History of Sufi Music

An Introduction to Sufi Music

Sufism is an internal area of Islam, and the word, Sufi, derives from 'suf', an Arabic word that is the wool that ascetics and mystics wore. At first, there was no name nor existence of Sufism within the basic custom of Islam for centuries. Nevertheless, the inner aspects of the soul, 'haqqiqa', and the outer rules of 'sharia' were combined. And with their complementary synergy, Sufism was birthed forth as a separate science and practice. Furthermore, Sufism's origins are inseparable from Islam and Prophet Muhammed's teachings, and the devotional music of Sufis is Sufi music. This music is inspired sometimes by Sufi poets.

Sufis concern themselves with the inner aspects of the Islamic faith. They look for experience that lies beyond the outer rituals of religion, towards a personal experience of God. With their music, the listener is taken on an introspective journey through Sufi music's radiation. And with Sufis expression of love, peace, and harmony among all people by performing live with a group of musicians, this music has become very popular.

On the other hand, the orthodox Islamic considers Sufis music as being in the grey area. Even though the Quran doesn't prohibit music, early jurists frowned upon it. They disapproved even though there is proof of Prophet Mohammed allowing music at weddings.

Nevertheless, Sufis put great importance on emotions that enable humans to experience the divine, including mercy, love, humility, compassion, and patience. These are essential emotions that lie under the defined laws of Sharia, i.e., the legal code of Muslims. Sufis believe that these emotions are very important due to how they can improve personal behavior and interactions with other people.

Creativity is part of the heart of Sufism, and many Tarriques support and mentor cultural production. A sacred expression of faith is this culture being the embodiment of poetry, art, music, and food. These embodiments, with Sufi music being the most supreme, attracts everyone due to their authentic and honest beauty.

There are several styles of Sufi Music as this music has evolved throughout the Muslim world. This includes the rich, diversified sound of Sufi Music from Pakistan to Morocco, Senegal to Turkey, and more. And regardless of the sound, this music has the same purpose, which is to have a greater experience.

Sufi Music in Turkey (Sama)

The Sufis have music at the core of a ceremony of spiritual music and singing that is called the Sama. Tambourines, flutes, and bells may also be included in the Sama ceremony. The Sama's purpose is to create situations so that the human soul may experience divine love.

And with Sufi music, the listener may gain an intense love for God due to it being ecstatic and transcendental. This music will move the listener where he/she will gain awareness of God's majestic presence. And as a result, the listener will have an altered state mentally, emotionally, and at times, physically for a little while. Sufi music invokes God, honors Prophet Mohammed, and memorializes Sufi masters and the lives of great saints.

King of Sufi Music & Father of Qawwali

Better known as Amīr Khusrau, Abu'l Hasan Yamīn ud-Dīn Khusrau (1253–1325 AD) was an Indo-Persian Sufi musician and singer. He was also a Sufi scholar and poet who lived under the Delhi Sultanate. He is an icon in the Indian subcontinent cultural history.

He was also a spiritual disciple and mystic of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, India. And even though he primarily wrote poetry in Persian, he also wrote it in Hindavi. Additionally, he is also referred to as the 'Parrot of India' or the 'voice of India' sometimes.  He also debuted the ghazal style in India, which still exists today in Pakistan and India.

Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Urdu), aka Pervez Fateh Ali Khan at birth, (13 October 1948 – 16 August 1997) was a Pakistani musician, vocalist, music composer, and music director. His main style of Sufi music is qawwali.

The New York Times considers him to be the best Sufi singer in the Urdu, Hini, and Punjabi languages, as well as one of the greatest singers of qawwali of all time. And as far as Qawwali, he is known as the "Shahenshah-e-Qawwali", i.e, the King of Kings of Qawwali. In 2016, the LA Weekly stated that he is the fourth greatest singer of all time.

Ali Khan was well-known for his ability to perform for several hours at a high intensity level. He also known for his vocal abilities.

