Sufi devotional music has long and rich history in South Asia. One of its major forms is qawwali (Urdu: قوالی), which originated at the shrines of Sufi saints centuries ago. The content of qawwalis is either religious or romantic poetry (or both, as per the Sufi influence). Those who sing qawwali are known as qawwals. A party of qawwals includes a lead singer (or two), accompanied by side singers, clappers, a harmonium or two, and tabla and dholak drums. Qawwali songs are traditionally very long, as they involve a lot of repetition of lyrics. They often begin slowly and increase in energy gradually. The singing of notes instead of words, sargam (Urdu: سرگم), is usually intertwined with the lyrics of the composition. Overall, qawwali is a mystical and hypnotic kind of music that can be spiritually awakening. It appeals to many people, and one need not be religious to appreciate it.
“Bhar Do Jholi” is a popular qawwali most famously performed by the late Sabri Brothers, Ghulam Farid Sabri (1930-1994) and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (1945-2011), from Pakistan. It was written by Purnam Allahabadi and is mainly a praise of the Prophet Muhammad, though also of his companion Bilal and his grandson Hussein. Purnam Allahabadi (-2009) was the pen name of Mohammed Musa, a prolific Urdu poet, although the performers of his work have gained more fame than he has for it.
The poet/singer of this qawwali takes on the role of a beggar, coming to ask the Prophet Muhammad for food and/or money. Yet, this is only the surface meaning; he is not only begging for physical sustenance but for spiritual sustenance and redemption as well. I have translated the title phrase “bhar do jholi” as “fill my bag”, but that does not convey the meaning totally accurately. Here, “bag” refers to the lower portion of one’s upper garment that beggars fold upward from the bottom corners and hold to fill it with change. So, the narrator of the song is extending his garment out in front of Muhammad to metaphorically have it filled. He also sings in praise of the grandson of Muhammad, Hussein, who was martyred by the tyrant Yazid at the Battle of Karbala. Near the end, he praises Bilal, an Ethiopian slave who was freed by Muhammad’s friend, Abu Bakr, and was chosen by Muhammad to recite the adhan, which is the Islamic call to prayer.
شہِ مدینہ سنو اِلتجا خدا کے لئے
Shah-e-Madeena suno iltija Khuda ke liye
O King of Madinah, hear my plea, for God’s sake
کرم ہو مجھ پہ حبیبِ خدا، خدا کے لئے
karam ho mujh pe Habeeb-e-Khuda Khuda ke liye
Bestow your favor upon me, O Beloved of God, for God’s sake
حضور غنچۂ اُمّید اَب تو کھِل جائے
Huzoor ghuncha-e-ummeed ab to khil jaye
O Prophet, let the bud of my hopes blossom now
تمہارے در کا گدا ہوں تو بھیک مِل جائے
tumhaare dar ka gada hoon to bheek mil jaye
I am a pauper at your door, here to seek alms
بھر دو جھولی میری یا محمد
bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Fill my bag, O Muhammad
لوٹ کر میں نہ جاؤں گا خالی
laut kar main na jaaoon ga khaali
I will not go back empty-handed
تمہارے آستانے سے زمانہ کیا نہیں پاتا
tumhaare aastane se zamaana kya naheen paata
What does the world not receive at your doorstep?
کوئی بھی در سے خالی مانگنے والا نہیں جاتا
koi bhi dar se khaali maangne waala naheen jaata
No one who comes asking at your door leaves empty-handed
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Lord of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری تاجدارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah
تم زمانے کے مختار ہو یا نبی
tum zamaane ke mukhtaar ho ya Nabi
You are the chosen one of the age, O Prophet
بیکسوں کے مددگار ہو یا نبی
bekason ke madadgaar ho ya Nabi
And the helper of the friendless, O Prophet
سب کی سنتے ہو اَپنے ہوں یا غیر ہوں
sab ki sunte ho apne hon ya ghair hon
You listen to everyone, whether they are your own or strangers
تم غریبوں کے غمخوار ہو یا نبی
tum ghareebon ke ghamkhwaar ho ya Nabi
You are the comforter of the poor, O Prophet
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jho
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah
ہم ہیں رنج و مصیبت کے مارے ہوئے
ham hain ranj o museebat ke maare huey
I am struck with grief and hardship
سخت مشکل میں ہیں غم سے ہارے ہوئے
sakht muskhil mein hain gham se haare huey
I am in great difficulty, defeated by sorrow
یا نبی کچھ خدا را ہمیں بھیک دو
ya Nabi kuchh Khuda-ra hamein bheek do
O Prophet, give me some alms for the sake of God
در پہ آئے ہیں جھولی پسارے ہوئے
dar pe aaey hain jholi pasaare huey
I have come to your door with my bag stretched open
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Lord of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری تاجدارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah
ہے مخالف زمانہ کدھر جائیں ہم
hai mukhaalif zamaana kidhar jaaein ham
The times are against me, where should I go?
