Overview

Mainstream Muslim are of the belief that it is only possible to reach God after death at the final judgement, the Sufi believes that it is possible to reach God during one’s life.

Sufism is a mystical school of Islamic thought which aspires to attain truth and divine love by a direct personal experience with the divine. The qawwali is integral to the Sufi tradition; The Koran instructs man to remember God.  This remembrance, known as dhikr, may be either silent of vocal.  The qawwali can be seen as an extension of the vocal form of this remembrance.

The qawwali, it is suggested, probably predates the birth of Muhammad.  While earliest Islamic scholars discussed the spiritual effects of music, it was only in the time of al-Gazali (1085-1111) that these principles were refined and codified.The Chisti school of Sufism adopted these principles and has been largely influential in propagating of the qawwali in India and Pakistan. Khwaj Moinuddin Hasan Chisti, who immigrated to Delhi and later moved to Ajmer, was undoubtedly responsible for the widespread propagation of this school of Sufism.

Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya (1236-1325) was a follower of the Chisti order, as was his beloved disciple Amir Khusrau, who penned some of the most beautiful devotional Sufi songs.

Why you will love it

• This tour will highlight the cultural diversity of Delhi.
• An introduction to Sufism,
• A private Sufi music concert called a qawwali.
• A walk around the historic tombs

What you will experience

This experience takes you to a mohalla (neighborhood) in Delhi called Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin. Here you will be introduced to Sufism, a mystical version of Islam, and its teachings of Ishq (love), Aql (intelligence) and Ilm (knowledge). You will walk the ancient and crowded alleys to explore monuments and sites associated with famous Sufi saints including Nizamuddin Aulia, Amir Khusrau and Mirza Ghalib. Finally you will enjoy a private Sufi music concert called a qawwali.

INR 5313 per person | 3 hours | Cultural Tours