Some worshipped stone idols, others bowed to trees and prayed.
Accustomed to believing what they saw, the people’s vision wasn’t free,
How then could anyone believe in a God he couldn’t see?
I ask, Do you know of anyone, Lord, who then took your name?
It was the muscle in the Muslim’s arms that carried out your task.
तेरी महफ़िल भी गयी चाहने वाले भी गये
शब की आहें भी गयीं सुबह के नाले भी गये
दिल तुझे दे भी गये अपना सिला ले भी गये
आके बैठे भी न थे और निकाले भी गये
आये उश्शाक़ गये वादा-ए-फ़र्दा लेकर
अब उन्हें ढूंढ चिराग़-ए-रूख़-ए-ज़ेबा लेकर
Teree mehfil bhee gayee chaahney valey bhee gaye
Shab kee aahen bhee gayeen subah key naley bhee gaye
Dil tujhey dey bhee gaye apna sila ley bhee gaye
Aakey baithey bhee na thhey aur nikaaley bhee gaye
Aaye ushshaaq gaye vaada-e-fardaa lekar
Ab unhen dhoond chiraagh-e-rukh-e-zeba lekar
Your mehfil is dissolved, those who loved you are also gone:
No sighs through the nights of longing, no lamenting at dawn.
We gave our hearts to you, took the wages you bestowed
But hardly had we taken our seats, you ordered us to go.
As lovers we came, as lovers departed with promises for tomorrow
Now look for us with the light that on your radiant face does glow.
दर्द-ए-लैला भी वही क़ैस का पहलू भी वही
नज्द के दश्त-ओ-जबल में रम-ए-आहू भी वही
इश्क़ का दिल भी वही हुस्न का जादू भी वही
उम्मत-ए-अहमद-ए-मुर्सिल भी वही तू भी वही
फिर यह आज़ुर्दगी-ए-ग़ैर-ए-सबब क्या मानी
अपने शैदाओं पे यह चश्म-ए-ग़ज़ब क्या मानी
Dard-e-laila bhee vahee qais ka pahloo bhee vahee
Najd key dasht-o-jabal mein rum-e-aahoo bhee vahee
Ishq ka dil bhee vahee husn ka jaadoo bhee vahee
Ummat-e-Ahmad-e-mursil bhee vahee too bhee vahee
Phir yeh aazurdagee-e-ghair-e-sabab kya maanee
Apney shaidaaon pey yeh chashm-e-ghazab kya maanee
Laila’s love is as intense, Qais desires her evermore,
On Nejd’s hills and dales, the deer swift-footed as before.
The same love beats in the heart, beauty is as bewitching and magical,
Your messenger Ahmed’s following still abides, Your presence is eternal.
Neither rhyme nor reason has your displeasure, what does it mean?
On the faithful is your angry eye of censure! What does it mean?
इश्क़ की ख़ैर वो पहली सी अदा भी न सही
जादापैमाइ-ए-तस्लीम-जो-रज़ा भी न सही
मुज़्तरीब दिल सिफ़त-ए-क़िब्लानुमा भी न सही
और पाबंदी-ए-आईन-ए-वफ़ा भी न सही
कभी हमसे कभी ग़ैरों से शनासाई है
बात कहने की नहीं तू भी तो हरजाई है
Ishq kee khair vo pehlee see adaa bhee na sahee
Jaadaapaimaai-e-tasleem-o-razaa bhee na sahee
Muztarib dil sifat-e-qiblaanuma bhee na sahee
Aur paabandee-e-aaeen-e-wafaa bhee na sahee
Kabhee humsey kabhee ghairon sey shanaasaaee hai
Baat kehney kee naheen too bhee to harjaaee hai
Our love may not be what it was, nor told with the same blandishments
We may not tread the same path of submission, nor the same way give consent.
Our hearts are troubled, their compass needles from Mecca may have swerved
Perhaps the old laws of faithfulness we may not have fully observed.
It’s not something one should say, you too have not been true to your own.
‘जवाब-ए-शिकवा’ से
हम तो माइल ब करम साइल ही नहीं
राह दिखलाएं किसे रहारवे मंज़िल ही नहीं
तरबियत आम तो है जौहरे क़ाबिल ही नहीं
जिससे तामीर हो आदम की ये वह गिल ही नहीं
कोई क़ाबिल हो तो हम शान-ए-कई देते हैं
ढूंढने वालों को दुनिया भी नई देते हैं
‘‘Javaab-e-shikva’ se
Hum to maail-ba-karam hain koee saail hee naheen
Raah dikhlaayen kisey Rahrav-e-manzil hee naheen
Tarbiyat aam to hai jauhar-e-qaabil hee naheen
Jissey taameer ho aadam kee ye voh gil hee naheen
Koee qabil ho to hum shaan-e-kaee detey hain
Dhoondhney vaalon ko duniya bhee naee detey hain
From ‘Javaab-e-Shikva’
(Allah’s Reply to the Mortal’s Complaint)
Limitless is Our bounty, but none for it will pray.
