Maqbool Ahmed Sabri

Maqbool Ahmed Sabri
Background information
Born	12 October 1945 Kalyana, Rohtak, British Punjab
Died	21 September 2011(2011-09-21) (aged 65)[1] South Africa
Genres	Qawwali, Ghazal, Sufi music
Instruments	Vocals, harmonium
Years active	1955–2011

Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (12 October 1945 – 21 September 2011) was a major Qawwali singer, and a leading member of the Sabri Brothers, a leading qawwali group in Pakistan during the 1970s–1990s. He was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1978.^[2]

Early life

Born in Kalyana in eastern Punjab, Maqbool was initially educated in the north Indian classical tradition by his father Ustad Inayat Sen Sabri And His Beloved Brother Ghulam Farid Sabri. The family came from a musical background, and claimed direct descent from Mian Tansen, who had played at the court of the 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar. Mehboob Baksh Ranji Ali Rang, his paternal grandfather, was a master musician of his time; Baqar Hussein Khan, his maternal grandfather, was a unique sitarist. His family belongs to the Sabriyya order of Sufism, hence the surname Sabri. The family made the perilous journey to Karachi during the partition of India in 1947, though Maqbool was almost left behind and rejoined the family party only when a servant found him still in the house – he had to run to catch up, clutching one of his instruments. Maqbool furthered his knowledge of music under his father Inayat Hussain Sabri, his elder brother Ghulam Farid Sabri, Ustad Fatehdin Khan, Ustad Ramzan Khan, and Ustad Latafat Hussein Khan Rampuri.

Career

Showing musical talent from a young age, with the help of his father, Maqbool formed a Qawwali group at the age of eleven and named it Bacha Qawwal Party. His First Public Performance Was In 1956 At A Urs Ceremony Held At The Home Of Mr. Jameel Amrohi, Where He sang Do Alam Baqa Kul Giraftar e Aali In The Presence Of Giant Qawwals Of That Time. Soon afterwards, his elder brother Ghulam Farid Sabri, who was then performing with Ustad Kallan Khan's Qawwali party, joined him and became the leader of the party, which soon came to be known as Sabri Brothers.

Their first recording, released in 1958 under the EMI Pakistan label, was the Urdu Qawwali, Mera Koi Nahin Hai Teray Siwa. Their later hits included Tajdaar-E-Haram (King of the Kaaba, 1975) and Balaghal Ula Be Kamalehi (Reaching the Highest Heights Through Perfection, 1977), Saqia Aur Pila, O Sharabi Chorde Peena. They have sung many Qawwalis in Persian like Nami Danam Che Manzil Boodh, Chashm-e-Mast-e-Ajabe, etc. of Amir Khusro and also Man Kunto Maula and Rang of Amir Khusro. They have also sung a Kalaam of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan which is in four languages—Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Hindi. The kalaam is Lam Yaati Nazeeruka Fee Nazarin.

Maqbool was considered a master of improvisational wordplay, often making references in Urdu and Punjabi, as well as Persian or Arabic, to historical events or to traditional poetry. Maqbool Sabri Was Considered To Be One Of The Best Classical Singers. ^[3] Maqbool Sabri also sang ghazal which included Tere Ghungroo Toot Gaye,Aa Jan-e-Wafa, Kabhi Tanha Beith Ke,Gul Badan Gul Pairhan, Jab Kabhi Aankh Milate Hain, Din Ek Sitam, Mere Mizaj Ki Awargi and Aaina Torr Diya.^[4]

In 2004, he toured India and recorded his last international release Rabb E Akbar (2004). In 2006 he performed in Pune. In 2007 he completed his last international tour. He performed in Hyderabad - India. His last international tour was in exhibition grounds in Hyderabad India organized by Panache Productions.

He often used to perform on ARY QTV until his death. His last performance was in South Africa in 2010 organized by Hilton Hotel.

Qawwalies featured in Pakistani films

Several of their qawwalis have featured in films. Mera Koi Nahin Hai Teray Siwa appeared in the 1965 film Ishq-e-Habib, Mohabbat Karne Walo Hum Mohabbat Iss Ko Kehtain Hain in the 1970 film Chand Suraj, Aaye Hain Tere Dar Pe in the 1972 film Ilzam, Bhar Do Johli Meri Ya Muhammad in the 1975 film Bin Badal Barsaat, Teri Nazr-e-Karam in the 1976 film Sachaii, Tajdar-e-Haram in the 1982 film Sahaaray, and Aftab-e-Risalat in the 1977 Indian film Sultan-e-Hind, Tere Dar Ko Chord Chale in the 1988 Indian Film Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi Which Had Solo Playback By Maqbool Sabri.

Foreign Concerts

The Sabri Brothers is the only qawwali troupe which has a "first class" status on the Pakistan Television Corporation. Popular film and recording artists in Pakistan, the Sabri Brothers troupe has toured Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In 1970 the Government of Pakistan sent them to Nepal as representatives for the royal wedding. They were the first exponents of Qawwali to the West, when they performed at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1975. In 1975 they performed in the United States and Canada under the auspices of The Performing Arts Program of The Asia Society. In April 1978, the album Qawwali was recorded in the United States, while the Sabri Brothers were on tour. The New York Times review described the album as "the aural equivalent of dancing dervishes" and the "music of feeling."^[5]

In June 1981, they performed at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam.^[6] They played the Womad festival in the UK in 1989 – one of a series of appearances there – and released the album Ya Habib (O Beloved) on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records label the following year. In 1996, after death of Ghulam Farid Sabri he performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music-Next Wave Festival, as part of a double-bill with alternate-rockers Cornershop, Voices Of God Event In 1999 Held At Marrakesh, Performed In Russia (2003).

Personal life

In the 1960s he took allegiance of Warsi order of Sufisim along with his most loved companion and elder brother Ghulam Farid Sabri, on the hands of Ambar Ali Shah Warsi. He is survived by his wife, Fatima, a son, Shumail, and his daughters, Ameema Shah, Gulerukh, Kanza and Tunanza.^[3]

Death

Maqbool was treated in a hospital in South Africa for two months because he was suffering from heart problems and diabetes. He died in South Africa on Wednesday 21 September 2011 due to cardiac arrest. He was buried near his brother Ghulam Farid Sabri's grave. ^{[7][8] [9]}

On 22 June 2016 (In Ramdan), his nephew Amjad Farid Sabri was shot dead in Liaquatabad, Karachi, Pakistan. Amjad Farid Sabri Was Buried Near His Grave

On 3rd October 2018, His Nephew Azmat Farid Sabri Passed Away.

See also

• Sabri Brothers

• Ghulam Farid Sabri

• Amjad Sabri

• List of Pakistani musicians .

References