Sama, popularly called Qawwali (i.e.
religious songs and hymns) is a very
interesting medium of communicating and
preaching the tenets of Sufism. Qawwali is
enchanting and its main themes are love and
peace. It acts as a stimulus to man's
spirit, and it creates the atmosphere
leading to the forgetfulness of self in a
humble submission to the Spirit. Qawwali
plays a significant role on all ceremonial
occasions, especially at the Dargah of the
Great Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz R.A.A.
(peace to his soul).
The word Qawwali is derived from the Arabic
word Quail which is based upon religious
subjects which helps the purification of
thoughts. Qawwali concerts have certain
magnetism that attracts the human spirit.
The Great Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz R.A.A.
(peace to his soul) introduced and
patronized Qawwali concerts in an effort to
captivate and mould the audience into
accepting the divine message. The Qawwali
forms one of the main celebrations during
the annual Urs of the Great Saint.
Music has always played a significant role
in the religious and social life of India.
The Great Khwaja Baba (R.A.), who introduced
Qawwali, admirably blended religious songs
and music in Sufistic style to cater to the
moods, temperaments, cultures and customs of
India prevalent during his time. So popular
were his Qawwali mahfils that they continue
to be so even to this day.
The composition of the Qawwali song at
mahfil is a choice selection of
inspirational poetry in Persian by various
Sufi poets and derveshes, notable among them
being Hazrat Amir Khusro, Hazrat Shams
Tabrezi, Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi and many
others. The Qawwali concerts are very
captivating, hypnotic and inspire a kind of
uncontrollable Jazba (intense feeling)
culminating in Wajd or ecstasy. The soul
stirring music transmits magnet like waves
into the qalb (heart) of the person. The
success of Qawwali depends on a thorough
knowledge and understanding of various
pieces of Sufi poetry conveyed through music
that appeals and is appreciated by the
audience during Sama mahfils.
The Qawwal or singer has a very difficult
task. A perfect Qawwal is master of Indian
music gifted with a melodious voice on one
hand and well conversant with a variety of
compositions on Sufis by distinguished Urdu,
Hindi and Persian poets on the other.
Consistent hard work and a thorough
knowledge go into the making of a good
Qawwal. But the Qawwal still needs the
patronage and spiritual blessings of the one
or another Sufi Saints in India. A good
Qawwal usually heads a team of 3 to 10
members of co-singers who assist him to
produce a harmonious chorus, who sing loud
enough at the Urs anniversaries for the
large audience to hear. The musical
instruments consist of Harmonium, Dhol,
Tabla and Guitar -all adding to the richness
of the Qawwali. A good Qawwali was always in
great demand by Sufis because Qawwali was
spiritual food to them.
Wajd is a state of ecstasy, a very sublime
feeling in which the person, under such
influence during the performance of Qawwali
may behave in an abnormal manner quite
unaware of being so. A single couplet of 'Shair'
may attract the attention and feeling of the
'wajd' subject when the Qawwal repeats a
particular couplet till his desire is
satisfied. It is said that Hazrat Qutubuddin
Bakhtiyar Kaki (R.A.) of Delhi and Maularia
Mohammad Hussain of Alahabad, also a great
Sufi, died in the state of wajd.
However the Qawwali performances have
recently lost their original splendour and
attraction. The standard is slowly
deteriorating. With the increasing
popularity of the cinema, many talented
singers have sought salaried jobs in the
studios. Moreover, some talented Qawwals
have migrated to Pakistan. The present choir
at the Dargah of the Great Khwaja Baba (R.A.)
in Ajmer is not very talented. If the Dargah
Administration is really serious about this,
it must infuse new blood and resuscitate the
'Qawwali’ to bring back the original
standard.
Qawwali was compulsorily introduced in this
Silsilah. Qawwali is spiritual diet for
Chishties because it is subjected to the
commands of the Chishtiya order which are
given from the highest level of Peers and
Chishty Derveshes. In the Chishtiya Silsilah
(sect) only, it is a compulsory ceremony for
their spiritual exercises for the
appraisement of the Peers and heads of the
sect.
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