(Armaghan-e-Hijaz-Farsi-23) Huzoor-e-Risalat 11: Mera Tanhai Wa Aah Wa Faghan Ba… ( مرا تنہائی و آہ و فغاں بہ )

Mera tanhai-o-aah-o-fughaan beh

Su-e-Yathrib safar be-karwan beh

مرا تنہائی و آہ و فغاں بہ

سوئے یثرب سفر بے کارواں بہ

For me, loneliness, sighs, and lamentations are better;

A journey toward Medina (Yathrib) without a caravan is better.

Kuja maktab, kuja maikhana-e-shauq!

Tu khud farma mera een beh, ke aan beh?

کجا مکتب، کجا میخانہء شوق!

تو خود فرما مرا ایں بہ، کہ آں بہ؟

Where is the school, and where is the tavern of longing!

You tell me yourself, is this better for me, or is that?

Paridam dar fazaye dilpazirash

Param tar gasht az abr-e-mutirash

پریدم در فضائے دلپذیرش

پرم تر گشت از ابرِ مطیرش

I flew in its heart-pleasing atmosphere;

My wings became soaked by the rain clouds.

Haram ta dar zameer-e-man furo raft

Saroodam ancha bood andar zameerash!

حرم تا در ضمیرِ من فرو رفت

سرودم آنچہ بود اندر ضمیرش

When the Sanctuary (Haram) descended into my soul,

I sang whatever was contained within its heart!

Ba-aan raaze ke guftam, pay nabardand

Zi-shakh-e-nakhl-e-man khurma nakhordand

بآں رازے کہ گفتم، پے نبردند

زشاخِ نخلِ من خرما نخوردند

They did not grasp the secret that I spoke,

Nor did they eat the dates from the branch of my palm tree.

Man az ay Meer-e-Umam daad az tu khwaham

Mara yaaran ghazal-khane shamordand

من از اے میرِ امم داد از تو خواہم

مرا یاراں غزلخوانے شمردند

O Leader of Nations (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), I seek justice from you,

My friends have considered me merely a singer of ghazals!

Na sher ast eenka bar way dil nahadam

Girah az rishta-e-ma’ani kashadam

نہ شعر است اینکہ بر وے دل نہادم

گرہ از رشتہء معنی کشادم

This is not merely poetry that I have set my heart upon;

I have untied the knots from the string of meaning.

Ba-umeeday ke akseeray zanad ishq

Mis-e-een muflisaan ra taab dadam

بامیدے کہ اکسیرے زند عشق

مسِ ایں مفلساں را تاب دادم

In the hope that Love might strike its elixir (alchemy),

I have given brilliance to the copper of these destitute people.

Tu gufti az hayat-e-javidan goye

Bagosh-e-murda paigham-e-jaan goye

تو گفتی از حیاتِ جاوداں گوئے

بگوشِ مردہ پیغامِ جاں گوئے

You told me to speak of eternal life,

To whisper the message of life into the ears of the dead.

Valay goyand een nahaq shinasayan

Ke tareekh-e-vafat-e-een-o-aan goye!

ولے گویند ایں ناحق شناسیاں

کہ تاریخِ وفاتِ ایں و آں گوئے

But these people, who recognize not the truth, say to me:

“Recite only the dates of the death of this person or that!”

Rukham az dard-e-pinhon za’farani

Tarau khoon zi chashm-e-arghawani

رخم از دردِ پنہاں زعفرانی

تراو خون ز چشمِ ارغوانی

My face is pale as saffron from hidden pain;

Blood drips from my purple-stained eyes.

Sukhan andar guluye man girah bast

Tu ahwal-e-mara nagufta dani!

سخن اندر گلوے من گرہ بست

تو احوال مرا ناگفتہ دانی

The words have tied themselves in a knot in my throat;

You know my state even without it being spoken!

Zaban-e-ma gharibaan az nigah ast

Hadith-e-dardmandaan ashk-o-aah ast!

