Qawwali is a syncretic musical form of South Asian heterodox Islam, as the unorthodox doctrines of Sufis, a group of ascetics and mystics, are labelled. The term is derived from the Arabic Qaul(meaning speak, creed, or word) and refers both to a musical genre of India and Pakistan and to its performance. Conveying the message of Sufi poetry through religious song, Qawwali is performed by a group — the Qawwal — of 3 to 13 professional male musicians.
Mehr Ali and his brother Sher Ali belong, like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, to the Qawwali school known as Panjabi ang. One of the surprising features of their approach is the simultaneous use of several languages (one verse might be in Farsi, another in Arabic, part of another in Punjabi and the last in Urdu) for obvious purposes of communication, arising no doubt from the particular history and geography of the Punjab.
MAN KUNTO MAULA (I am the Guide!)
Sufi Hymn in Arabic, Persian and Urdu in praise of Ali) is said to have been composed by the Sufi scholar and musician Amir Khusrau (1254-1325). Based on a tradition of the Prophet, this is the central hymn of the only large Sufi order to have grown on South Asian soil, the Chishtiya. Every formal meeting of audition of this order begins (and in some cases ends) with this hymn. The music expresses the worship and devotion.
I am of Haider, an intoxicated fiery mystic
I am a bondman of Ali Murtaza
I am the king of ali drinkers
I am the guide of the devotees of wisdom
And the dog of the streets of the lion
I am the guide
After me, Ali is the Guide
dardil dardil dardani
ham tom tanananana tananana ri
ya lali ya lala yala yala ri
yalalala yalalala yalalala ri
I am the guide
Traditions of the Prophet say:
"Take the name of Muhammad with his family
Ali is my Guide
Ali is my name, I am a slave of Ali
A thousand honourable lives are dedicated to the name of Ali
Ali is my Guide
On the heavens above is written "the Prophet from Arabia"
On each branch is written" Ali the Master''
On the green leaves and buds, "Zehra"
And on the red flowers, "Hussain, the son of Ali"
Ali is my Guide
So and so belongs to someone, another to another
My Guide is Ali
I swear by God, no-one is as royal as me !
I feel no fear, Ali is my Guide
Ali is my Guide
Every breath says, "Ali, Ali"
the tongue utters "Ali, Ali"
And when I die, write on my shroud, ''Ali, Ali"
Ali is myGuide
I am the Guide.
MARO NARA HAIEDRI, ‘ Y A ALI
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
(Panjabi hymn in praise of Ali) A modern composition
Oh Ali, Oh Ali, Oh Ali!
Ali's name is mankind and the names of mankind
For anyone who calls out his name
ln all of Creation, this cry goes out :
All who say "Ali, Ali" will be eternally happy
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
Come let me show you the way to paradise
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
If your distress is not becalmed, then charge me
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
If you are in pain, then
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
I give you one solution for a hundred afflictions
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
One shout for the five, one shout of Haider
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
The forest and the mountains say
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
ln all of Creation, this cry goes out
All who say "Ali, Ali" will be eternally happy
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
Allah is Ali's, the Prophet is Ali's
He is second to no master of this world
Kings and beggars all agree :
All who say "Ali, Ali" will be eternally happy
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
All your life long, say "Ali, Ali"
No incantation is better, say, "Ali, Ali"
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
What will you get from other repetitions
Joyously raise the shout of Haider, "oh Ali"
All masters recite "Ali, Ali" with every breath
