Qari Muhammed Saeed Chishti (late)
Ishqana, Adeel describes his father Qari Muhammed Saeed Chishti's relation with Qawwali. Thus, everything other than God was effaced by Qari Saeed during his ishqana moments in qawwali. Since, Adeel remembers his father in those ishqana moments of qawwali his envisioned experiences are mostly of his father performing qawwali. The qawwali performance are still as strong and energetic of his father that even today, it never fails to uplift Adeels spiritual state in his dreams. Adeel believes through legend like his father the spirituality of Sufism will always live and continue to be reborn. Sag-e-Miran products in Pakistan every Ramadan are resold in same amounts that were originally produced. Thus, the sincere lovers of qawwali support the legend Qawwal Qari Mohammed Saeed Chishti (late) to live in the many centuries coming.
Adeel Chishti
Qari Muhammed Saeed Chishti abandoned his several years of orthodox Islamic beliefs and practices for the sake of qawwali. Disregarding the many years of practices rituals and values and dishearten his family for the sake of Ishq. Qari Saeed Chishti's (late) early years of career were stages of adolescent in which he completely dedicated his time to his love of qawwali. The relationship Qari Saeed Chishti (late) had with qawwali in the first stages of his career were probably of those that a young lover has with his lady. Nothing matters to the young lover and no pain is greater to him then his lovers pain. Similarly, no other pain was being visible to Qari Saeed Chishti (late) then the one endured by humanity and Islam. Thus, moving on from orthodox practices, attempting to translate Punjabi in several languages and interacting in several languages through qawwali were becoming minor hurdles to his career movement. Rather, constantly achieving the spiritual sama to educate the people became Qari Saeed Chishtis mission.
Qari Saeed Chishti's career started from quran-e-talwaat; rhythmically, Qari Saeed Chishti conveyed the verses of the quran surprising many and himself of his talent. Adeel believed after his father started his career from the rhythmical reciting of the quran; a virtual light was shone from God driving his father to the journey of Spirituality. Qari
Saeed Chishti, had began by locally performing at naat khwani mehfils and later included music into his singing; giving him the title of a qawwal. Thereafter, there was no returning, no fear and no submission to anything but God in his career.
Qari Saeed Chishti (late) released 11 superhit albums and performed around Pakistan and visited India to perform at Ajmer Sharif. The qawwal was uplifted by the essence of Khawaja Gareeb Nawaz and his own experiences that he became an adherent follower of the Chishti order. The qawwal was best pleased to be known by the name Sag-emiran (liked to be remembered as the servant of Sarkar e Ghous e Azam) Qari Saeed Chishti's (late) love for sufism and his spiritual experiences had called him to the chishti order and only then was he known by the surname "Chishti". Qari Saeed Chishti's (late) qawwali consisted mainly of poetry by Bulleh shah, and used verses that expressed ones love for God in terms of
longing and separation like the pain experienced by heer ranjah. Qari Saeed Chishtis (late) unique style was appealing to an large audience; since, his verses included Hindi, English, Arabic and Pashtu. Adeel expressed his father was witnessed to spend many hours in researching to ensure the meanings expressed through qawwali are not misunderstood and rehearsals were never ending. Qari Saeed Chishti (late) spiritual journey came to an end when he was assassinated on 11th March 1995. The qawwal
was shot during an live performance; Adeel expressed that the shot was made directly to the heart and the spatters of blood covered an young boy that was whirling like an dervish during the sam-e-mehfil. It is known that Qari Saeed Chishti (late) went through 3 hour duration of sickness; the qawwals funeral left many heart broken and shocked and till today lovers of the qawwal seek to know why he was murdered.
Adeel expressed, it would not be a misunderstanding if one states that the concealed concept behind Qari Saeed Chishti (late) qawwali was to introduce a new thinking strategy; to support people live in an peaceful manner in Pakistan and worldwide. In directly, it reveals that the qawwal was probably aware of upcoming humanitarian crisis's due to
Islamic conflicting beliefs. Those that have known the qawwal its probably neither a surprise nor shocking the qawwali movement may have been an attempt to jihad. Since, Adeel states his father was very humanitarian and attempts continue through feeding the poor throughout for several days on the death anniversary of their father Qari Muhammed Saeed Chishti and performing qawwali; ensuring the mission is ongoing.
Author Amena Younis