KyuN ziyaNkar banuN, sUd farAmosh rahuN
Fikr-e-farda na karuN, Mehw-e-gham-e-dosh rahuN
**Why must I forever suffer loss, oblivious to gain? **
**Why think not upon the morrow, drowned in grief for yesterday? **
Naale bulbul ke sunuN, aur hama-tan gosh rahuN
Hamnawa! MaiN bhi koyi gul huN ke khAmosh rahuN
Why must I attentive heed the nightingale’s lament of pain?
Fellow-bard, am I a rose, condemned to silence all the way?
Jurat-aamoz miri tAb-e-sukhan hai mujh ko
Shikwa Allah se, khakim-badhan hai mujh ko
No; the burning power of song bids me be bold and not to faint;
Dust be in my mouth, but God-He is the theme of my complaint.
Hai baja shaiwa-e-taslim meiN mashur haiN ham
Qissa-e-dard sunate haiN ke majbur haiN ham
True, we are forever, famous for our habit to submit;
Yet we tell our tale of grief, as by our grief we are constrained.
Saaz-e-khamosh haiN, faryad se ma’mur haiN ham
Naala aata hai lab pe, to ma’zur haiN ham
We are but a muted lyre; yet a lament inhabits it-
If a sigh escapes our lips, no ore can sorrow be contained.
Ae Khuda! shikwa-e-arbab-e-wafa bhi sun le
Khugar-e-hamd se thoda sa gila bhi sun le
God, give ear to the complaint of us, Thy servants tried and true;
Thou art used to songs praise; now hear a note of protest too.
Thi to maujud azl se hi Teri zaat-e-qadim
Phul tha zeb-e-chaman, par na pareshaN thi shamim
In thy everlasting Essence Thou wast from eternity;
Bright the bloom bedecked the garden; undiffused the scent abode;
Shart insaaf hai ae Sahib-e-altaf-e-amim
Bu-e-gul phailti kis tarh jo hoti na nasim
Lord of universal flavor, let impartial justice be-
Could the roses perform scatter with no breeze to waft abroad?
Ham ko jami’yat-e-khatir ye pareshani thi
Warna ummat tere Mehboob ki diwani thi
Peace of mind and quiet spirit won we of our labour’s glad,
Else the folk of Thy Beloved-should they be accounted mad?
Ham se pehle tha ajab Tere jahaN ka manzar
KahiN masjud the paththar, kahiN ma’bud shajar
Strange indeed the spectacle Thy world supplied before our days,
Here men bowed them down to stones, there paid they reverence to trees;
Khugar-e-paikar-e-mehsus thi insaN ki nazar
Manta phir koyi andekhe Khuda ko kyuNkar?
Only to the visual image was attuned the human gaze-
How could hearts adore a God no eye percipient may seize?
(Reference to pagan idolatry)
Tujh ko ma’lum hai leta tha koyi naam Tera?
Quwwat-e-baazu-e-muslim ne kiya kaam Tera.
Well thou knoest, was any anywhere to the name Thy Name?
By the Muslim’s strong right arm Thy purpose to fulfillment came.
Bas rahe the yahiN saljuk bhi, turani bhi
Ahl-e-chiN chin meiN, iran meiN sasani bhi
Though the Seljuk’s had their emire, the Turanians their sway,
Though the Chinese ruled in China, the Sassanians in Iran,
Isi ma’mure meiN aabad the unani bhi
Isi dunya meiN yahudi bhi the, nasrani bhi
Though the Greeks inhabited broad, fruitful acres in their day
And Jews possessed their cubit, and the Christians owned their span,
Par Tere naam pe talwar uthayi kis ne?
Baat jo bigdi hui thi, wo banayi kis ne?
Who upraised the sword of battle in Thy Name’s most sacred cause,
Or who strove to right the ruined world by Thy most hallowed laws?
The hamiN eik ma’raka-aaraoN meiN!
KhushkiyoN meiN kabhi ladte, kabhi daryaoN meiN
It was we and we alone who marched Thy soldiers to the fight,
Now upon the land engaging, now embattled on the fight,
DiN azaaeiN kabhi europe ke kalisaoN meiN
Kabhi africa ke tapte hue sehraoN meiN
The triumphant Call to prayer in Europe’s churches to recite,
Through the wastes of Africa to summon men worship Thee.
Shaan aankhoN meiN na jachti thi jahaNdaroN ki
Kalima padhte the ham chaaoN meiN talwaaroN ki
All the glittering splendour of great emperors we reckoned none;
In the shadow of our glinting swords we shouted, “God is One!”