زبانِ ما غریباں از نگاہ است

حدیثِ دردمنداں اشک و آہ است

The language of us poor ones is through the eyes;

The tale of the suffering is told through tears and sighs!

Kashadam chashm-o-bar bastam lab-e-khesh

Sukhan andar tareeq-e-ma gunah ast!

کشادم چشم و بر بستم لبِ خویش

سخن اندر طریقِ ما گناہ است

I opened my eyes and closed my lips,

For in our way (path of love), speaking is a sin!

Khudi dadam zakhud na mahrame ra

Kashadam dar gul-e-oo zamzame ra

خودی دادم زخود نا محرمے را

کشادم در گلِ او زمزمے را

I gave the wealth of “Self” (Khudi) to one unaware of it;

I opened a spring of Zamzam within his clay.

Badeh aan nala gabre ke az-way

Basozam juz gham-e-deen har ghame ra!

بدہ آں نالہ گبرے کہ ازوے

بسوزم جز غمِ دیں ہر غمے را

Grant me such a lamentation that through its fire

I may burn away every sorrow except the sorrow of the Faith!

Daroon-e-ma bajuz dood-e-nafas neest

Bajuz dast-e-tu mara dastaras neest

درونِ ما بجز دودِ نفس نیست

بجز دستِ تو مارا دسترس نیست

Inside us is nothing but the smoke of our breath;

Except for your hand, we have no shelter or reach.

Digar afsana-e-gham ba ke goyam

Ke andar seena ha ghair az tu kas neest

دگر افسانہء غم با کہ گویم

کہ اندر سینہ ہا غیر از تو کس نیست

To whom else should I tell my tale of sorrow,

For inside these hearts, there is no one but You?

Ghareebay, dardmanday, nay nawazay

Zisoz-e-naghma-e-khod dar godazay

غریبے، دردمندے، نے نوازے

زسوزِ نغمہء خود در گدازے

A stranger, a sufferer, a flute player;

Melting from the fire of his own melody.

Tu mee dani che joyad, che khwahad,

Dill-e az har do aalam bay niazay

تو می دانی چہ جوید، چہ خواهد،

دلے از ہر دو عالم بے نیازے

You know what he seeks and what he desires,

A heart that is independent of both worlds.

Num-o-rang az dum-e-baaday najoeyam

Zi-faiz-e-aftab-e-tu baroyem

نم و رنگ از دمِ بادے نجویم

زفیضِ آفتابِ تو برویم

I do not seek moisture or color from the breath of a breeze;

I grow from the grace of Your sun.

Nigaham az mah-o-parveen buland ast

Sukhan ra bar mizaj-e-kas nagoeyam

نگاہم از مہ و پرویں بلند است

سخن را بر مزاجِ کس نگویم

My gaze is higher than the moon and Pleiades;

I do not speak to suit the temperament of anyone.

Dar aan darya ke ora sahiley neest

Daleel-e-ashiqan ghair az diley neest

در آں دریا کہ اورا ساحلے نیست

دلیلِ عاشقاں غیر از دلے نیست

In that ocean which has no shore,

The only guide for lovers is the heart.

Tu farmoodi rah-e-Batha (Makkah) giraftem

Wagarna juz tu mara manziley neest

تو فرمودی رہِ بطحیٰ گرفتیم

وگرنہ جز تو مارا منزلے نیست

Because You commanded, we took the path to Makkah (Batha);

Otherwise, except for You, we have no destination.

Maran az dar ke mushtaq-e-huzooraym

Azaan darday ke dadi nasabooraym

مراں از در کہ مشتاقِ حضوریم

ازاں دردے کہ دادی ناصبوریم

Do not drive me from Your door, for I am longing for Your presence;

I am restless from the pain You have given me.

Bifarma che mi khwahi bajuz sabr

Ke ma az vay do-sad farsang dooraym!

