Much of the Muslim world is in mourning after learning about the fatal shooting of Amjad Sabri, one of the most renowned qawwali performers in recent memory.
”We are saddened to learn the terrorist attack on Amjad Sabri, one of the Subcontinent ‘s most famous Sufi singers, has been shot dead in Karachi,” a statement from Muslims 4 Peace reads.
“We condemn it and hope that the criminals will be brought to justice. We mourn the loss of life and deplore the senseless violence perpetrated in the name of
religion, which prohibits killing innocent individuals.”
Sabri, 45, came under attack after two gunmen shot at his vehicle in the southern port city of Karachi on Wednesday afternoon. He was critically injured and later died at a local hospital. Sabri was one of the country’s leading and most sought-after Qawwali musicians. Qawwali music is derived from Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam that has many followers around the world.
He was the son of the late Ghulam Farid Sabri and nephew of Maqbool Sabri, who led the famous Sabri brothers Sufi band.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s statement condemnation of the hateful Deobandi ideology that killed the Sufi giant Amjad Sabri
“Our hearts and prayers are with the Pakistani people after receiving the following news: one of Pakistan’s leading Qawalli (Sufi Mystic) musicians and a voice of moderation in the Muslim world Amjad Sabri was murdered by Wahhabi/Deobandi terrorists in Karachi on Wednesday. Amjad Sabri was known as a great musician and scion of the Sabri Qawalli dynasty who it is said “combined the talents of his father and uncle with an amazing voice and stage presence. He was a lover of the Ahlul Bayt (Holy Prophet’s family) and sang poetry in their veneration—a point that is deeply uncomfortable to Deobandi and Wahhabi terrorist groups like the Sipah Sahaba, ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Taliban”, according to sources. I have said many times that our war against the terrorists that have declared war against America needs to be fought both militarily as well as ideologically. According to many moderate Muslims, Qawalli is one of the biggest ideological counterpoints to the extremist Wahhabi and Deobandi ideology. By killing one of its leading exponents, extremist groups have dealt a blow to moderating voices within the Muslim world. This makes the world more dangerous for everyone, including Americans”.
