In Pakistan there is a wide variety of religious groups. There are those who believe that faith is only imbibed in its traditions and rituals and then there are those who believe that faith is more than just rituals, it is in the purity of the heart and the soul and achieving that. That branch of Islam is what Sufism is all about. Sufis believe in devotional dances and songs to portray their love of Allah and His Essence. These songs are known as “qawwali” and this form of singing is popular in South Asia especially Pakistan and North India. This style is rare in Bangladesh, Kashmir and North and West Pakistan. Some would say that qawwali is not exactly music but a form of worship for the believer. As for the listener, the open-minded one will find that it transcends any other kind of devotional practice.

Qawwali was performed at Sufi shrines or dargahs all over South Asia. But it has gained popularity and is now performed at all kinds of gatherings, weddings and functions. There are special events just for qawwali performances. Rohail Hayatt of the Vital Signs made qawwali and folk music popular amongst the youth of Pakistan with his venture, Coke Studio. Coke Studio brought to the forefront many folk musicians and qawwals and with their fusion of eastern and western melodies, it took the Pakistani music scene by storm.

The pioneer of qawwali in Pakistan is the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He also brought qawwali an international audience because of his prolific performances. Other famous performers from Pakistan are the Sabri Brother and Aziz Mian.

Qawwali consists of versus in Hindi, Persian and Urdu. It is sung in an alternating style of group and solo passages. The style is very fluid and evokes a lot of emotion.

The music from qawwali is mystical and symbolizes “Zikr” which is taking God’s name. Through music and rhythm God can be felt in everything that He has created in Hid infinite bounty and mercy. It has the power of invoking divine ecstasy which is the heart of Sufi teachings. That is why many performers can be seen to be working themselves into frenzy and a trance-like state. That is the power of the poetry and the music when it is fused together with devotion and love.

When on a visit to Pakistan for a spiritual retreat, there can be nothing better than seeing qawwali in action, here’s hoping your journey is fulfilling and satisfying.

References:

http://muslim-canada.org/regula.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qawwali