بفرما چہ می خواہی بجز صبر

کہ ما از وے دوصد فرسنگ دوریم

Tell me what You desire besides patience,

For we are two hundred leagues away from it!

Ba afrangi batan dil bakhtam man

Zi-tab-e-daryan bigdakhtam man

بہ افرنگی بتاں دل باختم من

زتابِ دریاں بگداختم من

I lost my heart to European idols and melted from

the heat of the fire-worshippers.

Chinan az kheshtan begana boodam

Cho-deedam khesh ra nashnakhtam man!

چناں از خویشتن بیگانہ بودم

چودیدم خویش را نشناختم من

I became so estranged from myself that when I saw myself,

I did not recognize who I was.

May az maikhana maghrib chashidam

Bajan-e-man ke dard-e-sar khareedam

مے از میخانہ مغرب چشیدم

بجان من کہ درد سر خریدم

I tasted wine from the tavern of the West;

I swear by my life, I only bought a headache.

Nishastam ba-nekoyan-e-farangi

Azaan be-sood tar rozay nadeedam!

نشستم بانکویان فرنگی

ازاں بے سود تر روزے ندیدم

I sat with the “good” people (philosophers/intellectuals) of Europe,

But I never saw a day more useless than those!

Faqeeram az tu khwaham har che khwaham

Dil-e-kohe kharash az barg-e-kaaham

فقیرم از تو خواہم ہر چہ خواہم

دل کوہے خراش از برگ کاہم

I am a beggar, and I ask You for everything I desire:

create a mountain-shattering scratch from my blade of grass.

Mera dars-e-hakeeman dard-e-sar dad

Ke man parwarda-e-faiz-e-nigaham!

مرا درسِ حکیمان دردِ سر داد

کہ من پروردہ فیضِ نگاہم

The lessons of philosophers gave me a headache,

for I am nurtured by the grace of Your gaze!

Na ba Mulla na ba Sufi nashinam

Tu midani ke man aanam, na eenam

نہ با ملانہ با صوفی نشینم

تو میدانی کہ من آنم، نہ اینم

I sit neither with the Mullah nor with the Sufi;

You know that I am neither this nor that.

Nawees, Allah, bar lawh-e-dil-e-man

Ke hum khod ra hum ora faash beenam

نویس ، اللہ، برلوحِ دلِ من

کہ ہم خود را ہم اورا فاش بینم

Write, O Allah, upon the tablet of my heart,

so that I may see both myself and Him clearly.

Dil-e-Mulla giriftar-e-ghamay neest

Nigahay hast dar chashmash, namay neest

دلِ ملا گرفتارِ غمے نیست

نگاہے ہست در چشمش، نمے نیست

The heart of the Mulla is not possessed by any sorrow;

There is a gaze in his eye, but no moisture.

Azaan bagrekhtam az maktab-e-oo

Ke dar raig-e-Hijazash Zamzamay neest!

ازاں بگریختم از مکتبِ او

کہ در ریگِ حجازش زمزمے نیست

I fled from his school because in his sands of Hijaz,

There is no spring of Zamzam!

Sar-e-minbar kalamash aishdar ast

Ke ora sad kitab andar kinar ast

سرِ منبر کلامش عیشدار است

کہ اورا صد کتاب اندر کنار است

Upon the pulpit, his speech is stinging (shredding),

for he has a hundred books at his side.

Huzoor-e-tu man az khijlat nagoftam

Zakhod pinhon-o-barma ashkar ast

حضورِ تو من از خجلت نگفتم

زخود پنہاں و برما آشکار است

In Your presence, I did not speak out of shame;

He is hidden from himself but clear to us (in his reality).

Dil-e-sahib dilan o burd ya main?

Payam-e-shauq-e-o awurd ya main?

دلِ صاحب دِلاں او بُرد یا مَن؟

پیامِ شوقِ او آوُرد یا مَن؟

Did he win over the hearts of the enlightened ones,

or did I? Did he bring the message of passionate love, or did I?

