Sufi Music: Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad Qawwal Group

This event is in conjunction with the Qalam Pakistan Initiative and the Sacred Music Series at St. Paul’s Chapel. 

About the Conference: “Translated Desires: Translation, Ibn al-ʿArabī, and the Multilingual Islamic Past” 

The writings of Ibn al-ʿArabī (d. 1240), one of the most influential Sufi Muslim theoreticians of the medieval period, touched all aspects of knowledge in Asia and Africa in the centuries after his death. This workshop will take as its objective a global history of translation and language in both the dissemination and reception of Ibn al-ʿArabī’s writings through discourse, music, and art.

Members of Group

Fariduddin Ayaz

Abu Muhammad

Ghayoor Ahmed

Moizuddin Haydar

Mubarak Hassan Haris

Zarar Ahmed

Shah Baleeghuddin

Fawwad Tahseen

Ghulam Mustafa

Muhammad Shah

About the Performance 

The Farid Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwal Group is one of the premier Qawwali groups of Pakistan. Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music from South Asia whose roots stretch to the medieval period. Rich in poetic and mystical symbolism, the performance is led by powerful vocalists who loop through multiple verse-chorus sequences in several languages. The ensemble lays claim to a strong musical lineage that stretches back to the Mughal court in Delhi.

Sponsored by: 

The Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Society

Middle East Institute, Columbia University

Qalam Pakistan Initiative

Columbia Core Curriculum

Department of History, Columbia University

Sakıp Sabancı Center for Turkish Studies,  Columbia University

Center for the Study of Muslim Societies, Columbia University

The Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities, Columbia University

Sacred Music at Columbia

Columbia Music Center

Columbia Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies

Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought

Columbia Law School

Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University

Chaar Prahar

“Light & Beauty” Exhibit & “Translated Desires” Opening Reception
Fri, October 20, 2023 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
https://events.columbia.edu/go/lightandbeauty

Translated Desires: Translation, Ibn al-ʿArabī, and the Multilingual Islamic Past
Fri, October 20, 2023 | 10/20 – 10/21
https://events.columbia.edu/go/translated