Farmani Naaz’s Har Har Shambhu controversy has proven it—music has no religion!

Sheetal

It’s the month of Shravan and a Shiva bhajan has become the talking point for the wrong reasons. Singer and ex-Indian Idol contestant Farmani Naaz recently came under fire for singing a rendition of the viral song, Har Har Shambhu by Abhilasha Panda, which is in praise of Lord Shiva. It unsettled UP’s Deoband-based Muslim cleric, who said, “This is haram in Islam, Sharia does not allow this.”

The singer, while interacting with the media, said that she was not the first one to be singing a devotional song in praise of a Hindu God and won’t be the last. She cited examples of popular singer Mohammad Rafi and Master Saleem.

Who is Farmani Naaz?

She is a resident of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh and came into limelight after her participation in Indian Idol Season 12 in 2021. She is active on YouTube and sings covers of popular songs and enjoys 3.59 million subscribers on her channel. The singer, who had sung in the praise of PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath during UP Assembly elections, uploaded Har Har Shambhu nine days ago. Her latest composition Madina Ka Safar was uploaded much before the controversy. While Farman prefers to keep her faith and music separate, the Muslim cleric has called it a forbidden act and asked her to apologise to Allah (God).

Classical case of harmony

Classical singers have never believed in religious divide while pursuing music, be it Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan who sang Hari Om Tatsat for All India Radio or Pt. Jasraj who once sang Mero Allah Mehrbaan and Om Allah Om on annual Ramanavami festival at Fort High School in Bengaluru when he was 80.

Kathak exponent Shobha Koser says, “It’s not possible not to sing about Hindu Gods when singing classical music, especially khayal. It doesn’t matter if you are a Hindu, Parsi, Muslim or Sikh. The same goes for Hindu singers singing Sufi music, one has to sing about and on Allah. Once you are an artiste, religion cannot bind you. There have been many great Muslim artistes who sang bhajans.”

Famous singer Ustad Rashid Khan has sung Karun Bharosa Sada Shyam Ka, Hey Bhagwan – Nirgun Bhajan, Shree Radhe Govind Hari and others.

Ustaad Jawaad Ali Khan says, “As Bade Ghulam Ali Sahab used to say, ‘When I say Om or Allah, both mean the same’, I think it’s about the greater good of singing that one is associated to. One must cross the barriers of language, religion and materialism to become a good artiste. Also, India is a confluence of many cultures, the same way Hindustani classical music is based on Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb which means the fusion of Hindu (Ganga) and Islamic Persian (Jamuni) cultures.” In fact, Hindu mythology was the favourite theme of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan’s compositions and Ustad Abdul Karim Khan always began his compositions with the prayer, ‘Om Tatsat Saamavedaaya Namaha’. The same way Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan regularly performed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi; Tabla and sitar wizard Pandit Nayan Ghosh always offers salaam while passing by the dargah of Sufi saint Hazrat Makhdoom Shah in Mumbai.

Keeping the tradition

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan: Hari Om Tatsat

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Bal Bal Jaun Tore Krishan Murari, Sanson Ki Mala Pe and Koi Bole Ram Ram

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan: Sanson Ki Mala Pe

Begum Parveen Sultana: Sai Ram Sumiran Karo, Mere To Girdhar Gopal and Bhakti Sangeet

Mohammad Rafi: O Sheronwali, Jai Mata Di, Man Tarpat Hari, Ishwar Allah Tere Naam, Sukh Ke Sab Saathi, Ambe Tun Hai Jagdambe, Badi Der Bhai Nand Ram Ji Ki Nikli Sawari, Ganpati Bappa Morya and more

Ustad Rashid Khan: Karoonn Bharosa Sada Shyam Ka, Shyam Naam Paavan Jas, Palna Jhoole Nand Lal and Shree Radhe Govind Hari

Javed Ali: Morya hai Shri Gananayaka, Aisi Laagi Lagan, Sai Dhun- Sai Ram Sai Shyam and more

Master Saleem: Deedaar, Mauj Lag Gayi, Mela Maiya Da

Nooran Sisters: Maa De Daro and Uchiyan Te Suchi