Sufi music

Sufi Music

Sufi music is a genre of music inspired by Sufism, and by the works of Sufi poets, like Rumi, Hafiz, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrow and Khwaja Ghulam Farid. It is a centuries-old spiritual tradition that has been practiced in various forms across the Islamic world.

Origins

Sufi music originated from the Islamic Golden Age, where music was considered a powerful tool for the spiritual development of the soul. The tradition of Sufi music is deeply intertwined with the mystical branch of Islam known as Sufism, which emphasizes personal experience over formal religious structures.

Types of Sufi Music

There are several types of Sufi music, each with its own unique style and tradition. These include Qawwali, Kafi, Hamd, Naat, Nasheed, and Ghazal. Each of these forms has its own unique style and tradition, but all share a common goal of seeking spiritual enlightenment through music.

Qawwali

Qawwali is the most well-known form of Sufi music, and is most commonly found in the Sufi culture of the Indian Subcontinent. It is a form of devotional music that expresses the mystical love of God.

Kafi

Kafi is a form of Sufi poetry, often set to music, that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is characterized by its focus on the themes of divine love and human longing for union with the divine.

Hamd

Hamd is a genre of Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi and Bengali poetry that is written in praise of Allah. It is often set to music and performed as part of Sufi musical traditions.

Naat

Naat is a form of poetry in which the poet praises the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is often set to music and performed as part of Sufi musical traditions.

Nasheed

Nasheed is a work of vocal music that is either sung a cappella or accompanied by percussion instruments. In general, Islamic nasheed do not contain any musical instruments, following the Islamic prohibition of musical instruments.

Ghazal

Ghazal is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain.

Influence

Sufi music has had a profound influence on various forms of music across the world. It has influenced genres as diverse as Bollywood music, Western pop music, and African music.

See also

• Sufism
• Islamic music
• Islamic Golden Age
• Qawwali
• Kafi
• Hamd
• Naat
• Nasheed
• Ghazal