Munshi Raziuddin Qawwali Party at Lok Virsa

A delightful recording was recently uploaded on YouTube by Sayyan Qamar and I thought it best to preserve the audio as one whole mehfil be able to listen to at one go.

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

Munshi Raziuddin, Qawwal Bachay Gharana

With a huge thanks first to Lok Virsa and second to Sayyan Qamar for sharing on YT

Tori Soorat Ke Balhari Nijam - Amir Khusrau

Tori soorat kay balihaari, Nijaam
Tori soorat kay balihaari.
Sab sakhiyan mein chundar meri mailee,
Dekh hansain nar naari, Nijaam
Ab ke bahar chundar meri rang de,
Piya rakh lay laaj hamari, Nijaam.
Sadqa baba Ganj Shakar ka,
Rakh lay laaj hamari, Nijaam.
Qutab, Farid mil aaye barati,
'Khusrau' raajdulaari, Nijaam.
Kouo saas kouo nanad say jhagday,
Hamko aas tihaari, Nijaam.
Tori soorat kay balihaari, Nijaam.
---

trans: http://www.angelfire.com/sd/urdumedia/lyrics.html

Beholding your appearance, Oh Nijaam
I offer myself in sacrifice.
Amongst all the girls, my scarf is the most soiled,
Look, the girls are laughing at me.
This spring, please dye my scarf for me,
Oh Nijaam, protect my honour.
In the name of Ganj-e Shakar (Nizamuddin Aulia's pir),
Protect my honour, Oh beloved Nijaam.
Qutab and Farid have come in the wedding procession,
And Khusrau is the loving bride, Oh Nijaam.
Some have to fight with the mother-in-law,
While some with sisters-in-law,
But I have you for support, Oh Nijaam.

Poetry: Hazrat Amir Khusrau
Recital: Ustad Manzoor Ahmed Khan Niazi & Munshi Raziuddin Qawwal

Tere Dar Tere Aastane ke Qaabil - Hamd by Munshi Razi ud din

Munshi Raziuddin's poetry is sung by his sons Farid Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwals at a small and intimate gathering at our home in Montreal in 2008.

This mehfil begins with a short dua/intro', continued by a few minutes of engaging instrumental music to set up the mood, and then a longer than usual behlava. The  poem is in dedication and love of the Divine. It isn't sung frequently and may be new to some of you so I thought it worthwhile sharing it. The qawwals knew how much I enjoy a long and pensive beginnings :-). Hope you enjoy it despite the somewhat poor quality of the recording. 

Tere Dar Tere Aastaney ke Qaabil

Bana de mujhey sar jhukaney ke qaabil

Tere Dar ke Sajdon ki Lazzat ne Mujh ko

Na Rakha Kaheen aur Janey ke Qaabil

Tumhari Nigahon ki Dhaali hui Mae

Hai Peeney ke Qaabil, Pilaney ke qaabil

Hamee thae Razi, Jo Kissi se na Uthha

Woh Baar e Amanat Uthhaney ke Qaabil.

Poetry: Munshi Raziuddin

Qawwal: Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad Party

Location: Montreal, Canada

Mang, Phir Mang - Shikwa - Jawab e Shikwa

A couple of years ago I had the good fortune of sitting beside Moalana Manzoor in a local Montreal wedding. He was in a whimsical mood that day and started to recite the following verses.

"jo mangne ka tareeqa hai os tarah mango,
minnat se, khushamad se, adab se mango.
dey aye mere moala dey,
dey aye mere daata dey,
kuch sadqa-e-yasin dey,
kuch sadqa-e-taaha dey,
kuchh un ka tasaduq dey,
kuchh apna utara dey".

A bit to his surprise, I proceeded to complete them as they were somewhat familiar to me as well. Our conversation progressed to the beautiful poetry that was traditionally recited by qawwals in Hyderabad, Deccan.

In October 2012 again I was pleasantly reminded by behan Nasim Omer (Hyderabad) about this kalam. She had first heard it from the late Aziz Ahmed Warsi saheb. The kalam being one of my favorites, I promptly dug it out of storage, and much to Muslim bhai and Nevin's delight we sat down to listen to it together. It starts by telling the listener how he should beseech the Almighty. Shows us the right way of doing so, with humility and respect. Then there is the part when the listener is addressed by God himself asking them to come and ask for more, ask again (aa aa idhar aa, tu phir mang, phir mang) without regard for past sins or misdeeds, without regard for his faith or creed. He simply asks you to come to him in what is most typical of the inclusive sufiana way.

