Recitation
کیا لکھنا – حبیب جالب
ظلمت کو ضیا ، صر صر کو صباء، بندے کو خدا، کیا لکھنا
پتھر کو گہر، دیوار کو دَر، کرگس کو ہما، کیا لکھنا
اک حشر بَپا ہے گھر گھر میں، دم گھٹتا ہے گنبدِ بے دَر میں
اک شخص كے ہاتھوں مدّت سے رُسوا ہے وطن دُنیا بھر میں
ائے دیدہ ورو اِس ذلت کو قسمت کا لکھا کیا لکھنا
ظلمت کو ضیا، صر صر کو صباء، بندے کو خدا، کیا لکھنا
یہ اہلِ حشم، یہ دارا و جم ، سب نقش برآب ہیں ائے ہمدم
مٹ جائیں گے سب پروردۂ شب، ائے اہلِ وفا رہ جائیں گے ہم
ہوجاں کا زیاں پر قاتل کو، معصوم ادا کیا لکھنا
ظلمت کو ضیا،صر صر کو صباء، بندے کو خدا، کیا لکھنا
لوگوں پہ ہی ہم نے جاں واری، کی ہم نے اُنھیں کی غم خواری
ہوتے ہیں تو ہوں یہ ہاتھ قلم، شاعرنہ بنیں گے درباری
ابلیس نما انسانوں کی ائے دوست ثنا کیا لکھنا
ظلمت کوضیا، صر صرکوصباء، بندے کوخدا، کیا لکھنا
حق بات پہ کوڑے اور زنداں ، باطل كے شکنجے میں ہے یہ جاں
انساں ہیں کہ سہمے بیٹھے ہیں خونخوار درندے ہیں رقصاں
اِس ظلم و ستم کو لطف و کرم اِس دکھ کو دوا کیا لکھنا
ظلمت کوضیا، صرصرکوصباء، بندے کوخدا، کیا لکھنا
ہر شام یہاں شامِ ویراں، آسیب زدہ رستے گلیاں
جس شہر کی دُھن میں نکلے تھے، وہ شہرِ دلِ برباد کہاں
صحرا کو چمن بن کو گُلشن بادل کو رِدا کیا لکھنا
ظلمت کو ضیا، صر صرکو صباء، بندے کو خدا، کیا لکھنا
ائے میرے وطن كے فنکارو، ظلمت پہ نہ اپنا فن وارو
یہ محل سراؤں كے باسی، قاتل ہیں سبھی اپنے یارو
ورثے میں ہمیں یہ غم ہے ملا، اِس غم کو نیا کیا لکھنا
ظلمت کوضیا، صرصرکو صباء، بندے کوخدا، کیا لکھنا
क्या लिखना – हबीब जालिब
ज़ुलमत को ज़िया, सरसर को सबा, बंदे को ख़ुदा, क्या लिखना
पत्थर को गोहर, दीवार को दर, करगस को हुमा, क्या लिखना
एक हश्र बपा है घर घर में, दम घुटता है गुंबद-ए बे दर में
एक शख़्स के हाथौं मुद्दत से रुसवा है वतन दुनिया भर में
अए दीदा वरो इस ज़िल्लत को क़िस्मत का लिखा क्या लिखना
ज़ुलमत को ज़िया, सरसर को सबा, बंदे को ख़ुदा, क्या लिखना
ये अहल-ए हशम, ये दारा ओ जम, सब नक़्श बर-आब हैं अए हमदम
मिट जाएंगे सब परवरदा-ए शब, अए अहल-ए वफ़ा रह जाएंगे हम
हो जां का ज़ियां पर क़ातिल को, मासूम अदा क्या लिखना
ज़ुलमत को ज़िया, सरसर को सबा, बंदे को ख़ुदा, क्या लिखना
लोगौं पे ही हम ने जां वारी, की हम ने उन्हीं की ग़म ख़्वारी
होते हैं तो हों ये हाथ क़लम, शाएर ना बनेंगे दरबारी
इब्लीस नुमा इन्सानौं की अए दोस्त सना क्या लिखना
ज़ुलमत को ज़िया, सरसर को सबा, बंदे को ख़ुदा, क्या लिखना
हक़ बात पे कोडे और ज़िन्दां, बातिल के शिकंजे में है ये जां
इन्सां हैं के सहमे बैठे हैं ख़ूंख़्वार दरिंदे हैं रक़्सां
इस ज़ुल्म ओ सितम को लुत्फ़ ओ करम इस दुख को दावा क्या लिखना
ज़ुलमत को ज़िया, सरसर को सबा, बंदे को ख़ुदा, क्या लिखना
हर शाम यहां शाम-ए वीरां, आसेब ज़दा रस्ते गलियां
जिस शाहर की धुन में निकले थे, वो शाहर दिल-ए बरबाद कहां
सहरा को चमन बन कर गुलशन बादल को रिदा क्या लिखना
ज़ुलमत को ज़िया, सरसर को सबा, बंदे को ख़ुदा, क्या लिखना
आए मेरे वतन के फ़नकारो, ज़ुलमत पे ना अपना फ़न वारो
ये महल सराऔं के बासी, क़ातिल हैं सभी अपने यारो
विरसे में हमें ये ग़म है मिला, इस ग़म को नया क्या लिखना
ज़ुलमत को ज़िया, सरसर को सबा, बंदे को ख़ुदा, क्या लिखना
kya likhna – habib jalib
