For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
فلسفی ۔ اکبرؔ الٰہ آبادی
۱
فلسفی کو بحث کے اندر خدا ملتا نہیں
ڈور کو سُلجھا رہا ہے اور سِرا ملتا نہیں
۲
معرفت خالق کی عالم میں بہت دشوار ہے
شہرِ تن میں جب کہ خود اپنا پتا ملتا نہیں
۳
غافلوں کے لطف کو کافی ہے دنیاوی خوشی
عاقلوں کو بے غمِ عقبیٰ مزا ملتا نہیں
۴
کشتئ دل کی الٰہی بحرِ ہستی میں ہو خیر
ناخدا ملتے ہیں لیکن با خدا ملتا نہیں
۵
غافلوں کو کیا سناؤں داستانِ عشقِ یار
سُننے والے ملتے ہیں درد آشنا ملتا نہیں
۶
زندگانی کا مزا ملتا تھا جن کی بزم میں
ان کی قبروں کا بھی اب مجھ کو پتا ملتا نہیں
۷
صرف ظاہر ہو گیا سرمایۂ زیب و صفا
کیا تعجب ہے جو باطِن با صفا ملتا نہیں
۸
پختہ طبعوں پر حوادِث کا نہیں ہوتا اثر
کوہساروں میں نشانِ نقشِ پا ملتا نہیں
۹
شیخ صاحب برہمن سے لاکھ برتیں دوستی
بے بھجن گائے تو مندر سے ٹکا ملتا نہیں
۱۰
جس پہ دل آیا ہے وہ شیریں ادا ملتا نہیں
زندگی ہے تلخ جینے کا مزا ملتا نہیں
۱۱
لوگ کہتے ہیں کہ بد نامی سے بچنا چاہئے
کہہ دو بے اس کے جوانی کا مزا ملتا نہیں
۱۲
اہلِ ظاہر جس قدر چاہیں کریں بحث و جدال
میں یہ سمجھا ہوں خودی میں تو خدا ملتا نہیں
۱۳
چل بسے وہ دن کہ یاروں سے بھری تھی انجمن
ہائے افسوس آج صورت آشنا ملتا نہیں
۱۴
منزلِ عشق و توکُّل منزلِ اعزاز ہے
شاہ سب بستے ہیں یاں کوئی گدا ملتا نہیں
۱۵
بار تکلیفوں کا مجھ پر بارِ احساں سے ہے سہل
شُکر کی جا ہے اگر حاجت روا ملتا نہیں
۱۶
چاندنی راتیں بہار اپنی دکھاتی ہیں تو کیا
بے ترے مجھ کو تو لطف اے مہ لقا ملتا نہیں
۱۷
معنیٔ دل کا کرے اظہار اکبرؔ کِس طرح
لفظِ موزوُں بہرِ کشفِ مدعا ملتا نہیں
फ़ल्सफ़ी – अक्बर इलाहाबादी
१
फ़ल्सफ़ी को बहस के अंदर ख़ुदा मिलता नहीं
डोर को सुलझा रहा है और सिरा मिलता नहीं
२
मअरिफ़त ख़ालिक़ की आलम में बहुत दुश्वार है
शहर-ए तन में जब के ख़ुद अपना पता मिलता नहीं
३
ग़ाफ़िलों के लुत्फ़ को काफ़ी है दुनियावी ख़ुशी
आक़िलों को बे-ग़म-ए उक़्बा मज़ा मिलता नहीं
४
कश्ती-ए दिल की इलाही बहर-ए हस्ती में हो ख़ैर
नाख़ुदा मिलते हैं लेकिन बा-ख़ुदा मिलता नहीं
५
ग़ाफ़िलों को क्या सुनाऊँ दास्तान-ए इश्क़-ए यार
सुनने वाले मिलते हैं दर्द-आश्ना मिलता नहीं
६
ज़िंदगानी का मज़ा मिलता था जिन की बज़्म में
उन की क़ब्रों का भी अब मुझ को पता मिलता नहीं
७
सिर्फ़ ज़ाहिर हो गया सरमाया-ए ज़ेब-ओ-सफ़ा
क्या तअज्जुब है जो बातिन बा-सफ़ा मिलता नहीं
८
पुख़्ता तबओं पर हवादिस का नहीं होता असर
कोहसारों में निशान-ए नक़्श-ए पा मिलता नहीं
९
शैख़-साहब बरहमन से लाख बरतें दोस्ती
बे-भजन गाए तो मंदिर से टिका मिलता नहीं
१०
जिस पे दिल आया है वो शीरीं-अदा मिलता नहीं
ज़िंदगी है तल्ख़ जीने का मज़ा मिलता नहीं
११
लोग कहते हैं के बद-नामी से बचना चाहिए
कह दो बे उस के जवानी का मज़ा मिलता नहीं
१२
अहल-ए ज़ाहिर जिस क़दर चाहें करें बहस-ओ-जिदाल
मैं ये समझा हूँ ख़ुदी में तो ख़ुदा मिलता नहीं
१३
चल बसे वो दिन के यारों से भरी थी अंजुमन
हाए अफ़्सोस आज सूरत-आश्ना मिलता नहीं
१४
मंज़िल-ए इशक़-ओ-तवक्कुल मंज़िल-ए एज़ाज़ है
शाह सब बस्ते हैं याँ कोई गदा मिलता नहीं
१५
बार तक्लीफ़ौं का मुझ पर बार-ए एहसाँ से है सहल
शुक्र की जा है अगर हाजत-रवा मिलता नहीं
१६
चाँदनी रातें बहार अपनी दिखाती हैं तो क्या
बे तेरे मुझ को तो लुत्फ़ अए मह-लक़ा मिलता नहीं
१७
मानी-ए दिल का करे इज़्हार अकबर किस तरह
