Al Haaj Khursheed
Ahmed: I was born on January 01, 1956 in Rahim Yar Khan. I
acquired my basic schooling from Abbasi Primary School and passed
matriculation examination from Colony High School. Then I did diploma in
Commerce from Govt. Commercial Institute. In 1973 I shifted to Karachi
and joined Radio Pakistan as a typist. The same year, I participated in
Naat competition in Dow Medical College and got first position. Mr.
Mehdi Zaheer introduced me to Radio and I started reciting Naats there.
In 1978, PTV held Naat competition for the first time and I again stood
first there too. Firstly the competition held at Sindh Level and then at
all Pakistan Level, I stood first in both.
The Naat "Koi saleeqa hai arzoo ka, na bandagi mere bandagi hai" was
liked very much not only in Pakistan but all over the world as well.
After reciting this Naat, Allah gave me so much respect and people
started loving me. Then the process went on and I recited Naats not only
in Pakistan but also almost in every country wherever Muslims live.
I posses some unique distinctions by the grace of Almighty Allah that no
one could ever have achieved in the history of Pakistan. I would like to
mention here.
- I was the first Naat Khwan to stood first in the
first Naat Khwani Contest on TV.
- I was the first Naat Khwan to recite Naats in USA,
Japan, Switzerland, Yemen and France etc.
- I am the only Naat Khwan who was awarded the Nigar
Film Award.
- The first Naat, I recited in Naat Khwani Contest,
became highly popular all over the world. (Yeh sub
tumhara karam hai Aqa).
- I am the only Naat Khwan who was given employment
due to Naat Khwani at a leading bank
- I met the Imam of "Baitu ul Muqdas" in Los Angeles
and he listened to my Naats.
- Mohammad Ali Kilay (Famous Boxer) also listened to
my Naats.
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Q: How many Naats have you read up
till now and how much is Naat Khwani helpful in the endorsement of
Islam?
AH. K. A: I cant give you the exact figure of how
many Naats Ive recited up till now but Alhamdulillah I have recited
thousands of Naats in these 30 years. When I started Naat Khwani, I
observed that elderly people recited the Naats and it was recited on
limited scale e.g. In Ramazans and at Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi etc. only.
The Naat Khwans and listeners were almost of same age of more than
50 years. When I was 18 years old I started Naat Khwani with a
unique style of wearing cap and waistcoat, now wherever you go you
will observe that young boys wear the same attire before recitation
of Naat at any gathering of Naat Khwani. I can say it with authority
that this has endorsed the religion in young people whether it is
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, hence in every country where Muslims
live. Thousands of people come to Naat Khwani gatherings by any
means and listen to Naats the whole night. There are so many
religious sects in our society but Naat is the only platform where
they dont have any differences. The Naats strengthen the love
towards Allah and his prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi
Wasallam) and thus play a pivotal role in the endorsement of Islam.
Q: Mashallah you have been offering Naats for the last 30
years, ups and downs are the part of ones life. Would you like to
share such experiences?
AH. K. A: In our country
there are many fields one can excel in. Amongst 15 Carore people in
Pakistan if you are recognized and liked not only at country level
but international as well, then its a big deal. By the grace of
Almighty Allah I am amongst the finest Naat Khwans of the world.
Allah helps those who help themselves so I strived very hard with
patience to achieve this respectable status.
In 1974, it was too difficult to get into
PTV premises. Unless there was no friend or relative inside of PTV,
you couldnt enter. A friend of mine used to work at PTV; I got my
entry card made by his help and when I got to the producers they
refused to listen to me. They said, we only do dramas and theres
no space for Naats on TV". They kept sending me to other producers
and I had to run a lot after different producers.
Finally I was selected in a
chorus of Naat at the arrival of Shah Khalid; I was too happy, I told my
family & all my friends and sent letter to in-laws that I would appear
in a TV Program. On the day of recording when I reached there with new
dress and shoes, the producer said that you couldnt participate in
todays program. Then I went to GM PTV and told him that I was invited
today but the producer was not allowing me to participate. The GM then
said to me to go and participate. I again came to recording studio but
when producer saw me he went to GM. After a while GM came to me and
said, I will give you another chance separately so you may leave now".
Actually some relative of that producer was participating in my place. I
was very disheartened that time and after reaching home I cried wildly.
In 1978, Allah gave me the fruit of this patience in a way that when the
Naat contest was held on PTV; I was selected amongst 400, then amongst
200, then amongst 10 and finally stood first at Sindh level and then at
all Pakistan level. Over a night I became the Naat Khwan of the country.
The next day when I was in Lahore I was announced as the famous Naat
Khwan of Pakistan. The blessings due to this Naat Khwani are so much.
Earlier people used to write letters of invitation and we had to go by
our own means but now Alhamdulillah we get invitation from all over the
world with air tickets. They also arrange accommodation in five star
hotels and endow loads of respect. Habib Bank, the largest bank of
Pakistan, employed me as officer 20 years back. They say, you only
recite Naats, well give you monthly salary as par company package".
In 1996 I was awarded with the Pride of Performance". This is the award
for which many people dream. The biggest prize of the blessings of Naat
Khwani is the going to Rooza-e-Rasool" (Sallallaho Alaihi wasallam).