Ham jo jite the, to jangoN ki musibat ke liye
Aur marte the Tere naam ki azmat ke liye
All our life we dedicated to the dire distress of war;
When we died, we died exultant for the glory of Thy Name;
Thi na kuch teghzani apni hukumat ke liye
Sar ba-kaf phirte the kya dehr meiN daulat ke liye?
Not to win a private empire did we draw the swords we bore-
Was it in the quest of riches to earth’s frontiers that we came?
Qaum apni jo zar-o-maal-e-jahaN par marti
Butfaroshi kye iwaz butshikani kyoN karti!
Had our people striven for the sake of worldly goods and gold
Would they then have shattered idols they might gainfully have sold?
Tal na sakte the, agar jang me ad jaate the
PaaoN sheroN ke bhi maidaan se ukhad jaate the
We were rocks immovable when in the field we took our stand,
And the bravest-hearted warriors by our thrust were swept away;
Tujh se sarkash hua koyi, to bigad jaate the
Tegh kya cheez hai? ham to toap se lad jaate the
It sufficed us to enrage, if any gainsaid Thy command,
Then we hurled us on their cannons, took their sword point but for play.
Naqsh tauheed ka har dil pe bithaya ham ne
Zer-e-khanjar bhi ye paigham sunaya ham ne
Into every heart we struck the impress of Thy Unity
And beneath the dagger’s lightning preached the Message, Lord, of Thee.
Tu hi keh de ke ukhada dar-e-khaibar kis ne?
Shehr qaisar ka jo tha us ko kiya sar kis ne?
Tell us this, and tell us truly-who uprooted Khyber’s gate?
Or who overthrew the city where great Caesar reigned in pride?
Tode makhluq-e-khudawand ke paikar kis ne?
Kaat kar rakh diye kuffar ke lashkar kis ne?
Who destroyed the gods that hands of others laboured to create,
Who the marshaled armies of the unbelievers drove aside?
Kis ne thanda kiya aatishkada-e-Iran ko?
Kis ne phir zinda kiya tazkira-e-Yazdan ko?
Who extinguished from the alters of Iran that sacred flame,
Who revived the dimmed remembrance of Yazdan’s immortal Name?
Kaun si qaum faqat teri talabgar hui?
Aur tere liye zehmatkash-e-paikar hui?
Strove there were other nation in the cause of Thee alone,
Bore there ever other people battle’s anguish for Thy sake?
Kis ki shamshir-e-jahaNgir jahaNdar hui?
Kis ki takbir se dunya teri bedaar hui?
Whose the sword that seized the world, and ruled it as its very own?
Whose the dread that kept the idols cowering and terrified
Kis ki haibat se sanam sehme hue rehte the
MuNh ke bal gir ke hu-Allahu-ahad kehte the
So that, heads cast down and humbled, “He is God, the One,” they cried?
**In the press of mortal combat if the hour of worship came **
Aa gaya ain ladayi meiN agar waqt-e-namaaz
Qiblaru hoke zamiNbos hui qaum-e-hijaz
Then the people of Hejaz, to Mecca turning, bowed in prayer;
King Mahmud, Ayaz the slave-their rank in service was the same,
Eik hi saf meiN khade ho gaye mehmud-o-ayaz
Na koyi banda raha aur na koyi bandanawaz
Lord and servant-at devotion never difference was there.
Slave and master, rich and needy-all old distinctions gone,
Banda-o-sahib-o-mohtaj-o-ghani eik hue
Teri sarkar meiN pahunche to sabhi eik hue
Unified in adoration of Thy Presence, they were one.
In the Hall of space and being, at the dawn and eventide
Mehfil-e-kaun-o-makaN meiN sehr-o-shaam phire
Mai-e-tauhid ko lekar sift-e-jaam phire
Kuh meiN, dasht meiN lekar tera paigham phire
Aur ma’lum hai tujhko kabhi nakaam phire?
Circulated we like goblets with the Wine of Faith replete;
Still we roved o’er plain and mountain, spread Thy Message far and wide-
Dasht to dasht haiN, darya bhi na chode ham ne
Behr-e-zulmat meiN dauda diye ghode ham ne
Is it known to Thee, if ever we returned to through sea on sea,
In the ocean of the shadow our strong coursers watered we.
Safha-e-dehr se batil ko mitaya ham ne
Nau-e-insaN ko ghulami se chudaya ham ne
We erased the smudge of falsehood from the parchment firmament,
We redeemed the human species from the chains of slavery;
Tere Kaabe ko jabinoN se basaya ham ne
Tere Quran ko sinoN se lagaya ham ne
And we filled the Holy Kaaba with our foreheads humble bent,
Clutching to our fervent bosoms the Koran in ecstasy.
