The Tradition
An archival introduction to the mechanics, history, and spiritual core of Qavvali performance.
Book Excerpt
What is Qawwali?
Source: Regula Qureshi — Sufi Music of India and Pakistan
A foundational definition of Qawwali as both a musical genre and a spiritual ritual of listening (Sama).
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What is Qawwali?
Source: Regula Qureshi — Sufi Music of India and Pakistan
A foundational definition of Qawwali as both a musical genre and a spiritual ritual of listening (Sama).
Qawwali is a recognized musical genre in the Indian subcontinent. It shares general traits with the light classical music of North India and Pakistan, but has unique characteristics related to its religious function. ThetermQawwaliitselfapplies both to the musical genre and to the occasionofits performance, the devotional assemblyofIslamic mysticism-or Sufism- in India and Pakistan. The practice of Qawwali extends throughout Muslim centres of the Indian subcontinent, but its roots are North Indian.
Qawwali considered as music is a group song performed by qawwals, professional musicians whoperform in groups led by oneor two solo singers. Qawwals present mystical poetry in Farsi, Hindi and Urdu in a fluid style ofalternating solo and group passages characterized by repetition and improvisation. The vigorous drum accompaniment on the barrel-shaped dholak is reinforced by handclapping while the small portable harmonium, usually the hands ofthe lead singer, underscores the song melody. AQawwali song normally begins with an Instrumental Prelude on the harmonium; then an Introductory Verse is sung as a solo recitative without drums, leading directly into the song proper: a mystical poem set to a strophic tune and performed by the entire group of Qawwals.
Qawwali considered as an occasion is a gathering for the purpose of realizing ideals of Islamic mysticism through the ritual of 'listening to music', or sama'. By enhancing the message of mystical poetry, and by providing a powerful rhythm suggesting the ceaseless repetition of God's name (zikr), the music of Qawwali has a religious function: to arouse mystical love, even divine~ecstasy, the core experience of Sufism. The Qawwali assembly is held under the guidance of a spiritual leader, and is attended by Sufi devotees though it is usually open to all comers. In listening to the songs, devotees respond individually and spontaneously, but in accordance with social and religious convention, expressing states of mystical love. The musicians, for their part, structure their performance to activate and reinforce these emotions, adapting it to the changing needs of their listeners.
To the Sufi participant, Qawwali is 'a method of worship' and 'a means of spiritual advancement'; it is also 'a feast for the soul'. To the performer it is mainly a musical genre 'with its distinct character for worship'. To the observer, finally, Qawwali is above all music performed very obviously with continual reference to its context; it is 'music in context' par excellence.
Sufi music of India and Pakistan — Regula Qureshi
I. The Repertoire: Genres of Qawwali
Hamd
A song explicitly in praise of God (Allah). It establishes the primary spiritual foundation of the performance.
Naat
Poetry in praise of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In a traditional sequence, the Naat follows the Hamd.
Manqabat
Devotional songs in praise of Sufi saints or the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet). The most famous Manqabats are dedicated to Imam Ali (A.S.) and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Kafi
A genre of Sufi poetry primarily in Punjabi or Sindhi. It often uses folk metaphors—such as the bride waiting for her groom or the spinning wheel — to describe the soul's internal journey.
Rang
This is the celebratory closing song of a Chishti Sama, traditionally attributed to Amir Khusrau. it signifies the spiritual color that has bathed the assembly.
Qaul
A song based on a specific prophetic saying. The most famous is the Qaul Wali — Man Kunto Maula — which is considered the foundational core of the Qavvali tradition.
Girah
An interspersion where the Qavval weaves in verses from a different poem.
II. The Anatomy of a Performance
Sazeena
The purely instrumental overture that begins a Qawwali performance. Usually performed by the harmonium and tabla, the Sazeena serves two purposes: it allows the musicians to tune their instruments to the atmosphere of the room and signals the audience that the spiritual assembly (Sama) has officially commenced.
Tānkāri
Intricate, rapid melodic runs and vocal ornamentations.
Behlava
A melodic meandering or gentle play around the notes of a Raga. Unlike the rapid Taan, Behlava is slower and more evocative, used to soothe or caress the words of the poem before building up to a more intense section.
Sargam
Singing the actual names of the notes (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma...) instead of the lyrics. It is a highly technical sequence used to highlight the mathematical beauty of the Raga's structure.
Takrār
Literally "repetition." This is the hallmark of Qawwali where a single line or phrase is repeated many times with increasing intensity, allowing the audience to dwell deeply on a specific spiritual truth.
Bol-Baant
A rhythmic play with words where the Qawwal breaks up the lyrics and re-assembles them against the beat (Tala). It creates a syncopated, percussive effect using the human voice
Tālā
The rhythmic cycle that governs the song. Common Qawwali Talas include Dadra (6 beats), Keherwa (8 beats), and the signature fast Qawwali Tala. The transition from a slow to a fast Tala is a key structural shift used to induce spiritual ecstasy.
Ālāp
The slow, improvisational introduction to a Raga. In Qawwali, the Alāp is used to establish the spiritual atmosphere and the melodic emotional landscape before the lyrics begin. It is often sung without rhythm.
Murki
A short, subtle, and fast melodic ornamentation around a single note. It adds a "shimmer" or texture to the singing, often used by side-vocalists to support the lead.
Tarana
A musical composition using non-lexical syllables.
III. The Musical Pulse: Instrumentation
Tabla
paired drum in standard use for classical music as well as light classical and popular genres
Dholak
barrel-shaped double-headed wooden drum in standard use for Qawwali; also common in folk music