What Is Qawwali? A Complete Guide to Sufi Devotional Music

Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music from South Asia, sung to carry both singer and listener toward the divine. It pairs poetry in praise of God, the Prophet and the Sufi saints with powerful group singing, harmonium, tabla and dholak, and rhythmic handclapping. Rooted in the Chishti Sufi tradition and more than 700 years old, qawwali is known worldwide through the voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, yet it remains a living practice you can study and sing today.

This guide explains where qawwali comes from, how a qawwali ensemble works, what makes it spiritually distinct, and how a complete beginner can begin to learn it.

Where does qawwali come from?

Qawwali traces to the late 13th century and the poet and musician Amir Khusrau, a disciple of the Chishti Sufi master Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi. Khusrau is credited with blending Persian, Arabic and Indian musical forms into the devotional style that became qawwali. The word itself comes from the Arabic "qaul", meaning an utterance or saying, often a saying of the Prophet. A "qawwal" is one who repeats and gives life to that saying through song.

For centuries qawwali has been sung at the shrines (dargahs) of Sufi saints across India and Pakistan, especially during the gatherings known as "sama", the practice of spiritual listening from which Samā School of Music takes its name.

How does a qawwali ensemble work?

A qawwali group, often called a "party", usually has eight to ten performers and a clear structure:

• A lead singer who carries the main melody and improvises
• One or two side singers who answer and support the lead
• A chorus that repeats key lines and drives the energy
• Harmonium, which carries both melody and drone
• Tabla and dholak for rhythm
• Rhythmic handclapping that lifts the whole ensemble

The form is call and response. The lead sings a line, the chorus returns it, and the music builds in waves, repeating and intensifying a single phrase until it opens into something beyond words.

What is the spiritual purpose of qawwali?

Qawwali is not performance for its own sake. In the Sufi tradition it is a vehicle for "sama", devotional listening meant to soften the heart and turn it toward the divine. The repetition, the rising intensity and the poetry of longing are designed to carry singer and listener into a state of absorption, sometimes called "wajd", or spiritual ecstasy. The poetry draws on masters such as Amir Khusrau, Bulleh Shah and Rumi, and ranges from praise of God (hamd) and the Prophet (naat) to the ache of the lover for the Beloved.

Who are the most famous qawwals?

The tradition's most renowned voice is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who brought qawwali to global audiences. Other celebrated names include the Sabri Brothers, Aziz Mian and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

The living transmission of qawwali passes from master to student. The teachers of Samā School of Music, Tahir Qawwal and Alexandra Amïe Lyons, were initiated into the lineage of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan through his longtime tabla player, Ustad Dildar Hussain. Tahir is the founder of the qawwali ensemble Fanna-fi-Allah, and together they co-founded the Sufi qawwali ensemble Ilahi. Tahir also directed and produced, and Amïe edited, the award-winning documentary Music of the Mystics, a portrait of qawwali and its living masters.

Can a beginner learn qawwali? Do you need to be Muslim?

Yes, a beginner can learn qawwali, and you do not need to be Muslim or to have grown up in the tradition. What qawwali asks for is sincerity and devotion more than a "perfect" voice. The musical foundations, breath, the notes of the raga, harmonium, rhythm and the art of singing in a group, can all be learned step by step. Many of today's students come to qawwali from entirely different backgrounds, drawn by its emotional and spiritual depth.

If you are starting out, the most natural first steps are learning the harmonium, the heart of the ensemble, and training the devotional voice.

How can I start learning qawwali?

You can begin from home, at your own pace. A few starting points at Samā School of Music:

• Watch Music of the Mystics, the award-winning documentary on qawwali and its living masters, directed and produced by Tahir Qawwal and edited by Alexandra Amïe Lyons
• Explore Learn Sufi Qawwali with Ilahi to sing real qawwali compositions
• Build the instrumental foundation with Harmonium Mastery
• Try the free Voice of the Infinite masterclass series on devotional singing

Samā School of Music is an online academy for devotional music founded by Tahir Qawwal and Alexandra Amïe Lyons, with more than 25 years of experience teaching qawwali, Hindustani classical vocal and harmonium to students worldwide.

Frequently asked questions

What does qawwali mean? Qawwali comes from the Arabic "qaul", meaning an utterance or saying. A qawwal is a singer who repeats and gives life to sacred sayings through music.

What is the difference between qawwali and a ghazal? A ghazal is a poetic form about love, human or divine, often sung gently. Qawwali is congregational Sufi devotional music with a chorus, percussion and call and response, built to rise toward spiritual ecstasy.

What instruments are used in qawwali? Harmonium carries the melody and drone, tabla and dholak provide the rhythm, and the ensemble adds rhythmic handclapping. The voices, lead, side singers and chorus, are the central instrument.

What language is qawwali sung in? Most often Urdu, Punjabi and Persian, with some Hindi and Braj. The poetry matters as much as the melody.

Is qawwali hard to learn? The basics are accessible to any sincere beginner. Depth comes with practice, as in any traditional art. Starting with harmonium and devotional voice makes the path clear.

How long does it take to learn qawwali? You can sing simple compositions within a few months of regular practice. Mastery of improvisation and raga is a longer, lifelong path.

Do I need to read music? No. Qawwali is taught largely by ear and through call and response, the way it has always been passed down.

By the teachers of Samā School of Music: Tahir Qawwal, founder of the qawwali ensemble Fanna-fi-Allah and co-founder, with Alexandra Amïe Lyons, of the Sufi qawwali ensemble Ilahi. Both were initiated into the lineage of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan through his longtime tabla player, Ustad Dildar Hussain.