the qaul Amir Khusrau ( - ), the great poet, musician and disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya, gave a unique form to the Chishti sama ‘ by introducing the qaul (Arabic word meaning “saying”), a hymn sung at the opening or closing of qawwali . This was followed by sufi poetry in Persian, Hindavi or Urdu, and sometimes using words from all of these languages. Qawwals (those who sing these songs) at the shrine of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya always start their recital with the qaul . Today qawwali is performed in shrines all over the subcontinent.
Fig. . Qawwali at the dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya Charkhanama A song set to the rhythm of the spinning wheel: As you take the cotton, you do zikr-i jali As you separate the cotton you should do zikr-i qalbi And as you spool the thread you should do zikr-i aini Zikr should be uttered from the stomach through the chest, And threaded through the throat. The threads of breath should be counted one by one, oh sister.
Up to twenty four thousand. Do this day and night, And offer this to your pir as a gift. Source Ü In what ways are the ideas and modes of expression used in this song similar to or different from those used by Jahanara to describe her ziyarat (Source )?