लफ़्ज़-ए मौज़ूँ बहर-ए कश्फ़-ए मुद्दआ मिलता नहीं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. akbar ilahabadi (1846-1921) is more popularly known for his satirical and humorous compositions. But he has written many serious, sufiyaana and thought-provoking Ghazal. Here he expresses discomfort with uncertainty and calls for jumping into faith and belief. Said mohammed iqbal …
be-Khatar kood paRa aatish-e namrood meN ishq
aql hai mahv-e tamaasha-e lab-e baam abhi
To contrast this with a recognition that we may never get an answer and the search itself is the goal/aim please see shahed-shuru’aat, ‘tashkeek’ and ‘talaash-e haq’.
1
falsafi ko bahs1 ke andar Khuda milta nahiN
Dor2 ko suljha3 raha hai aur sira4 milta nahiN 1.argument, logic 2.string 3.untangle 4.head, beginning
The philosopher cannot find god in logic. He is trying to untangle the string but cannot find the beginning (it is an endless argument, going round and round, without beginning or end).
2
maa’refat1 Khaaliq2 keh aalam3 meN bahut dushwaar4 hai
shahr-e-tan5 meN jab ke Khud apna pata milta nahiN 1.knowledge, sufiyaana awareness 2.creator 3.world 4.difficult 5.domain of the body, material world
Spiritual/sufiyaana awareness of the creator is very difficult when one is limited to the material world, one cannot even find oneself i.e. it takes a different plane/level of thinking beyond the material to know god.
3
GhaafelauN1 ke lutf2 ko kaafi3 hai duniyavi4 Khushi
aaqilauN5 ko be-Gham6-e uqba7 maza8 milta nahiN 1.unthinking, uncaring 2.pleasure 3.enough 4.worldly 5.thoughtful 6.without worry/concern of 7.deliverance, final judgment 8.pleasure
Worldly pleasure is enough for the thoughtless/shortsighted. Thinking/thoughtful do not derive pleasure without consideration of the final judgment. Editorial comment – I think that is grossly unfair to think of the non-believer as thoughtless. The non-believer can be very thoughtful, struggling but unwilling to accept blind belief.
4
kashti-e dil ki ilaahi bahr1-e hasti2 meN ho Khair3
naaKhuda4 milte haiN laikin ba-Khuda5 milta nahiN 1.ocean 2.existence, life 3.safe 4.helmsman 5.with god
akbar ilahabadi uses a witty construction of words here. ‘naaKhuda’ normally means ‘helmsman, oarsman’ who propels and guides a boat. In contrasting it with ba-Khuda, he implies it to mean ‘godless’. Thus, may the boat of the heart be safe in the ocean of life. There are many (godless) helmsmen, but there is no godly guide.
5
GhaafilauN1 ko kya sunaauN daastaan2-e ishq3-e yaar4
sun-ne vaale milte haiN dard-aashna5 milta nahiN 1.thoughtless 2.story of 3.love/devotion 4.beloved, god 5.understanding/feeling the pain that I feel
How can I relate to the thoughtless my story of devotion to god. There are plenty who will listen but none that understands my pain. To this, I can easily add a rejoinder …
GhaafilauN ko kya sunaauN apna dard-e justaju
sun-ne vaale milte haiN dard-aashna milta nahiN
6
zindagaani ka maza milta tha jin ki bazm1 meN
un ki qabrauN ka bhi ab mujh ko pata milta nahiN 1.company
The poet remembers his elders in whose company he experienced the pleasure of life/living. But now he cannot even find their graves. He leaves us to guess why this might be so. Has he become thoughtless/Ghaafil. Is he too busy.
