Qawwali Music

A few days back, Uncle Rosli convinced (persuaded perhaps? haha) me to blog about Qawwali music. He had me listen to the songs while waiting for Amal. I even read some of the facts about Qawwali music provided in the album. At first, I thought it was the typical Diwali musics my father listens to but as Uncle Rosli explained, it was actually Qawwali music.

Qaul (Arabic) is an "utterance (of the prophet)", Qawwāl is someone who often repeats (sings) a Qaul, Qawwāli is the style of singing of Qawwāls


Qawwali is a devotional music of Sufism which is widely well-known on the Indian subcontinents. Most listeners, the devoted Qawwali music fans would experienced some sort of trance like state of being called wajad. During this state, they will feel at one with God and is often considered as the height of spiritual ecstasy in Sufism.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was the first person who helped put this genre of music on the map. Qawwali music can be on other regional languanges instead of the common, Urdu and Punjabi. This music helps bring you closer to Allah as it is also some sort of praises to the One.

A qawwali party isn't technically a party. It is actually a group consist of 8-10 Qawwali musicians. There is also the presence of harmonium in the party which could be played by anyone in the party. The songs are mostly 15-30 minutes but it could stretch as long as 115 minutes ( literally, longer than some movies I've seen). I believe, the songs are long because it needs deep concentration and pure attention to actually feel the effect of Qawwali music. Once, you are in, the music just sears into your soul and when you are done, you feel like you are reborned again. That is, if you understand the meaning of the song. If not, all you would be thinking is what is these noises?


So, if you are one to be spiritualised or feels like the need of Qawwali music playing to your ears, I suggest you do. You might like it.

music.pz10.com/category/12/Qawwali+Music.html