For my third episode, I spoke with Arfeen, a pupil and son of Ustad Ali Hafeez Khan, to learn more about his experiences with Qawwali. Arfeen told me about his experience coming to understand Qawwali, as well as its impact on his life. He described Qawwali as a way of life in which music is used to connect with something more than ourselves, rather than just the music itself.
In the course of our conversation, Arfeen opened up about his personal journey with Qawwali, revealing how his fascination with this musical genre originated in his childhood. Like myself, he was first introduced to Qawwali through listening to it, and was immediately struck by the profound message of love, devotion, and spirituality that it conveyed. I made sure to capture his story in meticulous detail, taking note of the powerful connection between sound and emotions that Qawwali seems to evoke in its listeners. Furthermore, I also took the opportunity to explore the rich cultural and spiritual significance that Qawwali holds for those who practice it, in order to gain a deeper understanding from his perspective.