dil noon soach wichaar barhe ne
House of Shah — Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwali MP3
House of Shah refers to the household and tradition of Shah — specifically the lineage of the great sufi saints who established the khanqahs, the houses of spiritual training, that gave qawwali its original function and audience. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's relationship to this tradition was not metaphorical. He performed at shrines, at urs celebrations, at gatherings organized specifically around the commemoration of sufi saints. His world-famous Ali Da Malang performance gave him international exposure that other qawwals did not receive, but the shrine culture was always the home territory.
The Sofiyana Kalam Tradition
His recordings on this album are filled with sofiyana kalam of the great poets — the kind of material that has been performed in shrine settings for generations and that carries within it the accumulated weight of all those performances. When Nusrat performs Ali Da Malang or any of the classic kalam, he is participating in a chain of transmission that goes back centuries. He participated in and won many qawwali competitions throughout his career, which is worth noting because it confirms that his peers recognized his mastery, not just international audiences who had no comparison points.
Qari Saeed Chishti Qawwal and Abid Mehar Ali Qawal both represent related but distinct lineages within this same tradition. Rare Elements Remix versions of Nusrat's work offer an interesting counterpoint — what happens to the sofiyana kalam when it is extracted from its performance context and placed in a contemporary production environment.
Free Download and Online Listening
House of Shah and the complete Nusrat catalogue are available on iRulz for free streaming and download. Visit any time to listen to qawwali online without any software installation required.
FAQ
What is the urs in sufi tradition? The urs is the annual commemoration of a sufi saint's death — understood as the moment of union with the divine rather than as mere death. Qawwali performances at urs celebrations are among the most important in the tradition.
Is Ali Da Malang on this album? House of Shah is a collection title that covers particular recording sessions. Check the specific track listing on iRulz for confirmation.
Who is Rare Elements Remix? A contemporary production project that recontextualizes classic Pakistani qawwali recordings in electronic music frameworks.
You may also enjoy the qawwali of Qari Saeed Chishti Qawwal, Abid Mehar Ali Qawal, and Rare Elements Remix. Listen to more qawwali of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.