As an extension to his familial 600 year old qawwali tradition, he belonged to the Qawwal Bacchon Gharana (Delhi gharana). He is also credited worldwide for introducing qawwali music to international audiences.

Sufi Music Over the Years

Sufis seek knowledge and divine love simultaneously with the connection of God through contemplation and introspection. Sufism has a rich history that started in the 11th and 12th centuries in the subcontinent. In the subcontinent, the Sufi Khanqahs made a great impact on popularizing the idea of Sufism.

Khanqahs were dormitories, community centers, or lodges run by Sufis. In Khanqahs, students will read and engage together in Dhikr, the remembrance of God.

These mystic traditions gained more visibility after Khwaja Razi-ud-Din Muhammad Baqi Billah introduced the Naqshbandi Order of Sufism in India. Originating from Kabul, he was a Sufi saint who was one of Khawaja Muhammad Amkanagi's disciples. 

Sufi Music Throughout Pakistan

The Sufi saints along with their shrines possess an astronomical influence in popularizing Sufi music in Pakistan. One of the main reasons for this is due to the Sufis’ usage of regional languages to express their message of harmony and peace. Using regional languages made it possible for them to obtain a bigger audience. And as a result, young and old alike embraced their poetry and music. 

Even now, Sufism remains an element of the national identity of Pakistan. And throughout the country, people can perceive the concept of shrines and saints. All Pakistani languages have the expression of Sufi. In fact, some of the major regional Sufi poets' works can still be read and appreciated today throughout Pakistan. These major Sufi poets include Mast Twakkali in Baloch, Rahman Baby in Pashto, Abdul Latif Bhitai in Sindhi, and more. Pakistan has produced a plethora of Sufi Qawwals whose works enabled this form of Sufi music to go global.

Different Sub-genres of Sufi Music

There are different sub-genres of Sufi music that are performed during special ceremonies. On the other hand, other orders believe that this music should be forbidden, so it won't distract prayer. These sub-genres include the following:

• Qawwali

This is a sub-genre of Sufi music that is one of the most well-known and that is derived from Pakistan and India. This type of Sufi music began in the early 13th century in the subcontinent. And by including eastern instruments, like tabla and harmonium, musicians and disciples would sit together while the music was playing. Others were clapping to create a constant rhythm. And in Eastern Ragas, the eastern framework of the melody, at least one person would recite the Sufi kalam.

Traditionally, this sub-genre is divided into four sections, including manqabat, ghazals, naat, and hamd. Manqabat is all devotional songs, and ghazals normally include the expression of wanting to be close to the divine.

Also, qawwali's aesthetic appeal antes up to its popularity. Many musicians using this type of Sufi music put a premium on vocal strength and purity that occasionally skip over devotional matter and proceed into ghazal songs.

Over time, Qawwali started taking new forms. More expressive categories have started emerging, such as the following:

• Hand- to praise God
• Naat- an expression that praises Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
• Marsiya- a poem written to commemorate the valor and martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali (as), who was the grandson of the Prophet (pbuh)
• Ghazal- a poetic expression in Farsi, Urdu, and Arabic
• Manqabat- a devotional poem that praises Ali Ibn Abi Talib (as), who was the son-in-law of the Prophet (pbuh).
• Kafi

Another popular sub-genre is the Kafi. This is considered a classical style that usually derives from poetic verses of famous poets. There are times when Kafi, with fervor, has a similar delivery to qawwali, but even then, the execution differs. Also, Kafi music usually showcases a keyboard, a few percussion instruments, and a vocalist. 

Jahan-E-Khusro

Jahan-e-Khusrau (Urdu, Hindi, and Persian) is a three-day Sufi music festival held annually in New Delhi, India commemorating the anniversary of the death of the saint Amir Khusrau. This festival started in 2001 by artist and film director, Muzaffar Ali. It is held at Delhi, Arab ki Sarai, and Humayun's Tomb Monuments.

