(Armaghan-e-Hijaz-07) Masood Marhoom (مسعود مرحوم) The Late Masud
Masood Marhoom
THE LATE MASUD
Ye Mehar-O-Mah, Ye Sitare Ye Asman-E-Kubood
Kise Khabar Ke Ye Alam Addam Hai Ya Ke Wujood
The sun, the moon, the stars, and this azure sky all around
Who can tell for sure all this is, the world nothingness or being!
Khiyal-E-Jadah-O-Manzil Fasana-O-Afsoun
Ke Zindagi Hai Sarapa Raheel-E-Be-Maqsood
The ideas of roads and destinations are fictions and myths
As life is an aimless journey, indeed.
Rahi Na Aah, Zamane Ke Hath Se Baqi
Vo Yaadgar-E-Kamalaat -E-Ahmad-O-Mehmood
Alas! Time’s hand wiped out.
That monument of the perfections of Ahmad and Mahmood.
Zawal-E-Ilm-O-Hunar Marg-E-Naaghan Uss Ki
Woh Karwan Ka Mataa-E-Garan Bha Masood !
His sudden death signifies the decline of knowledge and art
His, Masood’s, who was the most valuable asset of this caravan of ours.
Mujhe Rulati Hai Ahl-E-Jahan Ki Baydardi
Faghan-E-Mugh-E-Sehar Khawan Ko Jante Hain Surood
The indifferent cold manner of worldly men moves me to tears.
They reckon the dawn wails of birds as lilting songs!
Na Keh Ke Sabr Mein Pinhan Hai Chara’ay Gham-e-Dost
Na Keh Ke Sabr Mu’amaye Mout Ki Hai Kushood
Please! Do not plead that the remedy of grief for a friend lies hidden in patience!
Please do not say that in patience lies the solution to Death’s riddle!
“Dile Ke Ashiq Wa Sabir Bood Magar Sang Ast
Za Ishq Ta Ba Saboori Hazar Farsang Ast” (Sadi)
A heart, howsoever loving and patient, is all the same, a stone.
And between love and patience lie A thousand miles. [The quotation is from: Saadi]
Na Mujh Se Pooch Ke Umer-E-Garaiz Pa Kiya Hai
Kise Khabar Ke Ye Neerang-O-Seemiya Kya Hai
Don’t ask what fleeting life is for; who knows what it means
This combination of magic and color charm?
Huwa Jo Khak Se Paida, Vo Khak Mein Mastoor
Magar Ye Ghaibat-E-Sughra Hai Ya Fana, Kya Hai !
One born of dust must hide in dust.
But what does it mean? A short-lived absence or extinction?
Ghubar-E-Rah Ko Bakhsha Gya Hai Zauq-E-Jamal
Khirad Bata Nahin Sakti Ke Muddaa Kya Hai
This man, this mere dust of a path, has been endowed with artistic taste.
Of this, Reason cannot reveal the aim.
Dil-O-Nazar Bhi Issi Aab-O-Gil Ke Hain Ijaz
Nahin To Hazrat-E-Insan Ki Intiha Kya Hai?
Are the heart and vision too the miracles of this very water and clay?
If not, what then is the end‐all of man?
Jahan Ki Rooh-E-Rawan ‘LA ILAHA ILLA HOO’
Masih-O-Meekh-O-Chalipa, Ye Majra Kya Hai!
The moving soul of this universe is that there is no god but God.
Then why the Messiah, the nails, and the cross?
Qasas Khoon-E-Tammana Ka Mangiye Kis Se
Gunahgar Hai Kon, Aur Khoon Baha Kya Hai
From whom should be demanded the blood‐money of longings spilt?
For who is the guilty and what is the blood money?
Ghameen Masho Ke Ba Band-E-Jahan Gariftarem
Talism Ha Shikand Aan Dile Ke Ma Darem
Grieve not that we are in the bondage of this world,
As the heart that we have, Breaks all magic spells.
Khudi Hai Zinda To Hai Mout Ek Maqam-E-Hayat
Ke Ishq Mout Se Karta Hai Imtihan-E-Sabaat
If the self lives, death is but A sojourn in life:
As love tries death in a test of eternal life.
Khudi Hai Zinda To Darya Hai Be-Karana Tera
Tere Firaq Mein Muztir Hai Mouj-E-Neel-O-Firat
If the self is alive, your ocean is shoreless
And the waves of the Nile, of Euphrates, are restless, separated from you.
Khudi Hai Murda To Manind-E-Kah Paish-E-Naseem
Khudi Hai Zinda To Sultan-E-Jumla Moujoodat
If the self is dead, you are like a straw before the breeze.
If the self is alive, you are the sultan of all existence.
Nigah Aik Tajalli Se Hai Agar Mehroom
Dou Sad Hazar Tajalli Talafi-E-Mafaat
If the eye is deprived of one vision of beauty exposed,
Myriad exposures of beauty compensate for one loss.
Maqam Banda’ay Momin Ka Hai Wara’ay Sipihr
Zameen Se Ta Ba Surreya Tamam Laat-O-Manaat
The station of a true momin is beyond the sky’s reach.
Below, from the earth to the Pleiades, all are idol‐houses of Lat and Manat.
Hareem-E-Zaat Hai Iss Ka Nasheman-e-Abdi
Na Tera Khak-E-Lehad Hai, Na Jalwagah-E-Sifaat
His eternal abode is the sacred precinct of the One and the Only One,
Not this gloomy dusty grave, Nor this exposure house of Attributes!
Khud Aa-Gahan Ke Azeen Khakdan Baron Jastand
Tilism Mehar-O-Sipihr-O-Sitara Bashkastand
Those self‐aware who have leapt above this abode of dust
Have broken the spell of the sun, the sky, and the stars!