There’s no one on the seeker’s path, to whom do We point the way?
Not one proved worthy of the care with which they were raised
You are not the clay of which another Adam could be made.
If there were one deserving, We’d raise him to regal splendour,
To those who seek, We would unveil a new world of wonder.
किस क़दर तुम पे गरां सुबह की बेदारी है
हमसे कब प्यार है हां नींद तुम्हें प्यारी है
तब-ए-आज़ाद पे क़ैदे रमज़ां भारी है
तुम्हीं कह दो यही आईने वफ़ादारी है
कौम मज़हब से है मज़हब जो नहीं तुम भी नहीं
जज़्ब-ए बाहम जो नहीं महफ़िले अंजुम भी नहीं
Kis qadar tum pey garaan subah kee bedaaree hai
Humsey kab pyaar hai haan neend tumhein pyaari hai
Tab-e-aazaad pey qaid-e-ramzaan bhaaree hai
Tumhee keh do yahee aaeen-e-wafaadaaree hai
Qaum mazhab sey hai mazhab jo naheen tum bhee naheen
Jazb-e-baaham jo naheen mehfil-e-anjum bhee naheen
Heavy weighs the light of dawn, how loth you are to rise
Why protest you love Us? It is your slumber that you prize.
On your carefree spirit Ramadan’s fast does heavily press
Ask yourselves and answer: is this the way of faithfulness?
A people are bound by faith, without faith they cease to be
If nothing binds you, you are like meteors, not stars in a galaxy.
मुनफ़अत एक है इस क़ौम की नुक़सान भी एक
एक ही सब का नबी दीन भी ईमान भी एक
हरम-ए-पाक भी उल्लाह भी क़ुर्आन भी एक
कुछ बड़ी बात थी होते जो मुसलमान भी एक
फ़िरक़ा-
बंदी है कहीं और कहीं जातें हैं
क्या ज़माने में पनपने की यही बातें हैं
Munfa-at ek hai is qaum kee nuqsaan bhee ek
Ek hee sab ka nabee deen bhee imaan bhee ek
Haram-e-paak bhee Allah bhee Quran bhee ek
Kuchh baree baat thhee hotey jo Musalmaan bhee ek
Firqaa-bandee hai kaheen aur kaheen zatein hain
Kya zamaaney mein panapney kee yahee baatein hain
You are one people, you share in common your weal and woe
You have one faith, one creed, and to one Prophet allegiance owe.
You have one sacred Kaaba, one God and one holy book, the Quran.
Was it so difficult to unite in one community every single Mussalman?
Factions in one place, divisions into castes in another—
In these times are these the ways to progress and prosper?
वाइज़-ए-क़ौम की वो पुख़्ता-ख्याली न रही
वर्क़-ताबई न रही शोला-मक़ामी न रही
रह गयी रस्मे-अज़ां रूहे-बिलाली न रही
फ़लसफ़ा रह गया तल्कीने-ग़ज़ाली न रही
मस्जिदें मरसिया ख़्वां हैं कि नमाज़ी न रहे
यानी वह साहिब-ए-औसाफ़े-हिजाज़ी न रहे
Vaaiz-e-qaum kee vo pukhta-khayaalee na rahee
Varq-tabaee na rahee shola-maqaamee na rahee
Reh gayee rasm-e-azaan rooh-e-Bilaalee na rahee
Falsafaa reh gayaa talqeen-e-ghazaalee na rahee
Masjiden marsiya khwaan hain ki namaazee na rahey
Yaanee voh saahib-e-ausaaf-e-hijaazee na rahey
Your mentors are immature: there’s no substance in what they preach
No flash of lightning enlightens their minds, there’s no fire in their speech.
Only a ritual the call to prayer; the spirit of Bilal has fled.
There’s no end to philosophizing, Ghazali’s discourse remains unread.
Now mourn the empty mosques; no worshippers fill them with prayer.
The likes of noble Hijazi gentlemen are no longer there.
क़ैसे-ज़हमत कशे तनहाई-ए-सहरा न रहे
शहर की खाये हवा बादियापैमां न रहे
वह तो दीवाना है मस्ती में रहे या न रहे
यह ज़रूरी है हिजाबे रूख़े-लैला न रहे
गिला-ए-जौर न हो शिकवा-ए-बेदाद न रहो
इश्क़ आज़ाद है क्यों हुस्न भी आज़ाद न रहो
Qais-e-zehmat kash-e-tanhaaee-e-sahra na rahey
Shahr kee khaye havaa badiyaapaimaan na rahey
Voh to deevaana hai mastee mein rahey ya na rahey
Yeh zarooree hai hijaab-e-rukh-e-laila na rahey
Gila-e-jaur na ho shikva-e-bedaad na ho
Ishq aazaad hai kyon husn bhee aazaad na ho
Today’s lovers are not like Qais; they cannot bear the loneliness of desert wastes
They have breathed the city’s airs, for desert wines they have no taste.
