The South Asian Studies Unit at The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), in collaboration with SAMA Arts Network and Indus Music, organised a special evening entitled In Praise of Khusrau, featuring the celebrated Qawwal Warsi Brothers. The programme brought together scholars, artists, music enthusiasts, and members of the wider community for an engaging exploration of the life, legacy, and enduring cultural influence of the legendary Sufi poet and musician Amir Khusrau*. The evening featured a rich blend of conversation, reflection, and musical performance, centred on Amir Khusrau’s contributions to South Asian artistic and spiritual traditions.
Hussain Jasani, Head of the South Asian Studies Unit at IIS, welcomed guests to an evening dedicated to reflection, music, and shared cultural experience, describing qawwali as a tradition that speaks “to both the heart and the intellect.” He thanked Jay Visvadeva and the SAMA Network for their collaboration in creating thoughtful spaces for South Asian musical traditions. He also expressed his appreciation to Professor Zayn Kassam for her leadership and support in enabling meaningful cultural and intellectual engagement through The Institute’s South Asian Studies initiatives.
Introducing the Warsi Brothers, he highlighted their recent recognition through the Patron’s Award at teh 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards and reflected on qawwali as a living Sufi tradition rooted in remembrance, devotion, and spiritual listening (sama). Drawing on the writings of the Ikhwan al-Safa and other Muslim thinkers, Jasani spoke about music as both an intellectual and spiritual art form capable of refining the soul, cultivating reflection, and fostering human connection across cultures and generations.
Jay Visvadeva, honorary artistic director of SAMA, the tour producers of the Qawwal Warsi Brothers UK Tour 2026, gave a comparative analysis of major qawwals of the last 50 Years (1975–2025) with whom he had worked. These included the Sabri Brothers, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Jaffar Hussain Khan, Abida Parveen, Munshi Raziuddin & Fareed Ayaz Qawwals, Qawwal Bahauddin Khan, Najmuddin Saifuddin and group, and Rizwan Muazzam. Each represented a distinct artistic approach. Jay highlighted the dramatic transformation undergone by the qawwali genre over the last five decades—from shrine-based devotional performances to a global musical phenomenon.
The Warsi Brothers and the Aga Khan Music Awards
A key highlight of the programme was the participation of the internationally acclaimed Warsi Brothers — Naseer Ahmed Khan Warsi and Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi — who are among India’s most respected exponents of qawwali music.
The Warsi Brothers were honoured with the Patron’s Award at the prestigious Aga Khan Music Awards 2025, held at the Southbank Centre in London. In its official citation, the jury recognised the duo for their “energetic preservation and onward transmission of the spiritual and musical legacy of Amir Khusrau to multigenerational audiences at the highest level of musical excellence
Qawwali as a living Sufi tradition
Jay Visvadeva moderated a panel discussion, where members discussed the concept of spirituality in qawwali. The Qawwal Warsi Brothers emphasised that qawwali was not merely a musical genre but a spiritual practice rooted in Sufism, or tasawwuf, serving as a vehicle for spiritual remembrance and divine love. The highest aim of qawwali, according to the Sufi tradition, is not applause or musical perfection, but what the Chishti masters called “From the ear to the heart, and from the heart to God.” The panel discussion also included a short overview of the qawwali tradition by Kalim Sheikh (vocalist – Ghazals, Sufi and Bhajan). He highlighted that, contrary to popular belief, historically, there has been no enmity between Islam and music. Using the example of Kitāb al Mūsīqā al Kabīr, a great musical treatise by al-Farabi (10th-century scholar), Kalim highlighted the importance of music in society. In addition, according to Kalim Sheikh, the ghazal tradition originated in North Africa, and qawwali was a Middle Eastern tradition.
The Warsi brothers’ participation added exceptional artistic and cultural significance to the event and offered audiences a rare opportunity to experience authentic qawwali performed by master practitioners.
The programme successfully fostered dialogue and engagement around South Asian cultural heritage, Sufi traditions, and the importance of preserving intangible artistic practices. Attendees gained deeper insight into Amir Khusrau’s contributions and the continuing vitality of qawwali as both a musical and a spiritual tradition.
The event also strengthened collaborative relationships between academic institutions, cultural organisations, and performing artists, demonstrating the value of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural partnerships in promoting artistic heritage and public learning.
Audience members responded positively to the blend of scholarly discussion and live artistic engagement, which created an immersive and meaningful cultural experience.
About Amir Khusrau
Amir Khusrau (1253–1325 CE), often referred to as the “Parrot of India” (Tuti-e Hind), remains one of the most influential figures in the cultural and spiritual history of South Asia. A renowned Sufi poet, scholar, court poet, and musician, Khusrau lived during the Delhi Sultanate and served in the courts of several rulers, including Alauddin Khilji and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
Khusrau is widely regarded as a symbol of India’s composite culture due to his ability to harmonise Persian, Arabic, and Indian artistic traditions. His work significantly shaped the evolution of Indian literature and music, and he is often credited with laying the foundations of Hindustani classical music. His poetry and compositions expressed profound spiritual devotion, divine love, and the unity of humanity, all of which remain central themes within Sufi thought and practice.
