RMIM Archive Article "391".

From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian
#
# RMIM Archives..
# Subject: Qawaali  part 2
#
# Posted by: Satish Subramanian
# Source: Teginder Singh Dhanoa's paper in UC Davis 
# Author: Teginder Singh Dhanoa ez054777@ucdavis.edu
#


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       Qawwali - Devotional Songs of the Sufi Mystics
	 	       (Origins)

			  by
		 Teginder Singh Dhanoa
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The Qawwals' form of singing was known as Qawwali.   Qawwali
means  "utterance"  in  Persian and comes from the word qaul
which means "to tell".  Put very simply Qawwali is a form of
devotional music.  Music has not had a very orthodox role in
Islam; orthodox Islam has a negative attitude towards  music
and dancing.(8)

The adoption of music and dance in Sufism is unclear and the
origin  of  Qawwali is also very confusing.  There have been
many contradictory theories as to the origin of this  mystic
worship.   Many  believe  that  "Qawwali originated with the
foundation of the Chisti order of Sufis in Khorosan [Eastern
Persia]  in  the  early tenth century and was brought to the
Indian Sub-Continent  in  the  twelfth  century".(9)  Others
believe   Qawwali's  original  creator  to  be  specifically
Hazrat(10) Amir  Khusrou.   There  is  also  a  theory  that
Qawwali came from Khorosan and was given its present form or
was introduced to Ancient India by Hazrat Amir  Khusrou.(11)
Nonetheless  it  is generally agreed that Qawwali originated
with the Chisti order of Sufism, and Hazrat Amir Khusrou(12)
had an important part in its popularity in Ancient India.

Qawwali has a  specific  goal  besides  just  spreading  the
"messages"  of  Sufi  saints.  The singing or reading of the
Koran is a way to make people more  aware  of  its  content.
The  Sufis  felt  that  the  best way to appeal to potential
Indian converts was through singing the  Koran  rather  than
reading  it.   Singing and music had always been an integral
part of Indian worship, thus Qawwali was an easy  transition
for them to adopt.(13)

"What makes music essential  to  Sufism  is  the  sama,  the
central  ritual of "listening to mystic songs - poems set to
music -  as  a  means  of  spiritual  advancement."(14)  The
"music"  in  Qawwali  is  vital,  but  more important is the
effect that the music has on the  listener.(15)  Qawwali  is
seen  as a medium through which a performer and listener can
be transported closer to God.  "Qawwali's ultimate goal [is]
to  facilitate  a  state of grace or enlightenment, of union
with God, known as Wisal".(16) The only  way  to  reach  the
state of Wisal is through music.

"Music is the vehicle to reach the heart and attain a  state
of   grace   or   enlightenment,   a  'stateless  state'  or
'Ma'rifat'(17)- the inner knowledge".(18)


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			 END NOTES
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(8)

Dancing has only become an integral part  of  one  order  of
Sufism,  the  Mevleviyya.   Ibn 'Abbad of Ronda.  Letters on
the Sufi Path.  Trans. R.W.J. Austin.  New  York  :  Paulist
Press, 1980.

(9)
Khan,Nusrat Fateh Ali.  Shahen-Shah.  Beverly Hills  :  Real
World,   1990.    91300-2,  compact  disc  and  accompanying
pamphlet.

(10)
A title of respect given to  very  important  men  that  had
spiritual authority and have passed away.

(11)
Khusrou was employed as a historian and poet in  the  courts
of  many  kings,  but  his  loyalty  lay  with Sheikh Khwaja
Nizam-ud-Din Auliya, leader of the Chisti  order  of  Sufis.
He is also considered the "Father" of North Indian classical
music.

(12)
Khusrou is  accredited  with  inventing  the  Sitar,  Tabla,
Ghazal (a poetic love-song), and Khayal (A type of classical
singing that literally means  "imagination").   He  is  also
acknowledged  for introducing Persian and Arabic instruments
to India, as well as inventing many new Raags.

(13)
The Hindus in the North already had their "Bhajan"  and  the
south had the "Kriti".  Much later, in the fifteenth century
onwards, the Sikhs would develop their "Kirtan".


(14)
Qureshi, Regula Burckhardt et  all.   "Sufi  Music  and  the
History  of  Oral  Tradition".   Ethnomusicology  and Modern
Music History. ed. Stephen Blum, Philip V. Bohlman, & Daniel
M.  Neuman.   Urbana  and  Chicago:  University  of Illinois
Press, 1993.  Pg. 107.

(15)
Ibid., Pg. 109

(16)
Hunt, Ken.  Revelation-Ilham.  Sutton, Surrey :  Audio  Rec,
1993. Pg. 3.

(17)
In my research I have found Wisal and Ma'rifat  to  be  used
synonymously, though I am positive that this is incorrect.

(18)
Khan, Shahen-Shah.

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From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian