Spiritual expression and the life of Qawwals in Bangladesh

Tere Hi Naam Se Haar Ibtida Hai 
Tere He Naam Per Tak Intiha Hai
Teri Hamd-O-Sana Alhamdulillah
Ke Tu Mere Mohammad Ka Khuda Hai
[With your name, is every beginning
With your name, is every end 
The praises that belong to you, all praises to the Lord
That you're the God of my Muhammad (PBUH)]

The sacred love, heartfelt gratitude and trusted prayers to the Almighty have found countless forms of expressions from the devotees over the years and have assumed the form of qawwali in the Indo-Pak-Bangladesh subcontinent. 

Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music originating in South Asia, aims to enthral the listener with love for the divine. Over hundreds of years, from Pakistan and India to the low Delta of Bangladesh, noteworthy numbers of Qawwals have continued to nurture this enriched art form. That brings us to the question: how are the Bangladeshi Qawwals doing at present?

"The art of qawwali is precious, practised and preserved generation after generation. My family has been singing qawwali as a hereditary profession for hundreds of years. My father and grandfather, and their grandfathers before them, all had been devoted Qawwals. This is a family heritage to be revered and held in the highest esteem," shares Qawwal Md. Nadim Reza Khan who is representing one of the oldest Qawwal families in Dhaka. 

"The Qawwal community is spread all over Bangladesh. We say that Bangladesh is the land of the walis of Allah. Qawwali is an integral expression of our faith. Any place that has been touched by the feet of an Awwaliyah (Islamic preacher), you'll find a qawwal there", Qawwal Md. Nadim Reza Khan adds. 

These days, rising enthusiasm surrounding qawwali is being observed among the youth, with University students being the pioneers in mainstreaming this spiritual genre of music. 

Traditionally, the practice of qawwali has been based on spiritual shrines, in essence, the Dargahs or Darbar Sharifs and Khanqahs or Majars. On occasions like Eid-e-Miladunnabi, lunar nights of significance, and dates of the Bengali calendar the community deems significant, Mehfil-e-Sama (a gathering held for qawwali with and chanting, Hadhra, as a part of remembering God) is organized and observed vibrantly in the spiritual shrines of Bangladesh. 

"All around the year, professional Qawwals move around Bangladesh for mehfils. However, our livelihood is quite dependent on seasons. For example, during certain times of the year, there is an increased demand for Qawwals for wedding ceremonies, other times, not so much so. Official paper that includes monthly income, such as opening bank accounts, is not quite easy on our part, as our income is not consistent", Qawwal Md. Maksud Alam Munna, popularly known as Munna Qawwal, shares with the Financial Express. 

The word qawwali has its roots in the Arabic word "Qawl", translated as utterance (of the prophet), signifying repeated utterance of the praise of the Almighty. Sufi scholar Amir Khusrau, a direct disciple of Sufi scholar Nizam-Uddin-Awwaliyah in the 13th century, pioneered qawwali. 

Often credited as the father of Urdu literature and the father of qawwali, Amir Khusrau introduced components from Iranian, Turkish and Arabic literature to South Asian literature, giving birth to the mysterious spiritual melody we call qawwali today. 

Originally, qawwali was sung without any musical instrument. Their lyrics and tunes, practised in the spiritual shrines, were preserved from generation to generation.  

Qawwali received immense international praise and popularity in the 20th century after being marketed by the 'Real World' label, sung in the majestic voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Aziz Miah, and Sabri Brothers. 

Sufism seeks to experience divine love, truth, and wisdom, which is enchantingly reflected in the worshipful lyrics of qawwali. However, affection for the lover, tales of friendship, enmity, losses and grief, expressions of desires, wills and woes of life have also fused itself profoundly. Qawwalis like Tumhe dillagi, Mere Rashq-e-Qamar, and Yeh jo halka halka suroor testify of their intimate connection to life. 

Hundreds of years ago to the present, qawwali has always been a solace to the tortured heart, be it love for the divine, infatuation for the beloved or lamentation over the ordinary worldly life. 

In Bangladesh, though qawwali has a noteworthy fan base, the listeners generally look up to singers from Pakistan and India. With the advancement of information technology and media, the Qawwal community has adapted alike, and yet, patronization of the Bangladeshi culture of qawwali still needs to be improved. 

"We love Bangladesh. We represent Bangladesh. We want to do something for Bangladesh. Qawwali in Bangladesh has its distinguished flavours and characteristics. It is our request to the government and the people that we are provided with the necessary support so that the Qawwals of Bangladesh receive their deserved recognition worldwide," Qawwal Md. Maksud Alam Munna gives his opinion. 

"The number of Qawwal families who uphold this tradition hereditarily is slowly decreasing, their places sometimes being taken by Qawwals who are new to this art and are not completely skilled. There is practically nobody to look after this community. Had there been an official body or association that represents us and looks after our interests, qawwali would've advanced far more in Bangladesh", he added. 

"You cannot think of the religious harmony we see today without thinking of Rumi, Imam Ghazzali and the Awwaliyahs. This tradition of practising faith is centuries old. To watch how spiritual shrines are being mistreated nowadays is very disheartening", adds Qawwal Md. Nadim Reza Khan, when inquired about what kind of support he deems necessary for the prosperity of this Art form. 

Mehfils of Qawwali are organized year-round all over Bangladesh. To taste the authentic flavours of qawwali, one can visit the spiritual shrines on occasions like Eid-e-Miladunnabi, programs held in honour of Sufi scholars in Lalbagh and other parts of Dhaka, spiritual shrines of Sylhet, Shariyatpur, Moulavibazar, and other parts of Bangladesh. 

Qawwali, once an integral part of worship and spirituality, is increasing in popularity day by day as an enriched cultural heritage of this subcontinent. 

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