7
sirf zaahir1 ho gaya sarmaya2-e zeb3 o safa4
kya ta’ajjub5 hai jo baatin6 ba-safa7 milta nahiN 1.apparent, that which can be seen, worldly 2.wealth, treasure 3.elegance 4.purity 5.strange, surprise 6.hidden, inner, spiritual 7.pure, virtuous
It seems like most people have begun to consider elegance and purity only in purely materialistic, worldly ‘zaahiri’ terms. Why should we be surprised then when we cannot find spiritually pure/virtuous people.
8
puKhta1 taba’oN2 par havaadis3 ka nahiN hota asar4
kohsaaroN5 meN nishaan6-e naqsh-e-pa7 milta nahiN 1.mature 2.nature, character 3.accidents, disasters 4.effect 5.hills 6.mark, indication 7.footprint
Those of a mature character are not affected by disasters. ‘kohsaar’ – hills are likened to mature/hardened characters and pounding feet are likened to disasters and footprints are the effect of those disasters. On a mud path, you can find foot prints. But on hard rocks of hills, you do not see footprints. They bear the pounding of feet very well.
9
shaiKh-sahib barhaman se lakh barteN1 dosti
be-bhajan2 gaa’e to mandir se Tika3 milta nahiN 1.spend, practise 2.hymn, devotional song 3.vermillion mark on the forehead
The shaiKh might befriend the brahmin priest all he wants, but to get anointed with a ‘Tika’ he will have to go to the temple and sing ‘bhajan’. The implication is that you have to do what is required to get the reward/result that you desire. No shortcuts.
10
jis pe dil aaya hai vo shiriN-ada1 milta nahiN
zindagi hai talKh2 jiine ka maza3 milta nahiN 1.sweet style, beloved 2.bitter, hard 3.pleasure
The poet/lover has lost his heart to the beloved of sweet style, but can no longer find her. Life is bitter and he no longer enjoys it.
11
log kahte haiN keh bad-naami1 se bachna2 chaahiye
keh do bay3 us ke javaani ka maza4 milta nahiN 1.bad name, disrepute 2.escape, stay away from 3.without 4.pleasure
They say that you have to save your reputation, stay away from things that bring you disrepute. But then you can’t enjoy youth without getting into those things!
12
ahl-e zaahir1 jis qadar2 chaaheN kareN bahs3-o-jidaal4
maiN ye samjha huN Khudi5 meN to Khuda milta nahiN 1.people of ‘the apparent’ i.e. people who believe in what can be seen, materialist 2.however much 3.argument, debate 4.conflict, dispute 5.ego, self centered
The word ‘materialist’ is used here in the classical sense … of matter, with cause and effect relationship. The poet implies that a materialist (dialectical materialist) is necessarily self-centered. I am not sure. However much the materialists may argue and dispute, the poet thinks that god cannot be found with a self-centered view.
13
chal-basey1 vo din keh yaaroN2 se bhari thi anjuman3
haaye4 afsos5 aaj surat-aashna6 milta nahiN 1.gone past 2.friends, like minded people 3.gathering 4.alas 5.sorrow 6.familiar face
The poet laments the passage of earlier ‘good’ days, when gatherings were full of like-minded people. But these days you cannot even see a familiar face.
14
manzil1-e-ishq2-o-tavakkul3 manzil-e-ezaaz4 hai
shaah5 sab baste6 haiN yaaN koi gada7 milta nahiN 1.destination, goal 2.love (sufiyaana) 3.trust (in god), belief 4.honour 5.king, lord 6.dwell, live 7.mendicant
The goal of love and trust/belief (in god) is the only honourable destination. But all around dwell kings/lords (people who believe in material acquisition), there are no mendicants (sufi seekers who give up material attachments/desires).
15
baar1 taklifoN2 ka mujh par baar-e ehsaaN3 se hai sahl4
shukr ki jaa5 hai agar6 haajat-rava7 milta nahiN 1.burden 2.difficulties 3.obligation 4.easy 5.place, occasion 7.helper, who fulfills needs
The poet/sufi/mendicant finds it easier to bear the burden of difficulties than the burden of obligations. It is an occasion to be thankful that he does not encounter any helper, otherwise he would be under an obligation.