At 20 minutes the the raag changes and the shikwa begins "Kab tak mere Moala?". Around the 30th minute mark the master switches to "Jawab e Shikwa" and the original raag. This is truly a treasure for classical qawwali lovers. Enjoy!

"Har cheez Musabib-e-sabab se mango
minnat se, khushamad se, adab se mango

kyon ghair ke aage haath phailatey ho
bandey ho agar Rab ke to Rab se mango

kya faeda fikr-e-baisho kam se ho ga
ham kya hein, jo koi kaam hum se hoga

jo kuchh bhi hua, hua karam se tere
aur jo kucch ho ga, tere karam se hoga

dar dar kharab ansta phira ley ke iltija
paya na kahin manzil-e-maqsood ka pata

aakhir tere karam ne pukara, idhar to aa
aa phir idhar aa, tu phir mang phir mang"

Ze Rehmat Kun Nazar Barhaal-e-Zaaram ~ Molana Jami

A beautiful 30 minute long naatiya recital by the late Munshi Raziuddin and Sons Qawwal Party. Here the Farsi kalam is masterfully interspersed by verses in Arabic and Urdu. The tone and pace of the recital is wonderfully contemplative and the party seem to be at their prime.

Ze rehmat kun nazar bar haal-e-zaram ya Rasoolallah
Ghareebam, beynawayam, khaaksaram ya Rasooallah
Tui taskeen-e-dil, araam-e-jaan, sabroqarar-e-man
Rukh-e-pur noor banuma, bey qararam Ya Rasool Allah
Ghareebam, madaram dar jahan justo, habeebam ya-Rasoolallah

Author: Molana Jami
Recital: Munshi Raziuddin, Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad Qawwal party

Mo se bol na bol - Munshi Raziuddin & sons

Munshi Raziuddin

Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad
Montreal - 2007

Speak to me or not, hear me out or not.

I shall not let go of you, O’ my swarthy one!

You snatch my hand away, imagining me weak.

Try pulling out of my heart and then ill call you a man.

Let my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law turn away from me;

What does it matter if the whole village leaves me?

Only you must not abandon me,

O’ my beloved, I have come under your shadow.

Now remains what scope for talk of bashfulness and shame?

When my feet are snared in the shackles of love

Fakhar Din is dear to Nizam, his darling

Tell me, if I were to leave you, where could I go?

Let the people of the town revile me;

Call me by any name they wish. I shall, Mauj, live with you

In ecstasy, as I please.

I shall never leave you

I shall remain where I am

- Maulana Mauj

Tarana Zeelaf - Munshi Raziuddin, Fareed Ayaz & Ensamble

Tarana in Raag Zeelaf!

Tori Surat Ke Balhari Nizam - Amir Khusrau

Today on the demise of Qawwal Manzoor Niazi, I'd like to honour him by posting this beautiful Khusrau poem sung by his party some 40 years ago. Niazi saheb was one of  the old stalwarts of the world of qawwali and brought with him the treasures of Dilli Gharana to Karachi, Pakistan soon after partition. Not only did he bring the words of sufi poets and saints but also some of the most fabulous qawwals that Pakistanis witnessed over the next five decades. Among the original party were the likes of Bahauddin saheb, Iftekhar Ahmed Khan Nizami, Munshi Raziuddin and the then junior Ustad Naseeruddin Saami who continues to enthrall audiences with his khayal singing today.

In 2010, at the request of Musaf Bin Noor, I searched my collection and found this interesting old recording of Khusrau's kalam "Tori Surat Ke Balhari" which includes the old party from Karachi.
While the lead is Manzoor Ahmed Niazi Qawwal from 1975 the prominent voices of Munshi Raziudding and Naseeruddin Saami are distinct. I am a little skeptical about the date of the recording as this group was apparently singing together prior to 1966. It is also possible that the recording is simply labelled incorrectly and does not include the complete old qawwal party of Manzoor saheb. Nonetheless if Asif bhai, Munsaf or anyone else like Abu Muhammad or Abdullah Niazi wish to comment on this, you are quite welcome. Probably the rest of you can recognize the other voices quite easily. I only request you all to be respectful toward all involved in your comments. Many thanks.



Beholding your countenance, I offer myself in sacrifice (balhari)
All the other girls saw my soiled chundar,
And together they laughed at me.
This springtime, dye my chundar for me (rang do)
O protect my honour(laj) (Nijam, Beloved)! ...
Who can win against mother-in-law or sister-in-law?
I pine for your support.
Everyone knows how you and I are linked:
Is my honour different from yours, (Nijam, Beloved?)