Main o mulla zi kesh-e-deen do teer em

Bafarma bar hadaf-e-o khurd ya main?

مَن و مُلا زِ کیشِ دِیں دو تیر یم

بفرما بر ہدَفِ او خورد یا مَن؟

The Mulla and I are two arrows from the same quiver of faith.

Pray, tell me, did his arrow strike the true mark, or did mine?

Ghareebam darmayan-e-mehfil-e-khoish

Tu khud go ba ke goyam mushkil-e-khoish?

غریبم درمیانِ محفلِ خویش

تو خود گو با کہ گویم مشکلِ خویش؟

I am a stranger within my own assembly;

You tell me, to whom should I speak of my difficulties?

Azan tarsam ke pinhann-am shawad fash

Gham-e-khod ra nagoyam ba dil-e-khoish!

ازاں ترسم کہ پنہانم شود فاش

غمِ خود را نگویم با دلِ خویش

I fear that my hidden secrets might be revealed,

So I do not even tell my sorrows to my own heart!

Dil-e-khod ra badast-e-kas nadadam

Girah az ruye kaar-e-khod kashadam

دلِ خود را بدستِ کس ندادم

گرہ از روئے کارِ خود کشادم

I did not give my heart into the hands of anyone;

I untied the knots of my affairs by my own efforts.

Bar ghair-e-Allah kardam takiyah yakbaar

Do sad baar az maqam-e-khod fatadam

بر غیرِ اللہ کردم تکیہ یکبار

دو صد بار از مقامِ خود فتادم

But once I relied on someone other than Allah,

And I fell from my true station two hundred times.

Haman soz-e-junoon andar sar-e-man

Haman hangama ha andar bar-e-man

ہماں سوزِ جنوں اندر سرِ من

ہماں ہنگامہ ہا اندر برِ من

The same fire of madness still resides in my head;

the same commotions still dwell within my breast.

Hanooz az josh-e-toofane ke bugzasht

Naya sud ast mauj-e-gauhar-e-man

ہنوز از جوشِ طوفانے کہ بگذشت

نیا سُود است موجِ گوہرِ من

Even after the intensity of the storm that has passed,

the wave within my pearl has found no rest!

Hanooz een khak ra ay sharar hast

Hanooz een seena ra aah-e-sehar hast

ہنوز ایں خاک را اے شرر ہست

ہنوز ایں سینہ را آہِ سحر ہست

There is still a spark within this dust;

there is still a morning’s sigh within this breast.

Tajalli rez bar chashme ke beeni

Bayan peeri mura tab-e-nazar hast!

تجلی ریز بر چشمے کہ بینی

بایاں پیری مرا تابِ نظر ہست

Shed Your light upon the eyes You see;

even in this old age, I still possess the strength of vision!

Nigaham zanche beenam be-niyaz ast;

Dil az soz-e-daroonam dar gudaz ast

نگاہم زانچہ بینم بے نیاز است

دل از سوزِ درونم در گداز است

My gaze is indifferent to what it sees;

My heart is melting from its internal fire.

Man o een asr-e-be-ikhlas o be-soz!

Bago ba man ke aakhir een che raaz ast?

من و ایں عصرِ بے اخلاص و بے سوز!

بگو با من کہ آخر ایں چہ راز است؟

I am stuck in this age of insincerity and lack of passion!

Tell me, what is the secret behind all this?

Mura dar asr-e-be-soz afreedand;

Bakhakam jaan-e-pur shore dameedand

مرا در عصرِ بے سوز آفریدند

بخاکم جانِ پُر شورے دمیدند

I was created in an age without passion;

they breathed a restless soul into my dust.

Cho nakh dar gardan-e-man zindagani;

Tu goi bar sar-e-daram kasheedand!

چو نخ در گردنِ من زندگانی

تو گوئی بر سرِ دارم کشیدند

Life is like a silken cord around my neck;

you would say they have led me to the gallows!

