| Selected Performance |
| "Allah-hoo, Allah hoo," a hamd performed by Ghulam Farid Sabri: singer & harmonium, Maqbool Ahmed Sabri: singer & harmonium, Kamal Sabri: singer, Mahmoodghaznavi: singer, Umer Daraz: singer, Abdul Aziz: singer, Masi Huddin: singer & tambura, Mohammad Anwar: nal & tabla, Abdul Karim: dholak [the Sabri Brothers and Ensemble]. Qawwali: Sufi Music from Pakistan (Nonesuch Records: H-72080). |
| "Allah-hu" is one of the most popular songs in qawwali. Also, its alternation between soloist and chorus, repetition on the name of God, and mystical punning are each characteristics of qawwali as a repertoire. An example of mystical punning can be seen in the "story" section near the end of the performance. The bleating of a goat is compared to the word in Hindi/Urdu for "I": maiñ; thus the goat not only bleats, but egotistically says, "I, I". However, after the goat's demise — by implication a result of his/her preoccupation with his/herself — and, having its intestines turned into the gut of a cotton-ginner's bow, the goat is now only able to say "you, you" — onomatopoetically represented by the twanging of the bow: "tu, tu." Thus, in the end, the goat is only able to say "you" (tu, hi tu "you, only you"). |
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| The performance begins with an alap-like introduction called a naghma. |
| ALLAH-HU |
| [Translation after Said Khan and Geoffrey Paul Gordon's translation (vide supra).] |
| You are the Creator of all, without doubt. The whole world seeks You: |
| Your Being radiates everywhere. You have no peer, Lord of all. |
| Allah-hu, Allah-hu, . . . . |
| [The syllable "hu" is described as having mystical properties for Sufis.] |
| There is no other like You. You are unique. You are the object of every thought and desire. |
| You are the light of the eye, the beat of the heart. Your are more precious than the jugular vein. |
| Allah-hu, Allah-hu, . . . . |
| You are the secret of the universe. The beginning and the end of all, |
| The melody of the divine flute in every song on every instrument. |
| Allah-hu, Allah-hu, . . . . |
| There is no denial, no dissention. Only those who surrender completely are rewarded with Grace. |
| Your radiance sparkles in every eye. You are the only one. There is no one else. |
| Allah-hu, Allah-hu, . . . . |
| You are the beginning, Your are the end. A glimpse of You has changed my life. |
| Only when I abandoned self did I catch that glimpse. When the human being escapes love of self, Submission elevates him to a higher plane. |
| Whenever I look at the artistry of Your creation I am reminded of Your complete power. |
| Tu, hi tu; tu, hi tu; . . . . |
| There is the story of the goat who repeated "main, main" with great pride. His life came to an end in the slaughter house, |
| And his entrails were turned into the strings of the cotton-ginner's bow. When these strings are struck, The only audible sound was "tu, tu." |
| Tu, hi tu; tu, hi tu; . . . . |
| Sources of Indian Music: Qawwali |