"These lines from Tori surat, also by Amir Khusrau (Repertoire No3), express mystical love through a young woman longing to offer herself up in utter devotion, depending for her very existence, her honour (laf), on the Beloved's protection. Her soiled garment, covering her head and chest ..." 
Regula Qureshi - Sufi Music from India and Pakistan

Ze rehmat kun nazar - Jami

This has got to be one of the sweetest renditions that I have heard of this Naatiya kalam:

Ze rehmat kun nazar bar haal-e-zaram ya Rasoolallah

Ghareebam, beynawayam, khaaksaram ya Rasooallah

Tui taskeen-e-dil, araam-e-jaan, sabroqarar-e-man

Rukh-e-pur noor banuma, bey qararam Ya Rasool Allah

Ghareebam, madaram dar jahan justo, habeebam ya-Rasoolallah

~ Molana Abdul Rahman Jami

trans:

Please caste your kind gaze onto my terrible state Oh Rasool e Allah!
( zarem means a state of anguish because of thirst or anger)
I am poor, I am voiceless and worthless Oh Rasool e Allah!

Only you can be the solace of my heart, comfort of my soul and contentment of my bosom.But when I see your Glowing vision I get restless Oh Rasool Allah.

I am poor, I do not love the attractions of life, my friend Oh Rasool e Allah!

~ Hina Wasim

Ya Allah o Ya Raheem - by Munshi Raziuddin

Reciting in Tunis (2002) for the Carthage Festival, Munshi Raziuddin & Party beautifully adapt their performance to appeal to the middle eastern listener. Note the use of the duff and the use of verses and tunes. The lead singer Farid Ayaz does magic with his taankari and girahbandi.

Love the way (at 2:05) Raziuddin is enjoying the singing of his son with his hands raised to Allah.

Jo duniyan mein tera kha ker, tere shikvey karey ya Rab
taajub hai ke un per bhi rahey lutf-o-karam tera

Ya Allah o Ya Raheem
Ya moalana ya kareem

Sultan e Haram ho Jaye Karam - Natiya kalam by Munshi Raziuddin & Farid Ayaz Qawwal

 For Farid Ayaz lovers this will be a true delight. I was completely bowled over seeing this 40 year old video of Qawwal Faird Ayaz performing with such confidence and ease when he was around 19 or 20 years old. Lovely takrar and tarz, accompanied by passionate singing and the grand master Munshi Raziuddin lost in the love for the Divine and the sheer pleasure of leading such a fabulous qawwal party.

Ya Rassool-Allah, Ya Rassool-Allah

Nigah-e-lutf ka mushtaq, aye sarkar mein bhi hun

Tumhari nargis-e-bimar ka bimar, mein bhi hun

Buron se bhi bura hun mein, magar aye Rehmat-e-alam

Tumhara naam leva, ik zaleel-o-khwar mein bh hun.....

Khwaja Piya Piya Piya - Munshi Raziuddin at his best

Filled with love and devotion, this is such a superb example of the essence of qawwali. Beseeching Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (Gharib Nawaz) to colour us in his exact hue. Surely Munshi Raziuddin at his best. ...blown away. lajawab!

note karein kaise 15.40 ke qareeb kitni khubsoorti se tarz aur raag badalti hai

Khwaja Piya, Mori Rang do Chunariya

Rang do Chunariya, Mori Rang do Chunariya

Ayesi Rang do, Rang nahi chhootay

Dhobiya dhoye chaahey, saari umariya

Sun re beer rangrej ke, So mein paanch mohar dun toye

Ayesi chundar rang de, Ke Piya galey laga le moye

Hamri chundariya, piya ki pagardiya, Donon basanti rang de rangiley

Jo tu maangey rang ki rangaii, Mera jogan girvi rakh le rangiley

Bina rangwaye, tohey jaaney na dungi

Jo mujhay daikhta hai, Nam tera laita hai.............

Manmohan Hein Banka - Munshi Raziuddin

Manqabat in praise of Sheikh Abdul-Qadir Gilani Ghaus e Azam (1077–1166 CE) born in Gilan, Persia also known as Al-Baghdadi. At the age of eighteen he went to Baghdad (1095), where he pursued the study of Hanbali law under several teachers.

In Tasawwuf, his spiritual instructor was Shaikh Abu'l-Khair Hammad bin Muslim al-Dabbas from whom he received his basic training, and with whose help he set out on a spiritual journey.