16
chaandni raateN bahaar1 apni dikhaati haiN to kya
be2 tere mujh ko to lutf3 aye mah-laqa4 milta nahiN 1.spring, beauty 2.without 3.pleasure 4.moon-faced
Moonlit nights may display their beauty all they want but without the moon-faced beloved, the poet/lover cannot enjoy them.
17
m’aani1-e dil ka kare izhaar2 akbar kis tarah
lafz3-e mauzuN4 bahr5-e kashf6-e mudd’aa7 milta nahiN 1.meaning, purpose 2.express 3.word 4.appropriate, suitable 5.for 6.reveal, discover 7.desire
How can akbar (the poet) express the real meaning/intent of his heart. He cannot find words suitable/fit enough to reveal his desire.
akbar ilahabadi (1846-1921) is more popularly known for his satirical and humorous compositions. But he has written many serious, sufiyaana and throught provoking Ghazal. Here he expresses discomfort with uncertainty and calls for jumping into faith and belief. Said mohammed iqbal …
be-Khatar kood paRa aatish-e namrood meN ishq
aql hai mahv-e tamaasha-e lab-e baam abhi
To contrast this with a recognition that we may never get an answer and the search itself is the goal/aim please see shahed-shuru’aat, ‘tashkeek’ and ‘talaash-e haq’.
1
falsafi ko bahs1 ke andar Khuda milta nahiN
Dor2 ko suljha3 raha hai aur sira4 milta nahiN
1.argument, logic 2.string 3.untangle 4.head, beginning
The philosopher cannot find god in logic. He is trying to untangle the string but cannot find the beginning (it is an endless argument, going round and round, without beginning or end).
2
maa’refat1 Khaaliq2 ki aalam3 meN bahut dushwaar4 hai
shahr-e-tan5 meN jab ke Khud apna pata milta nahiN
1.knowledge, sufiyaana awareness 2.creator 3.world 4.difficult 5.domain of the body, material world
Spiritual/sufiyaana awareness of the creator is very difficult when one is limited to the material world, one cannot even find oneself i.e. it takes a different plane/level of thinking beyond the material to know god.
3
GhaafelauN1 ke lutf2 ko kaafi3 hai duniyavi4 Khushi
aaqilauN5 ko be-Gham6-e uqba7 maza8 milta nahiN
1.unthinking, uncaring 2.pleasure 3.enough 4.worldly 5.thoughtful 6.without worry/concern of 7.deliverance, final judgment 8.pleasure
Worldly pleasure is enough for the thoughtless/shortsighted. Thinking/thoughtful do not derive pleasure without consideration of the final judgment. Editorial comment – I think that is grossly unfair to think of the non-believer as thoughtless. The non-believer can be very thoughtful, struggling but unwilling to accept blind belief.
4
kashti-e dil ki ilaahi bahr1-e hasti2 meN ho Khair3
naaKhuda4 milte haiN laikin ba-Khuda5 milta nahiN
1.ocean 2.existence, life 3.safe 4.helmsman 5.with god
akbar ilahabadi uses a witty construction of words here. ‘naaKhuda’ normally means ‘helmsman, oarsman’ who propels and guides a boat. In contrasting it with ba-Khuda, he implies it to mean ‘godless’. Thus, may the boat of the heart be safe in the ocean of life. There are many (godless) helmsmen, but there is no god-fearing guide.
5
GhaafilauN1 ko kya sunaauN daastaan2-e ishq3-e yaar4
sun-ne vaale milte haiN dard-aashna5 milta nahiN
1.thoughtless 2.story of 3.love/devotion 4.beloved, god 5.understanding/feeling the pain that I feel
How can I relate to the thoughtless my story of devotion to god. There are plenty who will listen but none that understands my pain. To this, I can easily add a rejoinder …
GhaafilauN ko kya sunaauN apna dard-e justaju
sun-ne vaale milte haiN dard-aashna milta nahiN
6
zindagaani ka maza milta tha jin ki bazm1 meN
un ki qabrauN ka bhi ab mujh ko pata milta nahiN
1.company
The poet remembers his elders in whose company he experienced the pleasure of life/living. But now he cannot even find their graves. He leaves us to guess why this might be so. Has he become thoughtless/Ghaafil. Is he too busy.
7
sirf zaahir1 ho gaya sarmaya2-e zeb3 o safa4
kya ta’ajjub5 hai jo baatin6 ba-safa7 milta nahiN
1.apparent, that which can be seen, worldly 2.wealth, treasure 3.elegance 4.purity 5.strange, surprise 6.hidden, inner, spiritual 7.pure, virtuous
It seems like most people have begun to consider elegance and purity only in purely materialistic, worldly ‘zaahiri’ terms. Why should we be surprised then when we cannot find spiritually pure/virtuous people.