Qais is crazed with love; he may or may not choose the city as his dwelling place
But there is no reason why Laila should not raise her veil and show her lovely face.
Enough of protesting against cruelty, enough complaining against tyranny
If love can wander freely, why should beauty not be set free?
देखकर रंग-ए-चमन हो न परेशां माली
कौकबे-गुंचा से शाख़ें हैं चमकने वाली
ख़सो-ख़ाशाक से होता है गुलिस्तां खाली
गुलबर अंदाज़ है ख़ूने शुहदा की लाली
रंग गर्दू का ज़रा देख तो उन्नाबी है
ये निकलते हुए सूरज की उफ़क़ताबी है
Dekh kar rang-e-chaman ho na pareshaan maalee
Kaukab-e-ghooncha sey shaakhein hain chamakney vaalee
Khas-o-khaashak sey hota hai gulistaan khaalee
Gulbar andaaz hai khoon-e-shuhada kee laalee
Rang gardoo ka zaraa dekh to unnaabee hai
Ye nikaltey huey sooraj kee ufaqtaabee hai
Let not the sorry plight of the garden upset the gardener
Buds will soon sprout on the branches and glitter like stars.
Weeds and brambles will be swept out with a broom
And where martyrs’ blood was shed red roses shall bloom.
Look, how russet hues have tinged the eastern skies!
The horizon heralds the birth of a new sun about to rise.
अक्ल है तरी सिफर इश्क़ है शमशीर तेरी
मेरे दरवेश खिलाफ़त है जहांगीर तेरी
मा सिवा अल्लाह के लिए आग है तकबीर तेरी
तू मुसलमां हो तो तक़दीर है तदबीर तेरी
की मुहम्मद से वफ़ा तूने तो हम तेरे हैं
यह जहां चीज़ है क्या लौह-ओ-क़लम तेरे हैं
Aql hai teree sipar ishq hai shamsheer teree
Merey darvesh khilaafat hai jahaangeer teree
Ma sivaa Allah key liye aag hai takbeer teree
Too Musalmaan hai to taqdeer hai tadbeer teree
Kee Muhammad sey wafaa tooney to hum terey hain
Yeh jahaan cheez hai kya lauh-o-qalam terey hain
With reason as your shield and the sword of love in your hand
Servant of God, the leadership of the world is at your command!
The cry, ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ destroys all except God; it is a fire
If you are true Muslims, your destiny is to grasp what you aspire.
If you break not faith with Muhammad, we shall always be with you:
What is this miserable world? To write the world’s
history, pen and tablet we offer you.
MIRZA WAJID HUSAIN CHANGEZI
(1884–1956)
Mirza Wajid Husain Yagana Changezi was born in Patna in 1884 where he was educated and began his poetic career. In 1905 he migrated to Lucknow where he lived until his death in 1956. He was recognized as a leading poet of his time.
We have chosen just one couplet by Changezi, a remarkable one with particular relevance to all times and all religions.
काफ़िर
सब तेरे सिवा काफ़िर आख़िर इसका मतलब क्या
सर फिरा दे इंसां का ऐसा ख़ब्त-ए-मज़हब क्या
Kafir
Sab terey sivaa kaafir aakhir iska matlab kya
Sar phira dey insaan ka aisa khabt-e-mazhab kya
Kafir
All besides you are infidels; in the end what does it say?
It makes lunatics of men, what kind of religion is this, I pray?
FIRAQ GORAKHPURI
(1896–1982)
Raghupati Sahay Firaq was born in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. His father, though an advocate by profession, wrote poetry under the pen name ‘Ibrat’. Firaq grew up amidst literary surroundings. A good student, he received an MA degree in English and, after a short stint in government service, taught English literature at Allahabad University. He left his mark on three genres of Urdu poetry: the ghazal, n
azm and rubaai. He wrote more than 40,000 couplets, mostly on love and beauty. His verse is remarkable for its sensuous quality. Firaq’s poetry is a unique blend of Urdu and Hindi and has been published in four anthologies, Rooh-e-kayenat, Gul-e-Ra’na, Gul-e-naghma and Roop. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960 and the Jnanpith award in 1969.
हसरत
इस जहां को रश्क-ए-जन्नत हम करेंगे एक दिन
जिनका ये ईमां नहीं ऐसों जो जन्नत चाहिये
Hasrat
Is jahaan ko rashk-e-jannat hum karengey ek din
Jinka ye imaan naheen aison ko jannat chaahiye
ईमान
नयी दुनिया में कुछ बीते दिनों के भी निशां होंगे
अजायबख़ानों में रक्ख़ेंगे ईमानों को दीनों को
Imaan
Nayee duniya mein kuchh beetey dinon key bhee nishaan hongey
Ajaaibkhaanon mein rakhengey eemaanon ko deenon ko
पियक्कड़
ऐ शैख़, गर असर है दुआ में
तो मस्जिद हिला के दिखा
गर नहीं तो दो घूंट पी
और मस्जिद को हिलता देख
Piyakkar
Ai Shaikh gar asar hai dua mein