Jalal Al-Din Rumi

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (Persian) is also known as Mevlânâ/Mawlānā and Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī. However, he is more popularly known simply as Rumi. He was a 13th-century Persian poet, Hanafi faqih. He was also an Islamic scholar, a Sufi mystic, and a Maturidi theologian.

His influence transcends ethnic divisions as well as national borders, including Iranians, Turks, Tajiks, Greeks, Indian subcontinent Muslims, Pashtuns, and other Central Asian Muslims. And as a result, the masses have tremendously appreciated his spiritual legacy for over seven centuries.

Several world language translations were used to translate his poems. These poems were also transposed into different formats. Rumi is also considered the best-selling and the most popular poet in the US.

History of Sufi Music in Morocco: Gnawa

The Gnawa, aka Gnaoua, Ghanawi, Ghanawa, or Gnawi- Arabic, is an ethnic group in Morocco. The name, Gnawa, possibly originated from the indigenous language of the Sahara Desert and North Africa. It means dyslical, mute.

The music of Gnawa is a mixture of pre-Islamic African traditions, whether sub-Saharan or local and classical Islamic Sufism. Gnawa musicians, in general, also refer to people who practice rituals from pre-Islamic African animism rites.

Also, this music is considered to aid various health conditions. So, it's used in ceremonies in the popular culture of Morocco as magical treatment for psychic disorders, scorpion stings, etc.

Modern Sufi Music & Sufi Music in the West

Beginning in shines and the Khanqahs, i.e., homes where religious order travelers rested, as devotional music, Sufi music has now gain popularity worldwide. Old and young listeners globally are fascinated with Sufi. And as a result, it is now implemented into rock music.

With this growth and popularity, nevertheless, the traditions associated with Sufi music as devotional music is still going strong. It is still usually reserve for important ceremonials. One of the most well-known ceremonies still occurring today is the Sama Ceremony, which normally includes the Mevlevi, or whirling dervish, order. Sufi music is also performed sometimes to the public for the enjoyment of onlookers.

The fusion of Sufi and rock music began in the late 1990s. The pioneer of Sufi Rock in South Asia is a Pakistani rock band called Junoon. In the early 1990s, a controversial Pakistani journalist, Nadeem F. Paracha was the one who termed this fusion as Sufi rock. Junoon blended rock melodies and instruments, Eastern poetry, and Pakistani folk music that the youth at that time greatly received.

And today, one of the most popular Sufi rock stars is Rahat Fateh Ali, who rose to fame in 2003. Fateh Ali was also the first Pakistani to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

Summary

The devotional music of Sufis is Sufi music which is inspired sometimes by Sufi poets. Sufis are Muslims who concern themselves with the inner aspects of the Islamic faith. They look for experience that lies beyond the outer rituals of religion, towards a personal experience of God. And with this music, the listener is taken on an introspective journey through Sufi music's radiation.

There are different sub-genres of Sufi music that are performed during special ceremonies, and these sub-genres are called qawwaii and kafi. And while traditional Sufi music is still going strong in the sub-continent, it has gain great popularity worldwide. And as a result, it is now infused with rock and known as Sufi Rock.

FAQs About Sufi Music

What is Sufi music’s purpose?

It’s the devotional music of the Sufis where the expression of the emotions in the music brings health and harmony to one’s life. Sufis put great importance on emotions that enable humans to experience the divine, including mercy, love, humility, compassion, and patience.

Where did it Originate?

This music came from Islamic mystics known as Sufis. It originated in parts of Arabia, Persia, India, and Pakistan.

What songs did the Sufi dance influence?

Madonna included Sufi dancing and other rituals when she sang the song “Secret” in her 2001 Drowned World Tour. Also, singer and songwriter, Loreena McKennitt, has some influence of Sufi music and poetry on a song called “The Mystics Dream” from The Mask and Mirror (1994) album.