Sufism Is a Gift of God

By Staff Reporter, *'Sufi propagates peace'* - Deccan Chronicle - Hyderabad, India
Monday, November 1, 2010

She might hail from Pakistan but she is very much a household name across the border with a huge fan following in India. Often hailed as the mother of Sufi music, legendary Sufi singer Abida Parveen was in town for a concert and shared her thoughts on the meaning of Sufi music and the role music can play in uniting India and Pakistan.

The soft spoken Abida visits India every year to perform along with with Muzzafar Ali as part of the Jahan-e-Khusrau concerts. It is a ritual she has come to love, “I’m very happy to return back year after year and very thankful. Through Jahan-e-Khusrau, we have passed the universal paigham in various places. Sufism is a gift of God and the radiance of poetic lyrics that express the agony of a person, unites people and brings them closer to God.”

Her last performance here was in Ravindra Bharati in 1992 and this time, Muzzafar and Abida had a special something for their Hyderabadi audience — their concert, Paigham-e-Mohabbat was very Hyderabad centric. After Muzaffar Ali’s recital of Hyderabadi shayeri, Abida enthralled audiences with kaafis, kalaams and dohas. With modesty belying her status, she gently says, “The legacy of Hyderabadi culture needs no introduction and I’m just hoping that Hyderabad embraces me.”

Adnan Sami, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar and Junoon’s Ali Azmat all stand testimony to the fact that the popularity of the next generation of Pakistani musicians is on a steady rise in India. Caught in the wave, Sufi music has even made inroads into commercial film music. Abida believes this is a very good thing, “I perform in India every year. Today, there is Sufi music in films as well. Many bands are coming together and giving Sufi music a modern twist by mixing rhythm to accentuate the emotions in the lyrics. For instance, Indian musician Rabbi’s rendition of Sufi saint Bulleh Shah’s kafi ‘Bullah ki jaana’ is praiseworthy,” she points out.

Abida believes music can bridge the chasms between Pakistan and India, “Whatever tension there is between the two countries, music can only get the two countries closer. And more so Sufi music as it propagates the message of brotherhood, harmony and peace.”