About Qasida

Qasidas and ginans have always been abundant in our tradition, yet their lyrics live scattered across old books, worn booklets, and personal notebooks passed down through families. Finding a single set of verses often means searching through shelves rather than a screen. This project began with a simple question: what if all of it lived in one place?

Behind every qasida and ginan is a poet, a moment of devotion, and a community that has carried these words forward for generations. This archive exists to honor that lineage — making it easier for anyone, anywhere, to find the verses they're looking for, and for the wisdom held within them to reach people who might otherwise never come across it.

"I am honoured to carry forward a vision deeply rooted in my father's belief in the power of music to bridge cultures and uplift the human spirit ...In many of the regions we serve, music is an integral part of daily life, woven into the rhythms of prayer, celebration, memory and identity. We continue to support artists and traditions that speak not only to heritage, but also to hope. (Mawlana Hazir Imam, Aga Khan Music Awards, November 2025)"

If you have qasidas or ginans in your own collection — a page copied by hand, a book passed down, or lyrics you simply know well — we'd love for you to add them here. Every contribution helps build a more complete archive for the community. Thank you for being part of it.