A Manqabat is a type of poem that is written to praise other religious figures. In Sufi Islamic devotional music originating from South Asia (qawwali), Manqabat is sung to music. The most well-known being the Qawwali Manqabats song “Man Kunto Maula.”
Manqabat is spiritual and has a lot of positive influence on its audience. It is commonly rehearsed in admiration of Ahl al-Bayt and Ali-Ibn-Abi-Talib; who is a son-in-law of Muhammad. The central themes revolve around praise, love, and devotion that moves the hearts of those who listen.
Manqabat also is used in praising any Sufi saints that are sung at ‘Urs,’ ‘Jashan,’ or ‘Jalsa’ sacred meetings and is recited with a little background music to play with it. The poem can be written and recited in more than one language such as Urdu and Arabic.
The Urdu Manqabat is a type of Sufi devotional poetry written to praise other religious figures; most notably, Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law of Muhammad, or of any Sufi saint. It is written in praise of members of the family of the Holy Prophet. The central themes revolve around praise, love, and devotion that is intended to move the hearts of those who listen.