Pakistan, June 17 -- This is the eighth article in a special series by Ally Adnan that brings to life memorable incidents from the rich and fascinating life of Hazrat Amir Khusrau, whose timeless legacy continues to inspire the world.

Individual instances of the singing of ghazal can be traced as far back as the 13th century.

Three prominent female performers in the courts of the Khilji dynasty, Meher Afroze, Nusrat Khatoon and Fatooha, are known to have regularly sung and danced to the ghazals of Amir Khusrau in Delhi at the turn of the 13th century. These early performances laid the foundation for the tradition of singing ghazal.

The establishment of the ghazal as an important genre of Hindustani sangeet began in the early 19th centu...