Alhaj Khursheed Ahmad or Khurshid Ahmad was a Naat Khawan from Pakistan. He started to recite Naats when he was only a few years old, and by the time of his death he had recited thousands of Naats. He used to proficiently recite Naats not only in Urdu, but also in other languages such as Punjabi, Saraiki, Pashto and Sindhi. The melody of his voice and the unique way of reciting attracted numerous people towards him and soon he had become a famous Naat Khawan.
Mr. Mehdi Zaheer introduced him to Radio as a Naat Khawan and he started reciting Naats in 1968. In 1978, Pakistan Television held a Naat competition for the first time and he secured First Position there, too. At first, the competition was held at Sindh province level and then at Pakistan level. He took first positions in both the competitions simultaneously. His most famous naat among the people and the one which accelerated his fame was "Zameen-o-Zaman Tumhare Liye". The Naat “Yeh Sab Tumhara Karam Hai Aaqa” was liked very much not only in Pakistan but also all over the world. After reciting this Naat, he became even more popular among the people of Pakistan. Then he went on to reciting Naats not only in Pakistan but also almost in every country wherever Muslims lived.
Most popular Naats
"Koi Saleeqa Hai Arzoo Ka, Na Bandagi Meri Bandagi Hai"
"Zameen-o-Zaman Tumhare Liye"
"Mehboob Ki Mehfil Ko Mehboob Sajatey Hain"
"Meray Dil Mein Hai Yaad-e-Muhammad"
"Jashn-i-Aamad-i-Rasool Allah hee Allah"
"Yeh Sab Tumhara Karam Hai Aaqa, Ke Baat Ab Tak Bani Hui Hai"
Awards and recognition
"Khursheed Ahmad had been reciting naats since 1968 and had won first prize in an All Pakistan competition organized by PTV in 1978.
One major Pakistani English-language newspaper comments about his death, "Khursheed Ahmad had recently returned to the city after attending a mehfil-i-milad in Faisalabad. He started having blood pressure problems and was shifted to a hospital. After remaining under treatment for a week, during which time he was operated upon, he succumbed to a brain hemorrhage." His funeral was attended by many renowned Naat Khawans of Pakistan and media personalities. Qari Waheed Zafar Qasmi, Siddiq Ismail and Rashid Azam are a few to be named. He left behind a widow, two sons and two daughters. Khursheed Ahmad's son Hasan Khursheed and brother Shafiq Ahmad are also naat khawans. Besides giving performances worldwide, Khursheed Ahmad had also recited naats in the National Assembly of Pakistan before the start of the assembly session.
