The Sabri Brothers undoubtedly took Qaw'wali, especially Natia and Sufi Qaw'wali to the very apex of the difficult but thoroughly intoxicating rendering of the Munificent Majesty of Allah and the Deeds of the Prophet. One of their all-time popular Qaw'walis of 25-30 years ago, is “Paisa bolta hai (money talks)”, where they decried the use of currency notes, on the one hand, for payment of Zakat, Fitra and other good deeds, while on the other hand, the same notes being used for payment of bribes, corruption of all sorts, and white and blue collar crimes and vices.
It cannot be denied that corruption at all levels has reached a peak in recent years, where no work anywhere can be got done without greasing the palms of all and sundry, from top to bottom. Inflated greed, inflation and deflated morals have set a benchmark for the amounts where there is no upper limit, but the lower limit is undoubtedly Tk. 500/- and multiples thereof.
During our “addas”, many of my contemporaries (senior citizens, who have retained their sense of morality) and who are still in some sort of vocation like service, and pensioners, landlords, contractors, etc., bemoan having to pay even the minimum amount for every little thing that can facilitate a decent and honest living for them. Many of them have resented the fact that they have to pay bribes with notes carrying the portrait of the “Father of the Nation” whom we all revere.