After completion of education, Abdul-Qadir Gilani abandoned the city of Baghdad, and spent twenty-five years as a wanderer in the desert regions of Iraq as a recluse.

Quote from Wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul-Qadir_Gilani :

Stays in Lahore and Amritsar

He left his home in 908 of Hijra and came to Lahore where he spent some years in preaching. A lot of people from Lahore, in particular, and Punjab, in general, embraced Islam on his hands, and became his followers. Even today one can find many of his descendants in Pir Kot and Lahore. He then went to Amritsar, and spent somewhat equal amount of time there. .......

Arrival to Batala, India

From Amritsar, probably in 920 of Hijra, he came to Batala and stayed at place called Mian Muhalla. He spent some years in ibaadat and tableegh in Mian Muhalla, and then .......

He was over fifty years old by the time he returned to Baghdad in 1127, and began to preach in public. He died at the age of 91 years, and rests in a shrine within his Madrassa in Baghdad

Mareez-e-Muhabbat - Munshi Raziuddin

One of the all time best small and intimate mehfils of qawwali was surely the one at the home of Asif Hasnain and father Mehdi saheb back in 1988. There is a beautifully written description of this evening that was in memory of Mehdi saheb's wife: Q A U L Blogspot -

One of the qawwalis that keeps coing back to me again and again is Qamar Jalalvi's Mareez-e-Muhabbat which includes the final two minutes of the evening. Truly amazing!

Itne pyar aur lagan se pardha hai ye kalam. Aur sunein walay bhi mazay le le kar sun rahein hein. bohat khoobsoorat mahaul hai jiss mein ke sunein waley aur sunaanay waley sab alfaaz aur andaaz-e-bayan se lutf-andoz ho rahay hein.

Raag Bahar - Tu kaun hai Bhanvara - Munshi Raziuddin

A treat for Khusraw lovers. This recital by Munshi Raziuddin is from 1980.

Mein Kya Tha - Munshi Raziuddin & sons

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I recently found this gem in the archives of Munshi Raziuddin and thought that I must share it with all his fans. The older somewhat nasal andaaz of singing may not immediately appeal to all today, however it is the words and the passion of the recital that makes this so special.

Hailing from the Qawwal Bachon ka Gharana of Delhi, Munshi Raziuddin was one of the four qawwal brothers who migrated to Karachi soon after partition. Not only was Raziuddin a qawwal par excellence but a true aalim (Ahl-e Ma‘rifat) who helped spread the spiritual heritage of the Prophet (pbuh), a softer Islam that focused on the love, generosity and mercy of Allah.

Notice how beautifully, around 19.30, he so effortlessly switches to Arabic in beseeching the Divine.

Mein Kya Tha Aur Mujhay, Kya Bana Diya Tu Nein
Karam Kiya, Mujhey Apna Bana Liya Tu Nein

Yeh Mera Zarf, Khata par Khata hui Mujh Se
Yeh Teri Shaan, Karam par Karam Kiya Tu ne

Issi Ada pe Teri, Mit Gaye Hein Diwane
Khata Hui to, Khata ko Chhupa Liya Tu Nein

Jahan Jahan Mere, Qadmon Mein Laghzishein Aayeen
Tere Nisar, Waheen Aasira Diya Tu Nein

..................

While Raziuddin was truly an ustaad of ustaads, he forbade everyone to address him as "Ustaad" and was always humble about his knowledge and achievements. In a world filled with people who constantly wish to impress others, such people are increasingly difficult to find these days aren't they.

The city scapes in the video are of Wazir Khan Masjid in Lahore. Here is more information about it.

Q A U L - an old recording - Manzoor Ahmed Khan Niazi

Manzoor Ahmed Niazi Qawwal brothers who came from the delhi qawwal bachaey gharana to karachi after partition and hail from Hyderabad Deccan recite this rendition of the QAUL. The party included brothers the late Bahauddin Khansaheb and Munshi Raziuddin saheb back in those days.

It is a pretty good recording considering its age. Around 7.30 mins it is particularly beautiful when they are start the brief tarana at "ham toum tananana, toum tananana
illahi ye jalsa kahan ho raha......."

In the end I found it left me wanting for more as the recording is sadly incomplete. Still it gives you a flavor of what it was like back then. Jazba barda buland tha!

