|
Pakistani Folk Singer Rejects Reports He Quit Singing Because Of Ties To Tablighi Jamaat
Prominent Pakistan folk singer Ataullah Isa Khailvi has rejected reports that he has quit singing because of his affiliation with the religious movement Tablighi Jamaat.
The Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt quoted him as saying that he cannot leave singing for this reason, but that he would continue to be affiliated with the Tablighi Jamaat.
The Tablighi Jamaat was founded by Islamic preacher Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, in the 1920s in undivided India, with the objective of returning to pure Islam. Headquartered in New Delhi, it is a nonpolitical movement active in India, Pakistan, the U.K., and many other countries.
Most Islamic groups, except for Sufi Islam, think that Islam does not favor singing and dancing.
According to the report, Ataullah Isa Khailvi said, ‘‘Some people who are jealous of me are spreading rumors that I have abandoned singing. [But] I consider singing to be my faith.’’ He said that he attended two sessions of chillah, a 40-day session of prayers and contemplation routinely organized by the Tablighi Jamaat. He said, ‘‘Despite this, I cannot abandon singing.’’
Source: Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt, Pakistan, March 24, 2008
Posted at: 2008-03-24
| 
