
A Hamd (arabic for praise) is in praise of Allah. Traditionally, a qawwali performance starts with a hamd.
A Naat (arabic for description) is in praise of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The opening hamd is traditionally followed by a naat.
A Manqabat (arabic for characteristics) is in praise of either Hazrat Ali (AS) or one of the Sufi saints. Interestingly, manqabats in praise of Hazrat Ali (AS) are sung at both Sunni and Shia gatherings. If one is sung, it will follow right after the naat. There is usually at least one manqabat in a traditional programme.
A marsiya (arabic for lamentation for a dead person) is a lamentation over the shahadat of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA)'s family in the Battle of Karbala. This would typically be sung by lover of Ahle bait, especially in the month of Moharram.
A munadjaat (arabic for a conversation in the night) is a song where the singer displays his thanks to Allah through a variety of linguistic techniques. It is often sung in Persian, with Maulana Jalal-ad-Deen Rumi credited as its inventor.
Traditional sequence of a Chishtiya Sufi order qawwali performance
Instrumental: This is supposed to be the announcement of the arrival of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA), as Sufi believes their saints are free of time-space. Also that Nabi, Siddiq, Shaheed, and Saleh category of faithful are never dead, just gone into some other state from where they visit whenever they are mentioned, especially if there is a function in their honor (Sama).
- Hamd
- Naat
- Manqabat-E-Hazrat Ali (AS)
- Manqabat-E-Khwaja: Praise of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA)
- Manqabat-E-Ghous: Praise of Shaikh Abdul-Qadir Gilani (RA)
- Manqabat Shaikh: Praise of the Shaikh/Pir if it is his anniversary
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Presented By
Haji S. M. Saaed Chishty
Khadim-E-Khawaja Baba
[email protected]
[email protected]
For Nazrana and Niyaz, send amount to below mentioned account
S.M. Saeed Chisty. Account no-666013100009207. Bank of India. Ajmer main branch.
Swift code-BKDINBBJOD
Haji S. M. Saaed Chishty
Khadim-E-Khawaja Baba
[email protected]
[email protected]
For Nazrana and Niyaz, send amount to below mentioned account
S.M. Saeed Chisty. Account no-666013100009207. Bank of India. Ajmer main branch.
Swift code-BKDINBBJOD