Students of Haji Muhammad Ali Zahoori Qasuri (رحمہ اللہ)
Haji Muhammad Ali Zahoori Qasuri (رحمہ اللہ) played a remarkable role in shaping and nurturing the next generations of Naat reciters in Pakistan. His vision for promoting Naat khwani went far beyond his own voice; he devoted his life to training, guiding, and mentoring young talent from across the country and helping them become some of the finest Naat reciters of their time.
Founding Institutions Dedicated to Naat Training
Zahoori Sahib (رحمہ اللہ) did not only master the art of Naat himself, he also created proper, organized platforms to transmit this sacred tradition to the youth and introduce them to the wider public.
To support training and public recognition of emerging reciters, he established:
1. Majlis-e-Hassan
His first organized platform for Naat training and promotion. Through this body, young students were introduced to the etiquettes, spiritual depth, and technical aspects of Naat recitation.
2. Aiwaan-e-Hassan
A dedicated training institute founded to provide regular, structured sessions for students of Naat khwani. Weekly classes were held entirely free of cost, reflecting Zahoori Sahib’s sincerity and devotion to the art and the message of Naat.
3. Markaz-e-Tauseef
Using his personal resources and ancestral land of approximately two and a half kanals in his native village Raian (Kasur), Zahoori Sahib established Markaz-e-Tauseef.
This center became a hub for:
- Monthly Naat gatherings
- Annual Naat events
- Live performances by trained students
- Public exposure for emerging Naat reciters
Through these gatherings, his students were given opportunities to perform in front of the public, build confidence, refine their stage presence, and prepare themselves to participate successfully in Naat competitions at various levels.
Early and Senior Students
Haji Muhammad Ali Zahoori (رحمہ اللہ) is known for having trained one of the largest groups of Naat reciters in Pakistan’s history. His students spread not only across the country but also abroad, earning recognition in the field of Naat.
Among his earliest and most distinguished students were:
- Qari Zubair Rasool Shaheed (Haroonabad)
- Akhtar Hussain Qureshi (Lahore)
- Abdul Sattar Niazi (Faisalabad)
- Saleem Sabri (Chichawatni)
- Agha Gohar Ali – Pride of Performance (Hyderabad)
- Noor Muhammad Jarral (USA)
- Shaukat Naqshbandi
- Haji Rang Ilahi
- Muhammad Ameen Qasuri (Kasur)
- Qari Abdul Mustafa Saeedi (Dera Nawab Sahib)
These names are counted among his senior and earliest students, many of whom became leading figures in Naat khwani in their respective regions.
Second Generation of Students
In the years that followed, many more students joined his circle and benefitted from his training and guidance. A large number of them also went on to achieve notable success and recognition in the field of Naat.
Some of these students include:
- Muhammad Akram Qalandari
- Muhammad Ramzan Shakoori
- Qari Afzal Anjum
- Mukhtar Siddiqi
- Hafiz Khaleel Sultan
- Hafiz Kareem Sultan
- Abid Rauf Qadri
- Syed Asif Ali Zahoori
- Muhammad Afzal Naushahi
- Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi
- Nishat Ahmad Shah Saqi
- Ghulam Nabi Tahir
- Ahmed Ali Danish
- Muhammad Maqsood
- Din Muhammad
- Muhammad Rizwan
- Mian Waqas Abid
- And many other dedicated voices
Many among them earned a strong reputation in Naat khwani, recognized for their beautiful voices, refined style, and adherence to the etiquettes and respect that are essential to the art of Naat. All of this reflects the quality of training and spiritual tarbiyah they received from Zahoori Sahib (رحمہ اللہ).
A Unique Honor – The Name “Zahoori”
Among all his students, there was only one person whom Haji Muhammad Ali Zahoori (رحمہ اللہ) personally granted permission to attach the title “Zahoori” with his name:
Syed Asif Ali Zahoori
This was a special honor given in recognition of his dedication, manner, and representation of his teacher’s teachings. No other student was granted this permission during Zahoori Sahib’s lifetime.
A Teacher Whose Influence Lives On
The success and recognition of his students, both within Pakistan and abroad, stand as a living