Alhamdulillah for the last 20 years continuously, my family and me have
been visiting there due to the love of people. They give us tickets and
provide every facility to go to the holiest Rooza-e-Rasool" (Sallallaho
Alaihi wasallam)
This is all due to the recitation of Naat Khwani that Ive been blessed
with good friends, respect and peaceful life. I am very much thankful to
Almighty Allah
Q: Have you written your own Naats?
AH. K. A: Yes, Alhamdulillah I wrote two Kalams".
First one I wrote in 1983 in Madina Shareef and other one I wrote in
Pakistan. I am not basically a poet but one who recites Naat, has an
idea of how a Naat is written. So I showed my Kalam" to different poets
and they also appreciated it.
Q: Whose "Kalam" you recite most?
AH. K. A: There is no alternate to Hazrat Ahmed Raza
Khan Barelvis and Hazrat Shaikh Saadis Kalam". And in current time I
recite Kalam" of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Khalid Mehmood, Waqar Ajmeri,
Munawar Badauni, Hafiz Tahir and Abdus Sattar Niazi etc.
Q: You have performed
on Radio and TV both, what difference did you find between these?
AH. K. A: The people who started Naat Khwani from Radio
are perfectionists because the rules of reciting Naat are taught on
Radio. So when a person comes on TV from Radio he can create a better
impact on the listeners.
Q: What do you say
about the inception of Islamic TV Channels?
AH. K. A: This is a very good step towards the
endorsement of Islam. In current time where lots of TV channels are
available on a single button of remote control, Islamic channels are
like a breeze of fresh air. It was the time when people had only one
channel in Pakistan and people were compelled to watch it, either to
watch it or turn off the TV. Now the channels dedicated to Islam are
opening up and I think this is very useful in creating awareness and
providing Islamic information to masses.
Q: Please tell us about
any of your memorable live performance?
AH. K. A: Once I was to perform in a 14th August
official function in 1985 at Parliament House during the times of
Mohammad Khan Junejo as Prime Minister. When I came on stage I forgot
the tune of which I had been rehearsing but the Kalam" was lying in
front of me. Calling the name of Allah I started off and Alhamdulillah
it went too good. It became a big honor when I was reciting the third
stanza of the Kalam", a man sitting in third row, getting lost in the
depth of Kalam", stood up saying Allah o Akbar and fainted. Next day it
was the part of news in newspapers. Actually it was my mistake that I
forgot the tune but Allah being so kind, converted my mistake in to an
honor for me. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sohail Rana and other pride of
performance holders were present in the function and they all were
puzzled that in what tune would I recite then but Alhamdulillah Allah
blessed me with the honor of captivating people with other tune as well.
Q: Does anyone else recite Naats in your family?
AH. K. A: My brother and my son are Naat Khwans.
Alhamdulillah 35% of boys are Naat Khwan in my relatives. My Grandfather
was also a Naat Khwan, he got done the recording of Naats on records of
gramophone in 1935. Initially I did the same and showed it to my
grandmother. She didnt say anything and said, Go and work hard". In
1981 when President Gen. Zia Ul Haq called me at his office then my
grandmother appreciated me a lot and said, Making records of gramophone
is not a big deal, now you are recognized at Govt. level, this is
something mentionable".
Q: Any Message for the youth of Pakistan?
AH. K. A: Love Pakistan, built Pakistan and acquire
worldly and religious education both. Those youngsters, who think, have
appropriate voice for Naat Khwani, should come forward and play their
role in the endorsement of Islam through the blessed opportunity of Naat
Khwani.
Q1: How would you
compare the standard of yesterday Naats with those of today? Is the
standard better now or not? (Farzana Akhter Abu Dhabi, UAE)
AH. K. A: Different people and Anbias" were already
performing Naat Khwani before the arrival of Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaho
Alaihi wasallam). Hazrat Hassan bin Sabit was the Sahabi who used to
recite Naats in the times of Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi wasallam)
and this process is still going on Alhamdulillah. When Pakistan came in
to being, there was a unique style of Naat Khwani set by Mr. Mohammad
Ali and Mr. Azam Shafi. Naats were recited in a harmonious way but as
the things started changing, the way of reciting Naats was also changed.
A kind of music has been included in Naats these days and new Naat
Khwans dont give importance to poetry as such. I still own the same
style of reciting Naats as I had 30 years ago. This is my request to new
Naat Khwans to recite Naats like the way they were recited in past and
dont include music and unnecessary things in it. We must consider that
Naats are recited in the honor of Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi
wasallam) and hes the Rehmat Ul Lil Aalameen". We must recite Naats
keeping in mind extreme respect to Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihi
wasallam).
Q2: I like your Naats
so much. Whos your teacher in Naat Khwani? (Ghulam Abbas Khanewal)
AH. K. A: Thank you very much. Respected Faiz Ahmed
Sayal is my teacher who diverted me towards Naat Khwani and also taught
Kalam-e-Pak". Mohammad Ishaque Nizami (late) is also my teacher. He
taught me the rules of Naat Khwani.
Q3: How are you sir, I like your Naats very much. Please can you
tell me what should I do to become good Naat khwan? (Khadim Ali Badin)
AH. K. A: I am fine Alhamdulillah. You should seek the
guidance of some teacher who can teach you the rules of reciting Naats
and then work hard and be patient. In 1974 I started Naat Khwani and it
is almost a quarter century now, its a long journey. Success comes to
those who know how to wait. Respect seniors & love juniors, keep away
from arrogance and always fulfill your promises. If you follow these,
the success will be yours InshAllah
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