For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
تنہا دکھائی دے ۔ سید امتیاز حسین نکہت بریلوی
۱
اے دل سماعتوں پہ ستم کی دہائی دے
اس بیکراں سکوت میں کچھ تو سنائی دے
۲
یہ وصف بھی کمال جنوں آشنائی دے
ہر آئینے میں اک وہی صورت دکھائی دے
۳
میں بھی تو رنگ و بو کا تماشا کروں کبھی
قدرت مرے چمن کو بھی جلوہ نمائی دے
۴
دل کی بصارتوں کا یہ اعجاز ہے کہ میں
آنکھیں بھی بند رکھوں تو رستہ دکھائی دے
۵
ہر سمت زندگی کا ہے میلہ لگا ہوا
لیکن ہر آدمی یہاں تنہا دکھائی دے
तन्हा दिखाई दे – सय्यद इम्तियाज़ हुसैन निक्हत बरेलवी
१
अए दिल समा’अतों पे सितम की दुहाई दे
इस बे-कराँ सुकूत में कुछ तो सुनाई दे
२
ये वस्फ़ भी कमाल-ए जुनूँ आश्नाई दे
हर आईने में एक वही सूरत दिखाई दे
३
मैं भी तो रंग-ओ-बू का तमाशा करूँ कभी
क़ुद्रत मेरे चमन को भी जल्वा-नुमाई दे
४
दिल की बसारतों का ये एजाज़ है के मैं
आँखें भी बंद रक्खूँ तो रस्ता दिखाई दे
५
हर सम्त ज़िंदगी का है मेला लगा हुआ
लेकिन हर आदमी यहाँ तन्हा दिखाई दे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed imtiaz husain nik’hat barelvi (1935-????). Migrated to pakistan with his parents. Ran a school, edited magazines. Lived in lahore and karachi. He started composing verse in 1954, but published his collection much later (1996).
1
aye dil samaa’atoN1 pe sitam2 ki duhaaii3 de
is be-karaaN4 sukoot5 meN kuchh to sunaaii de 1.listening, listeners 2.cruelty, oppression 3.cry, appeal, protest 4.vast 5.silence
There are several possible interpretations. He may be talking about the oppression of censorship/silencing of voices of protest and hoping that in this vast silence, at least someone will be heard speaking out. He may be talking as a poet who has not received due recognition, protesting the silence of the audience and wishing that someone would speak up. He may be using ‘be-karaaN sukoot’ – vast silence, sarcastically, actually meaning all this endless, noisy babble which is being oppressive and cruel on his sensitive ears. He wishes some sense could be heard above this din.
2
ye vasf1 bhi kamaal2-e junooN-aashnaaii3 de
har aaiine meN ek vahi soorat dikhaaii de 1.quality, characteristic 2.skill, perfection 3.familiarity/intimacy with passion
This could be passion for the beloved or for god. When he writes “ye vasf”, it means “this quality”. What is the “this”. I think it is the quality of composing verse. Thus, grant me the quality of composing verse that reflect the perfection of passion-awareness. By passion-awareness is meant the ability to recognize true passion vs lust or untainted devotion to god vs ritual prayers. By “aaiina” is meant his verse that reflects the beauty of the beloved/god. Grant that my verse reflect the face of the beloved or the glory of god.
3
maiN bhi to raNg-o-buu1 ka tamaasha2 karuN kabhi
qudrat3 mere chaman ko bhi jalva-numaaii4 de 1.colour and fragrance, probably used here to mean the beauty of god 2.see, experience 3.nature, god 4.manifestation of glory
O nature, grant my garden a manifestation of the glory of god, so that I too may be able to sometimes experience divine beauty. Here ‘garden’ could mean the poet/devotee’s world, his life or his verse. This could also be a call asking nature to grant him the ability to compose beautiful verse (with raNg o buu) so that his garden my also display beauty.
4
dil ki basaaratoN1 ka ye ejaaz2 hai keh maiN
aaNkheN bhi band rakkhuN to rasta dikhaaii de 1.sight 2.miracle
Grant me the miracle of being able to see with my heart i.e., feel the passion and love (of god) so that even if my eyes are closed (even if my knowledge is deficient), I be able to see the (right) path.
5
har samt1 zindagi ka hai mela2 lagaa hua
laikin har aadmi yahaaN tanhaa3 dikhaaii de 1.direction 2.crowd, fair, convention 3.alone
All around me there are celebratory crowds, but everyone here appears to be alone.
syed imtiaz husain nik’hat barelvi (1935-????). Migrated to pakistan with his parents. Ran a school, edited magazines. Lived in lahore and karachi. He started composing verse in 1954, but published his collection much later (1996).
1
aye dil samaa’atoN1 pe sitam2 ki duhaaii3 de
is be-karaaN4 sukoot5 meN kuchh to sunaaii de
1.listening, listeners 2.cruelty, oppression 3.cry, appeal, protest 4.vast 5.silence
There are several possible interpretations. He may be talking about the oppression of censorship/silencing of voices of protest and hoping that in this vast silence, at least someone will be heard speaking out. He may be talking as a poet who has not received due recognition, protesting the silence of the audience and wishing that someone would speak up. He may be using ‘be-karaaN sukoot’ – vast silence, sarcastically, actually meaning all this endless, noisy babble which is being oppressive and cruel on his sensitive ears. He wishes some sense could be heard above this din.
2
ye vasf1 bhi kamaal2-e junooN-aashnaaii3 de
har aaiine meN ek vahi soorat dikhaaii de
1.quality, characteristic 2.skill, perfection 3.familiarity/intimacy with passion
This could be passion for the beloved or for god. When he writes “ye vasf”, it means “this quality”. What is the “this”. I think it is the quality of composing verse. Thus, grant me the quality of composing verse that reflect the perfection of passion-awareness. By passion-awareness is meant the ability to recognize true passion vs lust or untainted devotion to god vs ritual prayers. By “aaiina” is meant his verse that reflects the beauty of the beloved/god. Grant that my verse reflect the face of the beloved or the glory of god.
3
maiN bhi to raNg-o-buu1 ka tamaasha2 karuN kabhi
qudrat3 mere chaman ko bhi jalva-numaaii4 de
1.colour and fragrance, probably used here to mean the beauty of god 2.see, experience 3.nature, god 4.manifestation of glory
O nature, grant my garden a manifestation of the glory of god, so that I too may be able to sometimes experience divine beauty. Here ‘garden’ could mean the poet/devotee’s world, his life or his verse. This could also be a call asking nature to grant him the ability to compose beautiful verse (with raNg o buu) so that his garden my also display beauty.
4
dil ki basaaratoN1 ka ye ejaaz2 hai keh maiN
aaNkheN bhi band rakkhuN to rasta dikhaaii de
1.sight 2.miracle
Grant me the miracle of being able to see with my heart i.e., feel the passion and love (of god) so that even if my eyes are closed (even if my knowledge is deficient), I be able to see the (right) path.
5
har samt1 zindagi ka hai mela2 lagaa hua
laikin har aadmi yahaaN tanhaa3 dikhaaii de
1.direction 2.crowd, fair, convention 3.alone
All around me there are celebratory crowds, but everyone here appears to be alone.
