The tradition of writing and listening to Naat is ingrained in our culture because of the boundless love and respect the Muslims have for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). However, one should observe the highest degree of respect (Adab) while reciting Naat and listening to it. Likewise, the organisers and hosts of the Naat recitation (Naat Khwani) events should also ensure that the aspect of respect and seriousness is not compromised there. Only then, Naat Khwani events can prove helpful in attracting the people towards Islam and Uswa-e-Hasana.
That was the gist of a conversation that took place at the Off The School Youtube channel between journalist Najam Soharwardi, whose family has been one of the most prominent families involved in the promotion of Naat and Naat Khwani in Karachi, and television personality Raees Ahmed, who has hosted several religious programmes on various television channels and who frequently performs the responsibility of host (Naqeeb) in Naat Khwani events.
Both the participants of the podcast called for improving the culture of Naat Khwani in order to restore the element of Adab that was always upheld in the past by all the major poets and reciters of Naat.
The podcasters said the culture of dancing, chanting religious slogans and showering currency notes on Naat reciters on the stage are things that do not align with Adab, and they also make some people, especially the younger generation, question the tradition of Naat Khwani as they instinctively feel that practices such as throwing currency notes are not decent.
Stressing the need for taking corrective measures, Raees Sahab highlighted how some organisers of Naat Khwani events have started making advertisement posters that resemble cinema posters as they have large pictures of Naat reciters on them. He said such kind of marketing and promotion measures have resulted in excessive commercialisation of Naat Khwani.
The podcast highlighted that now mostly those people associated with this field are respected who are able to earn more money and draw and please large crowds. In order to be popular among the public, they encourage chanting religious slogans during Naat Khwani and employ other means of entertainment.
Najam Sahab observed that Naat Khwani events were once purely spiritual, but it is not the case anymore due to various elements of entertainment that have found place in such ceremonies.
About the role of Naqeeb in those events, it was noted in the discussion that the quality of hosting has also fallen with time. Now, in order to overshadow others, hosts consume more time. They also resort to grossly exaggerate while inviting Naat reciters.
Najam Sahab noted that almost every Naat reciter is globally acclaimed (Aalami Shohrat Yafta) today thanks to such hosts.
However, both the participants said such problems must not be made a pretext to disparage the entire tradition of Naat recitation.
Raees Sahab also named some prominent Naat reciters of his childhood days. He said he has listened to recitations of Sayeed Hashmi, Waheed Zafar Qasmi, Khursheed Ahmad, Sabih Rehmani, Siddiq Ismail, Fasihuddin Soharwardi, Owais Qadri, Zulfiqar Ali Hussaini, Yousuf Memon, Qari Zubaid Rasool and Khalid Hasnain among others.
The television host said each of these prominent Naat reciters had their own specialty. Some had a very good taste for poetry, others would portray feelings of Huzoori (presence) very well. There were some who were able to impart the state of Mahjoori (separation) beautifully, he added.
Talking about the prominent Naat reciters who came after them, the participants named Zabeeb Masood, Salman Konain and Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi.
Agreeing with Raees sb’s call for ensuring Adab in Naat Khwani events, Najam Sahab recited a couplet by Ameer Minai, which stated that even wind comes slowly near Roza-e-Rasool as a sign of respect. The couplet was:
“Roza-e-Pak pe sab zabt-e-nafas karte hain/ Is gulistan mein dabay paaon hawa aati hai”
At the end of the podcast, Raees sb recited some of his poetry. Two couplets of a Naat that he recited are:
“Raaigan harf-e-tamanna nahin honay dete/ Mere aaqa mujhe ruswa nahin honay dete
“Un ki midhat ke jalata hoon shab-o-roz charagh/ Woh mere ghar mein andhera nahin honay dete”