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Ali Zafar hopes his new naat brings peace to those who listen to it

Ali Zafar hopes his new naat brings peace to those who listen to it

The pop star has released his own rendition of the extremely popular naat 'Balaghal Ula Bi Kamaalihi'.
05 May, 2021

Ramazan is a special time in Pakistan and with the iftars, colours and blessings, we also get a host of new rhythms to listen to. Ali Zafar, the pop star and actor who's actively engaging his audiences all year round, has now released his own version of the hit naat and qawwali 'Balaghal Ula Bi Kamaalihi'.

The singer made the announcement on his social media, saying "I hope it gives you the peace while listening to it that it brought to my heart while rendering it". He also uploaded an anticipatory post a day prior, saying "I can't express the feeling while recording this."

The video begins with Zafar standing in a modest white shalwar kameez, against the backdrop of Lahore's glorious Badshahi Mosque, surrounded by his band, on tablas, harmoniums and vocal harmonies. The 40-year-old recites the naat in his soulful voice.

'Balaghal Ula Bi Kamalihi' is qawwali most famously performed by the late and legendary Sabri Brothers, Ghulam Farid Sabri and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri. Pakistan's most prolific qawwali group, perhaps second to no one but the talent born once a millennium, the shehensha, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who has also performed a version of the qawwali.

The naat is multilingual, at stages written in Urdu, Persian and Arabic, and is based off a famous Arabic quatrain, or rubaʿi, written by Persian poet Saad Shirazi. The original ruba'i is separated by verses in Urdu and Arabic, the sources of which are anybody's guess.

Most of the naat focuses on the story of the 'miraj', the event of the Holy Prophet's (PBUH) ascension beyond the skies and heavens, on a winged creature called Buraq, to meet God.

Previously Atif Aslam also released a naat to commemorate Ramazan, 'Mustafa Jaan-e-Rehmat', and it was received very well by fans around the world. The video stands approaching six million views on YouTube, some two weeks into its release.

Comments

Raza May 05, 2021 12:06pm
A naat so soulful even sexually harassed women will find peace. Wonderful work DAWN.
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Chrís Dăn May 05, 2021 12:31pm
Peace intrinsically comes from within.
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Ignorant May 05, 2021 01:44pm
The photography could have been better - jarring camera movements were too much for the soulful melody.
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Zak May 05, 2021 01:56pm
The naat is multilingual, at stages written in Urdu, Persian and Arabic, and is based off a famous Arabic quatrain, or rubaʿi, written by Persian poet Saad Shirazi. Reflection of our culture and lienieage. Beautiful.
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Zak May 05, 2021 01:58pm
A memorable naat made memorable by the late Sabri brothers. A good performance by Ali Zafar.
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Ali da Malanga May 05, 2021 02:21pm
Please get into the habit of giving credits to the original creators from the past. This was a Qawali written and sung by the Sabri Brothers. If you can't be original then at least acknowledge those whose work you are repeating.
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Pew May 05, 2021 02:22pm
Brainwashing the nation courtesy of selectors.
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Pew May 05, 2021 02:33pm
Sexual molester singing Naat? Reputation rescue shame
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Pew May 05, 2021 02:49pm
what a hypocrite
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Ibrahim May 05, 2021 03:04pm
Why there is a surge in religious tone by all these celebrity . I guess TLP succeeded in their objective.
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Ahsan Gul May 05, 2021 11:52pm
@Ibrahim - always negative and dishonest! Sincerely
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Jamil Soomro, New York City May 06, 2021 01:20am
As the Video starts the echo effect is amazing. Very well sung Naat by Ali Zafar and Chorus. Very good Camera work. 9 minutes of mesmerising experience. Well done.
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Inayat May 06, 2021 05:59am
@Raza has it been proved?
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