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It is Time to Open the Maekhana of Rumi - وقت است کہ بگشایم میخانۂ رومی باز

Poetry: Iqbal
Recital: Munshi Raziuddin

پس چہ بائد کرد
اے اقوامِ شرق
(اقبال)

قندہار و زیارت خرقہ مبارک

غزل
از دیر مغان آیم بی گردش صہباست
در منزل لا بودم از بادہ الا مست
I come from the temple of Magians(Old Persian Magus)intoxicated with the passing of wine.
I was inebriate with the wine of illa in the state of la*(Nothingness).

دانم کہ نگاہ او ظرف ہمہ کس بیند
کرد است مرا ساقی از عشوہ و ایما مست
I know his eyes perceive the capacity of every person,
the saqi has made me ecstatic by his blandishment and beckoning.

وقت است کہ بگشایم میخانۂ رومی باز
پیران حرم دیدم در صحن کلیسا مست
It is time I should again open the tavern(Mai-Khana) of Rumi:
I have seen the custodian (پیران) of the Harem intoxicated in the churchyard.

این کار حکیمی نیست دامان کلیمی گیر
صد بندۂ ساحل مست یک بندہ دریا مست
It is not the work of a philosopher, catch hold of the hem of a Moses, who conversed with God.
A hundred persons enrapt with the shore and but one tipsy with the river.

از حرف دلاویزش اسرار حرم پیدا
دی کافرکی دیدم در وادی بطحا مست
From his delightful words, the secrets of the Harem shine out:
I saw a mini‐infidel yesterday intoxicated in the valley of Batha.

سینا است کہ فاران است یارب چہ مقام است اینہر ذرہ خاک من چشمی است تماشا مست
Is this Sinai or Faran? O God, what is this place?
Each particle of my dust is an eye lost in beholding the garment of that Interstice that cannot be crossed

www.youtube.com/tauseeqau

Maang - ھر چیز مسبب سبب سے مانگو

Munshi Raziuddin archives - Phir Mang Phir Mang from Tasawwuf on Vimeo.

ھر چیز مسبب سبب سے مانگو
منت سے، خوشامد سے، ادب سے مانگو

كیوں غیر كے آگےہاتھ پھیلاتے ھو
بندے ھو اگر رب كے تو رب سے مانگو

كیا فائدہ فكر پیش و كم سے ہو گا
ہم كیا ھیں، جو كوئی كام ہم سے ہو گا

جو كچھ بھی ہوا، ہوا كرم سے تیرے
اور جو كچھ ہو گا تیرے كرم سے ہو گا

در در پھرا لے كے التجا
پایا نہ كہیں منزل مقصود كا پتا

آخر تیرے كرم نے پكارا ادھر تو آ
آ پھر ادھر آ، تو پھر مانگ پھر مانگ

______________________________________________________________

"Har Cheez Musabib-e-Sabab Se Mango
Minat Se, Khushamad se, Adab se Mango

Kyon Ghair ke Aage Haath Phailatey ho
Bande he Agar Rab ke to Rab se Mango

Kya Faeda Fikr-e-baish-o-Kam se ho Ga
Ham Kya hein, jo koi Kaam Hum se hoga

Jo kuchh bhi hua, hua karam se tere
Aur jo kucch ho ga, tere karam se hoga

Dar Dar k....sta Phira ley ke Iltija
Paya na Kahin Manzil-e-maqsood ka Pata

Aakhir tere Karam ne pukara Idhar to Aa
Aa Phir Idhar Aa, Tu Phir Mang Phir Mang"
__________________________________________________________


This is another beautiful example of qawwali sung by
the Grand Master Munshi Raziuddin from his archives.

Here the poetry starts in one raag and one kalam and after about 20 minutes blends into another raag and another kalam. During the 30th minute, at an appropriate moment, the master switches back to the original raag and kalam.

As long as the subject (mazmoon) is the same this license to move from one poet to another or one raag to another is unique to qawwali and adds an element of surprise and creativity that the listener loves.

Furthermore one kalam is never actually repeated exactly from one rendition to another.

Khawaja-e-Khwajgan Moinuddin Chishty

Khawaja-e-Khwajgan Moinuddin, Kuchh Humara Bhi Dhyan hai Ke Nahin from Tasawwuf on Vimeo.

Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty ki tareef mein. kalam sung by Farid and Abu qawwal party

Khawaja-e-Khwajgan Moinuddin, Kuchh Humara Bhi Dhyan hai Ke Nahin
Aasmaan ke nahin, Zameen ke nahin
Tum se chhootey to phir kaheen ke nahin

.................


Samaa, bayaad Munshi Raziuddin - Karachi - July 2008