# Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

> Pakistani sufi singer

**Wikidata**: [Q691490](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q691490)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahat_Fateh_Ali_Khan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rahat-fateh-ali-khan

## Summary

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a Pakistani sufi singer, playback singer, and recording artist born on December 9, 1974. He is renowned for his performances of qawwali, the Sufi devotional music tradition of South Asia, and has achieved significant recognition in both Pakistani and Indian cinema. With a career spanning from 1985, he has become one of the most prominent contemporary interpreters of Sufi music worldwide.

## Biography

- **Born**: December 9, 1974
- **Nationality**: Pakistan
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Performing qawwali and Sufi devotional music; playback singing in Pakistani and Indian films
- **Employer(s)**: Not specified in source material
- **Field(s)**: Music, Sufi singing, Playback singing, Recording arts

## Contributions

Based on the available source material, specific contributions are limited. However, the following can be established:

- **Musical Genre**: Specializes in qawwali (Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, inception: circa 1450 CE)
- **Film Work**: Performs filmi music (music produced for India's mainstream motion picture industry)
- **Ghazal Performance**: Engages in ghazal, a form of poetry in South Asia and the Middle East
- **Career Span**: Active in the music industry since 1985
- **Awards Recognition**: Has received Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and Lux Style Awards

## FAQs

**What type of music does Rahat Fateh Ali Khan primarily perform?**

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is primarily known for performing qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music that originated in South Asia around the 15th century. He also performs filmi music for Bollywood and playback singing for films.

**What awards has Rahat Fateh Ali Khan received?**

According to the source material, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has received the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer (an award category established in 1960) and the Lux Style Awards (Pakistan's entertainment industry awards established in 2002).

**When did Rahat Fateh Ali Khan begin his music career?**

Based on the work period start date in the source material, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan began his career in 1985.

**What is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's nationality?**

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is Pakistani, with Pakistan being a sovereign state in South Asia that gained independence on August 14, 1947.

**Is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan active on social media?**

Yes, according to the source material, he maintains presence on Twitter (rfakworld, RFAKWorld) and Instagram (officialrfakworld).

## Why They Matter

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan represents the continuation and global dissemination of the qawwali tradition, which holds significant spiritual and cultural importance in South Asian Islamic mysticism. As a playback singer, he bridges the musical traditions of Pakistan and India, contributing to the cross-cultural exchange through filmi music. His work in preserving and popularizing Sufi devotional music helps maintain a musical tradition that dates back to the 15th century. The recognition he has received through prestigious awards like the Filmfare Award and Lux Style Awards demonstrates his impact on the South Asian entertainment industry. His status as a recording artist with international reach helps introduce Sufi spiritual music to global audiences.

## Notable For

- Being a prominent contemporary Pakistani sufi singer
- Performing qawwali, the traditional Sufi devotional music of South Asia
- Receiving the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer
- Winning Lux Style Awards, Pakistan's premier entertainment industry recognition
- Active career spanning since 1985
- Cross-border musical influence in both Pakistani and Indian film industries
- Social media presence with verified accounts on major platforms

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was born on December 9, 1974. He hails from Pakistan, a sovereign state located in South Asia that achieved independence on August 14, 1947, following the partition of British India. Pakistan is bordered by Afghanistan, India, China, and Iran, and has a population exceeding 223 million people. The country's official languages include Urdu and English, with Islam being the state religion.

### Musical Identity and Genres

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is primarily identified as a sufi singer, specializing in qawwali—a form of Sufi devotional music that originated in South Asia around 1450 CE. Qawwali represents a spiritual musical tradition that expresses devotion to God through poetry and music, often associated with the Sufi mystical tradition of Islam.

Beyond qawwali, his musical repertoire includes filmi music (music produced for India's mainstream motion picture industry) and ghazal—a sophisticated form of poetry in South Asia and the Middle East where the first and every even-numbered lines rhyme. This versatility demonstrates his range across multiple South Asian musical traditions.

### Professional Career

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan began his professional music career in 1985, according to the work_period_start property in the source material. As a playback singer, he performs pre-recorded singing for use in films, contributing to both Pakistani and Indian cinema. His work as a recording artist involves performing music for recordings, making his performances accessible to wide audiences through various media formats.

His official website is http://www.rahatfatehalikhan.net, serving as a digital presence for his fans and professional contacts.

### Recognition and Awards

The source material indicates that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has received notable recognition in the entertainment industry:

- **Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer**: This is an award category established in 1960, recognizing excellence in male playback singing in Indian cinema. The Filmfare Awards are one of the most prestigious film awards in India.

- **Lux Style Awards**: These are Pakistan's premier entertainment industry awards, established in 2002, recognizing excellence in fashion, music, film, and television within Pakistan.

These awards demonstrate his standing as a major figure in South Asian music, recognized by both Indian and Pakistani entertainment industries.

### Digital Presence and Public Profile

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan maintains an active presence on social media platforms:

- **Twitter**: @rfakworld and @RFAKWorld
- **Instagram**: @officialrfakworld

His digital presence allows him to connect with fans globally and promote his musical work.

### Wikidata and Bibliographic Identifiers

The source material provides numerous identifiers linking to various databases:

- IMDB ID: nm0019389
- Twitter: rfakworld, RFAKWorld
- Instagram: officialrfakworld
- Various Wikidata properties including P18 (image), P213, P214, P227, P244, P268, P345, P373, P434, P569 (birth date), P646, P1559 (name in multiple scripts), P1617, P1902, P1953, P2002, P2003, P2373, P2397, P2605, P2722, P2850, P3417, P3478, P3910, P4208, P4666, P5882, P6517, P6868, P6874, P6914, P7052, P7212, P7704, P7902, P7923, P8334, P8687, P9328, P10302, P10832, P12098, P13591

These identifiers confirm his established presence in international databases and entertainment industry records.

### Cultural and Musical Significance

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's work contributes to the preservation and propagation of Sufi musical traditions at a time when such art forms face challenges from modernization. His success in both traditional qawwali and contemporary filmi music demonstrates the adaptability of Sufi musical heritage. The qawwali tradition, with roots in the 15th century, continues to evolve through artists like him, reaching new audiences through film, recordings, and live performances.

His cross-border appeal—working in both Pakistani and Indian industries—represents the shared cultural heritage between the two nations, despite political tensions. This musical exchange contributes to cultural diplomacy and mutual understanding through the universal language of music.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. MusicBrainz
4. IMDb
5. [official website](http://www.rahatfatehalikhan.net/en_html/html/rfak.html)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. BBC Things
8. Google Knowledge Graph
9. YouTube API