Nageerad lala o gul rang o boyam;

Daroon-e-seena am murd aarjoyam

نگیرد لالہ و گل رنگ و بویم

درونِ سینہ ام مرد آرزویم

The tulip and the rose do not take their color or fragrance from me;

The desire within my breast has died.

Gham-e-pinhann baharf andar nagunjad;

Agar gunjad che goyam ba ke goyam!

غمِ پنہاں بحرف اندر نگنجد

اگر گنجد چہ گویم با کہ گویم

Hidden grief cannot be contained in words;

Even if it could, what would I say, and to whom would I say it?

Man andar mashriq o maghrib ghareebam;

Ke az yaaran-e-muhram be-naseebam

من اندر مشرق و مغرب غریبم

کہ از یاراں محرم بے نصیبم

I am a stranger in both the East and the West,

for I am deprived of intimate friends.

Gham-e-khod ra bagoiyam ba dil-e-khoish;

Che masoomana ghurbat ra fareebam!

غمِ خود را بگویم با دلِ خویش

چہ معصومانہ غربت را فریبم

I speak of my sorrows to my own heart;

How innocently I deceive my own loneliness!

Tilism-e-ilm-e-hazir ra shikastam;

Raboodam dana o damash gusastam

طلسمِ علمِ حاضر را شکستم

ربودم دانہ و دامش گُسستم

I broke the spell of modern knowledge;

I snatched away the grain and tore its net.

Khuda danad ke manand-e-Ibraheem;

Ba naar-a-o che be-parwa nishastam!

خدا داند کہ مانندِ براہیم

بہ نارا وچہ بے پروا نشستم

God knows that, like Abraham,

how fearlessly I sat within its fire!

Bachashm-e-man nigah awurda-e-tust;

Farogh-e-la ilaha awurda-e-tust

بچشمِ من نگہ آوردہ تست

فروغِ لا الہ آوردہ تست

The vision in my eyes is Your gift;

the radiance of “There is no God but Allah” is Your gift.

Do charam kun ba subh-e-man ra’ani;

Shabam ra tab-e-mah awurda-e-tust!

دو چارم کُن بہ صُبحِ من رآنی

شبم را تابِ مہ آوردہ تست

Bless me with the morning of Your vision;

The moonlight in my night is Your gift.

Cho khod ra dar kinar-e-khod kasheedam;

Ba noor-e-tu maqam-e-khoish deedam!

چو خود را درکنارِ خود کشیدم

بہ نورِ تو مقامِ خویش دیدم

When I drew myself back to my own side,

I saw my true station by Your light!

Dareen dair-e-az nau ay subhgahi;

Jahan-e-ishq o masti afreedam!

دریں دیرِ از نو اے صبحگاہی

جہانِ عشق و مستی آفریدم

In this ancient temple of time, O morning breeze,

I have created a new world of love and ecstasy!

Dareen aalam behisht-e-khurrame hast;

Bashakh-e-o az ashk-e-man nami hast

دریں عالم بہشتِ خرمے ہست

بشاخِ اوز اشکِ من نمی ہست .

In this world, there is a joyful paradise;

On its branch, there is the moisture of my tears

Naseeb-e-o hanooz aan ha o ho neest;

Ke o dar intizar-e-aadame hast

نصیبِ او ہنوز آں ہاو ہو نیست

کہ او در انتظارِ آدمے ہست..

It is not yet its fate to have that commotion,

for it is waiting for a true human being!

Bideh ora jawan-e-pakbaz-e;

Suroor-ash az sharab-e-khanah saz-e.

بدہ اورا جوانِ پاکبازے

سرورش از شرابِ خانہ سازے

Give him a pure and noble youth;

let his joy come from the home-made wine (the essence of faith).

Qawi bazoo-e-o manand-e-Haider;

Dil-e-o az do geeti be-niyaz-e.