Phir bhi ham se ye gila hai ke wafadar nahiN
Ham wafadar nahiN, to bhi tu dildar nahiN
Yet the charge is laid against us we have played the faithless part;
Is disloyal we have proved hast Thou deserved to win our heart
UmmateiN aur bhi haiN, in meiN gunahgaar bhi haiN
Ijz wale bhi haiN, mast-e-mai-e-pindar bhi haiN
Other creeds claim other peoples, and they have their sinners too;
There are lowly men among them, and men drunken with conceit;
In meiN kahil bhi haiN, ghafil bhi haiN, hoshyar bhi haiN
SainkdoN haiN ke tere naam se bezaar bhi haiN
Some are sluggards, some neglectful, some are vigilant and true;
Multitudes disdain Thy Name in loathing utter and complete;
RehmateiN haiN teri aghyar ke kaashanoN par
Barq girti hai to bechare musalmaanoN par
But the showers of Thy mercy other thirsting soul assuage,
Only on the hapless Muslims falls the lightning of thy rage.
But sanamkhanoN meiN kehte haiN Musalman gaye
Hai khushi un ko ke Kaabe ke nigehban gaye
Hark, the idols in the temples shout, “The Muslims are no more,”
Jubilants to see the guardians of the Kabab’s shrine depart;
Manzil-e-dehr se OontoN ke hudikhwan gaye
Apni baghloN meiN dabaye hue Quran gaye
The world’s inn is emptied of those singing cameleers of yore,
Vanished is their caravan, Koran close pressed to reverent heart.
Khandazan kufr hai, ehsas tujhe hai ke nahiN
Apni tauhid ka kuch paas tujhe hai ke nahiN
Disbelief is loud with laughter; art Thou deaf, indifferent
Disregardest Thou Thy Unity, as if it nothing meant?
Ye shikayat nahiN, haiN un ke khazaane ma’mur
NahiN mehfil meiN jinheiN baat bhi karne ka shaoor
**Not of this are we complaining, that their coffers overflow **
Who have not the wit or grace of covers in society;
Qehr to ye hai ke kafir ko mileiN hur-o-qasur
Aur bechare musulmaN ko faqat wa’da-e-hur
But that infidels should own the houris and the places-ab, woe!
While the wretched Muslims must with promises contented be.
Ab wo altaf nahiN, ham pe inayat nahiN
Baat ye kya hai ke pehli si madarat nahiN
Now no more for us Thy favors Thy old benevolence-
How and where for is thy pristine kindliness department henoe?
KyuN musalmanoN meiN hai daulat-e-dunya nayaab
Teri qudrat to hai wo jiski na had hai na hisaab
Why no more are worldly riches among Muslims to be found,
Since Thy power is as of old beyond compute and unconfined?
Tu jo chahe to uthe sina-e-sehra se habaab
Rahrav-e-dasht ho selizada-e-mauj-e-suraab
If Thou willest, foaming fountains from the desert’s breast can bound
And the rippling mirage may the travelers in the forest, and poverty-
Tana-e-aghyaar hai, ruswai hai, nadaari hai
Kya Tere naam pe marne ka iwaz khwari hai
Is disgrace our recompense for laying down our lives for thee?
Bani aghyaar ki ab chahnewali dunya
Reh gayi apne liye eik khayali dunya
So; it is on others only the world its love bestows;
We; who walk Thy chosen path-to us a phantom world is left.
Ham to rukhsat hue, auroN ne sambhali dunya
Phir na kehna hui tauhid se khali dunya
Be it so; bid us be gone, and let the earth belong to those;
Yet protest not that the earth of Unity is now bereft.
Ham to jite haiN ke dunya meiN Tera naam rahe
KahiN mumkin hai ke saqi na rahe, jaam rahe?
For no other cause we live but Thy remembrance to maintain;
When the saki is departed, can the wine cup yet remain?
Teri mehfil bhi gayi, chahne wale bhi gaye
Shab ki aaheN bhi gayiN, subh ke naale bhi gaye
Gone is now the thronged assemble, and Thy lovers too are gone,
Ended are the midnight sighings, silenced dawn’s deep threnody;
Dil tujhe de bhi gaye, apna sila le bhi gaye
Aake baithe bhi na the aur nikale bhi gaye
They bestowed their hearts upon thee, and with their reward passed on;
Scarcely were Thy faithful seated when they were dismissed from Thee.