8
puKhta1 taba’oN2 par havaadis3 ka nahiN hota asar4
kohsaaroN5 meN nishaan6-e naqsh-e-pa7 milta nahiN
1.mature 2.nature, character 3.accidents, disasters 4.effect 5.hills 6.mark, indication 7.footprint
Those of a mature character are not affected by disasters (difficulties). ‘kohsaar’ – hills are likened to mature/hardened characters and pounding feet are likened to disasters and footprints are the effect of those disasters. On a mud path, you can find foot prints. But on hard rocks of hills, you do not see footprints. They bear the pounding of feet very well.
9
shaiKh-sahib barhaman se lakh barteN1 dosti
be-bhajan2 gaa’e to mandir se Tika3 milta nahiN
1.spend, practise 2.hymn, devotional song 3.vermillion mark on the forehead
The shaiKh might befriend the brahmin priest all he wants, but to get anointed with a ‘Tika’ he will have to go to the temple and sing ‘bhajan’. The implication is that you have to do what is required to get the reward/result that you desire. No shortcuts.
10
jis pe dil aaya hai vo shiriN-ada1 milta nahiN
zindagi hai talKh2 jiine ka maza3 milta nahiN
1.sweet style, beloved 2.bitter, hard 3.pleasure
The poet/lover has lost his heart to the beloved of sweet style, but can no longer find her. Life is bitter and he no longer enjoys it.
11
log kahte haiN keh bad-naami1 se bachna2 chaahiye
keh do bay3 us ke javaani ka maza4 milta nahiN
1.bad name, disrepute 2.escape, stay away from 3.without 4.pleasure
They say that you have to save your reputation, stay away from things that bring you disrepute. But then you can’t enjoy youth without getting into those things!
12
ahl-e zaahir1 jis qadar2 chaaheN kareN bahs3-o-jidaal4
maiN ye samjha huN Khudi5 meN to Khuda milta nahiN
1.people of ‘the apparent’ i.e. people who believe in what can be seen, materialist 2.however much 3.argument, debate 4.conflict, dispute 5.ego, self centered
The word ‘materialist’ is used here in the classical sense … of matter, with cause and effect relationship. The poet implies that a materialist (dialectical materialist) is necessarily self-centered. I am not sure. However much the materialists may argue and dispute, the poet thinks that god cannot be found with a self-centered view.
13
chal-basey1 vo din ke yaaroN2 se bhari thi anjuman3
haaye4 afsos5 aaj surat-aashna6 milta nahiN
1.gone past 2.friends, like minded people 3.gathering 4.alas 5.sorrow 6.familiar face
The poet laments the passage of earlier ‘good’ days, when gatherings were full of like-minded people. But these days you cannot even see a familiar face.
14
manzil1-e-ishq2-o-tavakkul3 manzil-e-ezaaz4 hai
shaah5 sab baste6 haiN yaaN koi gada7 milta nahiN
1.destination, goal 2.love (sufiyaana) 3.trust (in god), belief 4.honour 5.king, lord 6.dwell, live 7.mendicant
The goal of love and trust/belief (in god) is the only honourable destination. But all around dwell kings/lords (people who believe in material acquisition), there are no mendicants (sufi seekers who give up material attachments/desires).
15
baar1 taklifoN2 ka mujh par baar-e ehsaaN3 se hai sahl4
shukr ki jaa5 hai agar6 haajat-rava7 milta nahiN
1.burden 2.difficulties 3.obligation 4.easy 5.place, occasion 7.helper, who fulfills needs
The poet/sufi/mendicant finds it easier to bear the burden of difficulties than the burden of obligations. It is an occasion to be thankful that he does not encounter any helper, otherwise he would be under an obligation.
16
chaandni raateN bahaar1 apni dikhaati haiN to kya
be2 tere mujh ko to lutf3 aye mah-laqa4 milta nahiN
1.spring, beauty 2.without 3.pleasure 4.moon-faced
Moonlit nights may display their beauty all they want but without the moon-faced beloved, the poet/lover cannot enjoy them.
17
m’aani1-e dil ka kare izhaar2 akbar kis tarah
lafz3-e mauzuN4 bahr5-e kashf6-e mudd’aa7 milta nahiN
1.meaning, purpose 2.express 3.word 4.appropriate, suitable 5.for 6.reveal, discover 7.desire
How can akbar (the poet) express the real meaning/intent of his heart. He cannot find words suitable/fit enough to reveal his desire.
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