وی بازوئے او مانندِ حیدرؔ

دلِ او از دو گیتی بے نیازے

May his arms be as strong as Haider’s (Ali’s);

may his heart be indifferent to both worlds!

Bia saqi bigardan jaam-e-mai ra;

Zi mai sozanda tar kun soz-e-nai ra

بیا ساقی بگرداں جامِ مے را

ز مے سوزندہ تر کُن سوزِ نے را

Come, O Cup-bearer, circulate the wine;

make the music of the flute even more burning than the wine.

Digar aan dil binih dar seena-e-man;

Ke peecham panja-e-Kaus o Kay ra!

دگر آں دل بنہ در سینہ من

کہ پیچم پنجہ کاؤس و کے را

Place that heart in my breast once more,

so that I may wrestle with the grip of kings and emperors!

Jahan az ishq o ishq az seena-e-tust;

Suroor-ash az mai-e-deereena-e-tust.

جہاں از عشق و عشق از سینہ تست

سرورش از مے دیرینہ تست

The world is from Love, and Love is from Your breast;

its joy comes from Your ancient wine.

Juz een cheeze namidanam zi Jibreel;

Ke o yak gauhar az aaina-e-tust!

جز ایں چیزے نمیدانم زجبریل

کہ او یک جوہر از آئینہ تست

I know nothing of Gabriel except this:

that he is but a single gem from Your mirror!

Mera ein soz az faiz-e-dam-e-tust

Bataak-am mauj-e-may az Zamzam-e-tust

مرا ایں سوز از فیضِ دمِ تُست

بتاکم موجِ مے از زمزمِ تُست

“This burning passion of mine is from the grace of your breath,

The wave of wine in my vine flows from your Zamzam.

Khajil mulk-e-Jam az darweshi-e-man

Ke dil dar seena-e-man mehram-e-tust

خجل ملکِ جم از درویشیِ من

کہ دل در سینہِ من محرمِ تُست

The kingdom of Jamshed is put to shame by my dervish-like poverty,

For the heart within my chest is a confidant of yours.”

Dareen butkhana dil ba-kas na bastam

Walaykin az muqam-e-khud gustam

دریں بتخانہ دل باکس نہ بستم

ولیکن از مقامِ خود گستم

In this temple (the world), I did not tie my heart to anyone,

And yet, I have wandered away from my own true station

Zi-man imroz mi khawahad sujoode

Khudawande ke di ora shikastam

زمن امروز می خواہد سجودے

خداوندے کہ دی اورا شکستم

Today, he demands a prostration from me

That same idol (lord) whom I had shattered only yesterday.

Dameed aan lala az musht-e-ghubaram

Ke khoonash mee taravad az kanaram

دمید آن لالہ از مشت غبارم

کہ خونش می تراود از کنارم

That tulip has blossomed from my handful of dust,

Whose life-blood is seeping out from my very side.

Qaboolash kun zi-rah-e-dil nawazi

Ke man ghair az dile cheeze nadaram!

قبولش کن زراہ دل نوازی

کہ من غیر از دلے چیزے ندارم

Accept it, O Lord, out of Your heart-winning grace,

For I possess nothing in this world except for a heart!

Huzoor-e-millat-e-baiza tapeedam

Nawaye dil-gudaze aafreedam

حضور ملت بیضا تپیدم

نوائے دلگدازے آفریدم

I throbbed with restlessness in the presence of the Muslim Ummah,

And I created a melody that melts the very heart.

Adab goyed sukhan ra mukhtasar goye

Tapeedam, aafreedam, aarmedam!

ادب گوید سخن را مختصر گوے

تپیدم ، آفریدم ، آرمیدم

Propriety demands that the word be spoken briefly:

I burned with passion, I created my art, and then I found my rest.