حالتِ بیکسی کس کو دکھلائیں ہم
haalat-e-bekasi kis ko dikhlaaein ham
To whom should I show my state of helplessness?
ہم تمہارے بھکاری ہیں یا مصطفیٰ
ham tumhaare bhikaari hain ya Mustafa
I am your beggar, O Mustafa
کس کے آگے بھلا ہاتھ پھیلائیں ہم
kis ke aage bhala haath phailaaein ham
In front of whom else shall I spread my hands?
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Lord of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری تاجدارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری یا محمد
bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Fill my bag, O Muhammad
لوٹ کر میں نہ جاؤں گا خالی
laut kar main na jaaoon ga khaali
I will not go back empty-handed
کچھ نواسوں کا صدقہ عطا ہو
kuchh nawaason ka sadqa ata ho
Let me gain some of your grandsons’ charity
در پہ آیا ہوں بن کر سوالی
dar pe aaya hoon ban kar sawaali
I have come to your door to ask from you
حق سے پائی وہ شانِ کریمی
haq se paai woh shaan-e-kareemi
Rightfully you have attained your beneficent glory
مرحبا دونو عالم کے والی
marhaba Dono Aalam Ke Waali
Welcome, O Master of Both Worlds
اُس کی قسمت کا چمکا ستارہ
us ki qismat ka chamka sitaara
The star of fate shines upon
جس پہ نظرِ کرم تم نے ڈالی
jis pe nazar-e-karam tum ne daali
Whomever you look at with kindness and favor
زندگی بخش دی بندگی کو
zindagi bakhsh di bandagi ko
He sacrificed his life to worship God
آبرو دینِ حق کی بچا لی
aabroo deen-e-haq ki bacha li
And saved the honor of the religion of truth
وہ محمد کا پیارا نواسہ
woh Muhammad ka pyaara nawaasa
That beloved grandson of Muhammad,
جس نے سجدے میں گردن کٹا لی
jis ne sajde mein gardan kata li
Whose neck was cut in prostration
جو اِبنِ مرتضیٰ نے کیا کام خوب ہے
jo Ibn-e-Murtaza ne kiya kaam khoob hai
The deed done by the son of Murtaza is excellent
قربانی ءِ حسین کا انجام خوب ہے
qurbaani-e-Husain ka anjaam khoob hai
The consequence of the sacrifice of Hussein is virtuous
قربان ہو کے فاطمہ زہرا کے چین نے
qurbaan ho ke Faatima Zehra ke chain ne
By sacrificing himself, Fatima Zahra’s source of comfort,
دینِ خدا کی شان بڑھائی حسین نے
deen-e-Khuda ki shaan barhaai Husain ne
Hussein, increased the glory of the religion of God
بخشی ہے جس نے مذہبِ اِسلام کو حیات
bakhshi hai jis ne mazhab-e-Islam ko hayaat
He is the one who gave life to the religion of Islam
کتنی عظیم حضرتِ شبیر کی ہے ذات
kitni azeem Hazrat-e-Shabbeer ki hai zaat
How great is the rank of Hazrat Shabbir!
میدانِ کربلا میں شہِ خوش خصال نے
maidaan-e-Karbala mein Shah-e-Khush Khisaal ne
In the field of Karbala, the King of Good Character,
سجدے میں سر کٹا کے محمد کے لال نے
sajde mein sar kata ke Muhammad ke laal ne
That beloved of Muhammad, was decapitated in prostration
زندگی بخش دی بندگی کو
zindagi bakhsh di bandagi ko
He sacrificed his life to worship God
آبرو دینِ حق کی بچا لی
aabroo deen-e-haq ki bacha li
And saved the honor of the religion of truth
وہ محمد کا پیارا نواسہ
woh Muhammad ka pyaara nawaasa
That beloved grandson of Muhammad,
جس نے سجدے میں گردن کٹا لی
jis ne sajde mein gardan kata li
Whose neck was cut in prostration
حشر میں اُن کو دیکھیں گے جس دم
hashar mein un ko dekhein ge jis dam
The moment they see him (M
