Q A U L - by Wajahat Hussain Khan Qawwal

The melodious voice of Wajahat Husain Khan Badauni

I had been looking for Wajahat Hussain Khan Badauni for a while. Always wondered how the descendants of one of the greatest voices in qawwali (Jafar Husain Khan Badauni) could just disappear from public view.  I tried to ask people of his whereabouts but had no success. For those of you who do not know of him, Wajahat is the grandnephew of the late Qawwali Ustad Jafar Hussain Khasaheb of Badaun. I even asked Yousuf Saeed in Delhi, a Khusrau enthusiast, thinking that he would surely know. Yousuf had been to Badaun many years back and met Jafar saheb, however did not have any further information about the next generation of qawwals.

Then quite by coincidence, and to my delight, I was recently contacted by his young nephew Nadeem Khan who is a classical singer based in Delhi (cousin of Ustad Rashid Khan) and sent me this lovely CD. Nadeem and Wajahat are both from the Rampur Sehaswan Gharana and Wajahat Hussain Khan is the grandson and disciple of legendary Ustad Nissar Hussain Khansahab.

Born in Badaun, Wajahat was associated with Jafar sahab at an early age due to his keen interest in Sufi music and started performing regularly ever since. An experienced qawwal of 45 now, Wajahat is recognized by most in the qawwali fraternity for his musical prowess and understanding of 'gayaki'. His wonderfully melodious style is quite similar to that of his granduncle. Enjoy the music!

I am hoping that from all the qawwali lover out there all over the world, some will take an interest in Wajahat Hussain Khan Qawwal party and will host the singer. In sab ki hosla afzai karna ham sab pe farz hai. achhay sunnein waaley kay bhi kuchh faraez hotay hein aakhir.

Qaul - Mun Kunto Moala - Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad

Qaul recital in Montreal - 2008
Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad Qawwal
Kalam: Amir Khusrau


What makes this rendition truly special is the delightfully classical andaaz alaap (1.30 - 7.26) that includes taankari and lots of sargam. Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad are leading qawwals of Pakistan and hail from the Dehli Qawwal Bachay Gharana.

Q A U L - Mun Kunto Moala by GMN

In this older rendition of the QAUL by GMN qawwal I am particularly impressed by the use of the Sitar as well as Nasir's melodious voice. The harmonium just doesn't move me in the same manner. His use of voice reminds me a little of the unhurried andaaz of Qawwal Jafar Husain Khan Baduni.
Also of note is the beautiful tarana that starts around 7.50 mins. Quite unusual and different from what we are used to. khubsoorat gayeki hai.

Qawwal: Ghous Muhammad Nasir Niazi (Autroli Gharana)
ref: http://qawwalgmn.com/

The images in the video are of Hazrat Ali's shrine at Mazar e Sharif in Afghanistan very close to the border of Iran, where his remains were believed to have been moved from Najaf after his passing.

Lessons in Qawwali (Tour of France) - Najmuddin Saifuddin Qawwal

Leçon de qawwali avec Na­j­mud­din Sai­fud­din & Bro­thers

Les Glotte-Trotters | Myspace Music Videos

especially fun when the group starts to sing at 8.10
note ehtisham at 10.50 ... after that it just keeps getting better and better.
wah wah ehtisham bohat khub at 12.50 - wonderful.

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Leçon de qawwali chez les Glotte-​Trot­ters le 25 septem­bre 2010 avec les qawwals pak­istanais Na­j­mud­din Sai­fud­din & Broth­ers. Tra­vail sur le qaul (cre­do) "Man kun­to maula". On doit à Hazrat Amir Khus­row, mys­tique soufi, poète et mu­si­cien du XI­I­Ie siè­cle, la créa­tion du qawwali et de la musique hin­dous­tanie.
Séance filmée par Philippe Pi­az­za.

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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Qaul - Mun Kunto Moala

Qaul - Mun Kunto Moala from Tasawwuf on Vimeo.


Another beautiful rendition of "Mun Kunto Moala", (Manqabat) in praise of Hazrat Ali (R).

The word "moala" means leader in this context. I have been asked about this on a few occasions...therefore the explanation.

At an evening of qawwali organized by Canada Pakistan Association

The above is in a higher resolution than youtube allows, therefore better quality of viewing and sound (though unfortunately the sound is not from the mixer but the video microphone)....