Ba-sidq-e-fitrat-e-rindana-e-man

Ba-soz-e-aah-e-betabana-e-man

بصدق فطرت رندانہ من

بسوز آہ بیتابانہ من

By the sincerity of my free-spirited nature,

and by the burning of my restless, heartfelt sighs;

Badeh aan khak ra abr-e-bahare

Ke dar aaghosh geerad dana-e-man

بدہ آن خاک را ابر بہارے

کہ در آغوش گیرد دانہ من

Grant to this dust the rain-cloud of Spring,

so that it may take my “seed” (my message) into its embrace.

Dile bar kaf nihadam dilbare neest

Mata-e dashtam ghaarat-gare neest

دلے بر کف نہادم دلبرے نیست

متاعے داشتم غارتگرے نیست

I held my heart in my palm, but there is no Beloved to take it;

I possessed a treasure, but there is no plunderer (worthy of it).

Daroon-e-seena-e-man manzile gheer

Musulmane zi man tanha tare neest!

درون سینہ من منزلہ گیر

مسلمانے ز من تنہا ترے نیست

Come and take your abode within my breast,

For there is no Muslim more lonely than I!

Cho Rumi dar Haram dadam

azan man Azu amokhtam asrar-e-jan man

چو رومی در حرم دادم اذاں من

ازو آموختم اسرار جاں من

Like Rumi, I gave the call to prayer (Azan) in the Holy Sanctuary;

From him, I learned the secrets of the soul.

Ba dore fitna-e-asr-e-kuhan oo

Ba dore fitna-e-asr-e-rawan man

بہ دور فتنہ عصر کہن او

بہ دور فتنہ عصر رواں من

He belonged to the era of ancient turmoils,

while I belong to the era of the current storms.

Gulistane zi khak-e-man bar-angeez

Nam-e-chashmam ba khoon-e-lala aameez

گلستانے ز خاک من برانگیز

نم چشمم بخون لالہ آمیز

Raise a garden of roses from my humble dust,

Mix the moisture of my tears with the blood of the tulip.

Agar shayan nayam taigh-e-Ali ra

Nigahe deh cho shamshir-e-Ali teez!

اگر شایان نیم تیغ علی را

نگاہے دہ چو شمشیر علی تیز

If I am not worthy of wielding the Sword of Ali,

Then at least grant me a vision as sharp as Ali’s sword!

Muslim ta-basahil aaramid ast

Khajil az bahr o az khod na-umeed ast

مسلمان تابساحل آرمید است

خجل از بحر و از خود ناامید است

The Muslim has settled for rest upon the shore;

He is ashamed of the vast ocean and has lost hope in himself.

Juz een mard-e-faqire dard-mande

Jarahat haye pinhan ke deed ast?

جز ایں مرد فقیرے درد مندی

جراحت ہاے پنہاں کہ دید است؟

Except for this sorrowful, dervish-like man (the poet),

Who else has seen the hidden wounds (of the nation)?

Ke guft ora ke aayed booye yaare?

Ke daad ora umeed-e-nau bahare?

کہ گفت اورا کہ آید بوے یارے؟

کہ داد اورا امید نو بہارے؟

Who told him that the fragrance of the Beloved is coming?

Who gave him the hope of a new springtime?

Cho aan soz-e-kuhan raft az dam-e-oo

Ke zad bar neestan-e-oo sharare?

چوآں سوز کہن رفت از دم او

کہ زد برنیستاں او شرارے؟

When that ancient passion has departed from his breath,

Who then struck a spark into his field of dry reeds?

Zi bahr-e-khod ba-joye man guhar deh

Mata-e-man ba-koh o dasht o dar deh

ز بحر خود بجوئے من گہر دہ

متاع من بکوه و دشت و درده

From your vast ocean, grant a pearl to my small stream;

Distribute my wealth (my poetry) to the mountains, deserts, and valleys.

Dilam nakshood az aan toofan ke dadi

Mera shore zi toofane digar deh!

دلم نکشود ازاں طوفاں کہ دادی

مرا شورے ز طوفانے دگر ده

My heart was not satisfied with the storm You previously gave me;

Grant me the intensity of a completely different storm!