Aaye aashiq, gaye waada-e-farda le kar
Ab unheiN dhund chiragh-e-rukh-e-zeba le kar
So Thy lovers came, so with the promise of "To-marrow: went-
Now come, seek them the lantern of Thy beauty’s blandishment;
Dard-e-laila bhi wahi, qais ka pehlu bhi wahi
Nejd ke dasht meiN ram-e-aahu bhi wahi
Laila’s pangs are still the same, Qais yearns as fiercely as of old,
Still amid the forests and the vales of Nejd the fleet deer run,
Ishq ka dil bhi wahi, husn ka jaadu bhi wahi
Ummat-e-Ahmad-e-mursil bhi wahi, Tu bhi wahi
Beauty rules the same a ever, hearts deep passions still enfold,
Still abide the folk of Ahmad, still Thou art their Lord, the One;
Phir ye aazurdagi-e-ghair-e-sabab kya ma’ne?
Apne shaidaoN pe ye chashm-e-ghazab kya ma’ne?
Then what means Thy high displeasure, since its cause is all unknown?
What denotes it, that Thine eye is turned in wrath upon Thy own?
Tujh ko choda ke Rasul-e-arabi ko choda?
Butgari pesha kiya? Butshikani ko choda?
Did we ever shun Thee, or Arabia’s Messenger forsake?
Did we tire of idol-breaking, and to idol-making turn?
Ishq ko, ishq ki aashuftasari ko choda?
Rasm-e-Salman-o-Ovais-e-Qarani ko choda?
Did we cry and end to passion, growing weary of love’s ache?
Did we quit the path of Salman, cease from Qarani to learn?
Aag takbir ki sinoN meiN dabi rakhte haiN
Zindagi misl-e-Bilal-e-Habshi rakhte haiN
Still the fire of “God is Greatest” in our hearts we keep ablaze,
Still Bilal the Abyssinian guides us in our daily ways.
Ishq ki khair, wo pehli si ada bhi na sahi
Jadapaimai-e-taslim-o-raza bhi na sahi
It may be that love’s sweet manners are perchance no more observed,
and the path of acquiescence leads no longer hearts resigned;
Muztarib dil sifat-e-qiblanuma bhi na sahi
Aur paabandi-e-a’in-e-wafa bhi na sahi
Kabhi ham se kabhi ghairoN se shanasai hai
Haply the heart’s Qibla-pointing compass from its course has swerved,
And Thou too, alas, art changed, now us, now others favouring;
Baat kehne ki nahiN Tu bhi to harjai hai
Sar-e-Faran pe kiya deen ko kaamil Tu ne
Monstrous as it is to say, thy love is such a fickle thing!
On the summit of Faran thou madest Faith complete and whole,
Ek ishare meiN hazaroN ke liye dil Tu ne
Aatish-andoz kiya ishq ka hasil Tu ne
Tookest captive hearts a thousand with a single, simple sign;
Thou it was that Love’s quintessence set afire, a blazingcoal,
Phunk di garmi-e-rukhsar se mehfil Tu ne
Aaj kyuN sIne hamare sharar-aabad nahiN?
Flamed the assembly with the ardor of Thy loveliness divine.
Why is it, that in our bosoms not a spark remains to-day?
Ham wahi sokhta-saamaN haiN, Tujhe yaad nahiN?
Waadi-e-Nejd meiN wo shor-e-salasil na raha
We are still the same burnt chattels what, hast Thou forgotten, pray?
In the vale of nejd no longer may those clanging chains be heard,
Qais diwana-e-nazzara-e-mehmil na raha
Hausle wo ha rahe, ham na rahe, dil na raha
Qais no more awaits distracted Laila’s litter to behold;
Vanished are those passionate yearnings; we are dead, our hearts interred;
Ghar ye ujda hai ke Tu raunaq-e-mehfil na raha
Ae khushaN roz ke aayi o basad naaz aayi
Gone the light of the assembly, the abode is dark and cold.
Joyous day, when Thou returnest in Thy beauty and grace
Behijaabana su-e-mehfil-e-ma baaz aayi
Baadakash ghair haiN gulshan meiN lab-e-ju baithe
And unbashfully revealst our gathering thy face!
Strangers sit within the garden, quaffing wine beside the stream;
Sunte haiN jam-bakaf naghma-e-ku baithe
Dur hangama-e-gulzar se yaksu baithe
Glass in hand they sit and listen to the cuckoo song of spring.
Far from the commotioned meadow we sit silently and dream,
Tere diwane bhi haiN muntazir-e-Hu baithe
Apne parwanoN ko phir zauq-e-khudafrozi de
Dream, thy lovers, of Thy coming, and the cry of “He, the King!”
Reawaken in Thy moths the eager joy to be aflame,
Barq-e-derina ko farman-e-jigarsozi de
Qaum-e-aawara inaNtab hai phir su-e-Hijaz
Bid again the ancient lightnings brand our bosoms with thy Name!