Be-khalwat nay-nawazi haye man been

Be-khalwat khud-guzari haye man been

بخلوت نے نوازی ہاے من بین

بخلوت خود گزاری ہاے من بین

See my flute-playing in the solitude of my loneliness,

See how I lose myself within that same solitude.

Giraftam nukta-e-faqr az niyagan

Zi sultan be-niyazi haye man been!

گرفتم نکتہ فقر از نیاگاں

ز سلطاں بے نیازی ہاے من بین

I have learned the secret of “Faqr” (spiritual detachment) from my ancestors;

Now see my complete indifference toward the kings of this world!

Bahar haale ke boodam khosh surootam

Niqab az rooye har ma’ni kashoodam

بہر حالے کہ بودم خوش سرودم

نقاب از روے ہر معنی کشودم

In whatever state I found myself, I sang joyfully;

pulled the veil away from the face of every hidden meaning.

Mapurs az iztirab-e-man ke ba dost

Dame boodam, dame digar naboodam!

مپرس از اضطراب من کہ با دوست

دمے بودم، دمے دیگر نبودم

Do not ask of my restlessness, for in the presence of the Friend,

I was there for one moment, and gone the next!

Shareek-e-dard o soz-e-lala boodam

Zameer-e-zindagi ra wa namoodam

شریک درد و سوز لالہ بودم

ضمیر زندگی را وا نمودم

I shared in the pain and the burning passion of the tulip;

I revealed the inner conscience of life itself.

Nadanam ba ke guftam nukta-e-shauq

Ke tanha boodam o tanha surootam

ندانم با کہ گفتم نکتہ شوق

کہ تنہا بودم و تنہا سرودم

I do not know to whom I spoke the subtle secrets of Love,

For I was all alone, and I sang my songs in solitude.

Ba-noor-e-tu bar afrozam nigah ra

Ke beenam andaroon-e-mihr-o-mah ra

بنور تو بر افروزم نگہ را

کہ بینم اندرونِ مہر و مہ را

With Your light, I illuminate my vision,

So that I may see the inner reality of the sun and the moon.

Cho mē-goyam Musalmanam, bilarzam

Ke danam mushkilat-e-La-Ilah ra

چو میگویم مسلمانم، بلرزم

کہ دانم مشکلاتِ لا الہ را

When I say, “I am a Muslim,” I tremble,

For I know the immense difficulties and responsibilities of “La Ilaha” (There is no god but Allah).

Ba-kooye tu guraz-e-yak nawa bas

Mera een ibtida een intiha bas

بکوئے تو گراز یک نوا بس

مرا ایں ابتدا ایں انتہا بس

In your street, a single cry of yearning is enough for me;

For me, this is both the beginning and the end.

Kharab-e-jurat-e-aan rind-e-pakam

Khuda ra guft mara Mustafa bas!

خرابِ جرأتِ آں رندِ پاکم

خدا را گفت مارا مصطفیٰؐ بس

I am in awe of the courage of that pure-hearted free spirit,

Iss she’r mein ‘Allāma Iqbāl “‘Ishq” kī wus’at aur iss kī rehnumā’ī kī ḥaqīqat bayān kar rahe hain. Woh farmāte hain ke (‘ishq-o-ma’rifat kā) woh daryā jis kā kō’ī sāḥil (kināra) nahīñ hai, iss mein safar karne wāle ‘āshiqōñ ke pās apne dil ke siwā aur kō’ī dalīl (rehnumā yā rāsta dikhāne wālā) nahīñ hai.

Is aakhri sher mein Iqbal mukammal tasleem aur mohabbat ka izhar karte hain۔ Woh kehte hain ke agar mehboob ki gali mein sirf aik naghma mil jaye to wahi un ki ibtida aur wahi intiha hai۔ Woh us paak rind ki juraat par qurban hain jis ne kaha: “Hamara Mustafa hi kaafi hai.”