Turns a new the wandering people to Hejaz their birdle-dtring,
Le ude bulbul-e-be par ko mazaq-e-parwaz
Muztarib bagh ke har ghunche meiN hai bu-e-niyaz
Skyward lifts the wingless nightingale the liting love of flight,
In the garden every blossom fragrance-drenched is quivering.
Tu zara ched to de tishna-e-mizrab hai saaz
Naghme betaab haiN taaroN se nikalne ke liye
Strike the silent lute, long eager for Thy plectrum to alight-
String-imprisoned melodies await Thy touch to sing in choir;
Tur muztar hai isi aag meiN jalne ke liye
MushkileiN ummat-e-marhum ki aasaN kar de
Sinai is trembling, trembling to be ravished by Thy fire.
Grant at last Thy sore-tried people in their difficulties ease,
Mor-e-bemaya ko hamdosh-e-SulaymaN kar de
Jins-e-nayaab-e-muhabbat ko phir arzaaN kar de
Make that ant of little substance peer of Solomon to be;
Love grown too rare and costly-cheapen its exalted fee;
Hind ke dairnashinoN ko musalmaN kar de
Ju-e-khuN mi chakad az hasrat-e-derina-e-ma
Turn our Indian’s temple-squatters into Muslims true to Thee.
**See, the stream of blood is pouring from our greifs, so long suppressed; **
Mi tapad nala ba nashtarkada-e-sina-e-ma
Bu-e-gul le gayi bairun-e-chaman, raaz-e-chaman
Hark, the cry of pain is throbbing in our dagger-riven breast.
Now the secret of the garden by the rose’s scent is spread;
Kya qayamat hai ke khud phul haiN ghammaz-e-chaman
Ahd-e-gul khatm hua, tut gaya saaz-e-chaman
Shame it is, the garden’s blossoms should them selves the traitor play!
Now the garden’s lyre is broken, and the rose’s bloom-time sped,
Ud gaye daliyoN se zamzamapardaaz-e-chaman
Eik bulbul hai ke mahw-e-tarannum ab tak
And the minstrels of the garden from their twigs have winged away;
Yet one nightingale sings on there, rapt by his own melody,
Is sine meiN hai naghmoN ka talatum ab tak
QumriyaN shaakh-e-sanaubar se gurezaN bhi huiN
In his breast the plangent music tosses still tempestuously.
All the ring-doves from the branches of the cypresses have flown,
PattiyaN phul ki jhad jhad ke pareshaN bhi huiN
Wo purani rawisheN bagh ki viraN bhi huiN
And the petals of the blossoms flutter down and take of flight;
And the garden’s ancient walks, how desolate they are and alone;
DaliyaN pairahan-e-barg se uryaN bhi huiN
Qaid-e-mausam se tabiat rahi aazaad us ki
Ravished of their leafy robes, the boughs stand naked to the light.
Still he signs forlorm, all heedless of the season’s changing mood;
Kaash gulshan meiN samajhta koyi faryaad us ki
Lutf marne meiN hai baaqi, na mazaa jine meiN
On that someone in the garden his sad anthm understood!
Life is joyless now, and death no comfort promises to bring;
Kuch mazaa hai to yahi khun-e-jigar pine meiN
Kitne betaab haiN johar mire aaine meiN
To remember ancient sorrows is the sole delight I know.
In the mirror of my mind what gems of thought are shimmering,
Kis qadr jalwe tadapte haiN mire sine meiN
Is gulistaN meiN magar dekhnewale hi nahiN
In the darkness of my breast what shining revelations glow!
Yet no witness in the garden may the miracle attest;
Dagh jo sine meiN rakhte hoN so laale hi nahiN
Chaak is bulbul-e-tanha ki nawa se dil huN
Not a tulip there lies bleeding with a brand upon its breast.
Break, hard hearts, to hear carol of his nightingale forlorn;
Jaagne wale isi baang-e-dara se dil huN
Ya’ne phir zinda naye ahd-e-wafa se dil huN
Wake, dull hearts, to heed the clamor and the clangor of this bell;
Rise, dead hearts, by this new compact of fidelity reborn;
Phir isi baada-e-derina ke pyase dil huN
'Ajmi khum hai to kya, mai to Hijazi hai miri
Thirst, dry hearts, for the old vintage whose sweet tang you knew so well.
Though the jar was cast in Persia, in Hejaz the wine first flowed;
Naghma hindi hai to kya, lai to Hijazi hai miri
And though Indian the song be, from Hejaz derives the mode.
http://www.interactiveislam.com/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=104