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. Poets were invited to compose in praise of Zia-ul Haq. Habib Jalib composed this nazm and recited it in a public gathering. He also plays a pun with Zia-ul Haq’s name. “zia” means light and “zulmat” means darkness. Thus how can I call “darkness”, “light” is a beautiful refrain and powerful pun.
zulmat1 ko zia2, sarsar3 ko saba4, bande5 ko Khuda, kya likhna
patthar ko gohar6, deevar ko dar7, kargas8 ko huma9, kya likhna
ek hashr10 bapa11 hai ghar ghar meN, dam ghuTta hai gunbad12-e be-dar13 meN
ek shaKhs14 ke haathauN muddat15 se rusva16 hai vatan duniya bhar meN
aye dida-varo17 is zillat18 ko qismat ka likha kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna1. darkness, ignorance 2. light, pun on zia-ul haq’s name 3. cold blustery wind 4. pleasant morning breeze 5. servant (of god) 6. jewel 7. doorway 8. vulture 9. legendary/imaginary bird that brings good fortune 10. doomsday 11. happening 12. dome 13. doorless 14. person, man 15. long time 16. embarrassed 17. those who have eyes/can see, people of discriminating taste 18. insult
How can I write that darkness is light, that cold blustery wind is a pleasant breeze, that lowly creature is god? How can I call an ordinary rock a jewel, a wall a doorway, a vulture a Phoenix? There is misery in every household, suffocation under the dome (of the sky), the nation has long been embarrassed by this man. O, you who can see what is going on, how can we accept that this misery is our fate.
ye ahl-e hasham1, ye daara2 o jam3, sab naqsh4 bar-aab5 haiN aye hamdam6
miT jaa’eNge sab parvarda-e shab7, aye ahl-e vafa8 rah jaa’eNge hum
ho jaaN ka ziyaaN9 par qaatil10 ko, maasoom11 ada12 kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna1. people of grandeur 2. (from Darius) king, lord 3. short for Jamshed (Darius and Jamshed – tyrannical kings) 4. etchings 5. on water 6. friend 7. raised/nurtured by darkness 8. people of love 9. loss 10. killer 11. innocent 12. style, character
These showy people, these lords of wealth, they are all like etchings on water my friend. These children of darkness will disappear and only us, people of love, will endure. Even if there is danger of loss of life, how can I call a murder innocent.
logauN pe hi hum ne jaaN vaari1, ki hum ne unhiN ki Gham Khwaari2
hote haiN to hoN ye haath qalam3, shaa’er na baneNge darbaari4
iblis numa5 insaanauN ki, aye dost sanaa6 kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna1. offering, sacrifice 2. “eating”/sharing sorrow 3. chopped 4. courtiers 5. satan faced 6. praise
We have always made an offering of our lives for the people, we have always shared their sorrows. Let these hands be chopped off, we poets will never become fawning courtiers. How can we sing praises of these devilish people.
haq1 baat pe koRe2 aur zindaaN3, baatil4 ke shikanje5 meN hai ye jaaN
insaaN haiN ke sahme6 baiThe haiN, KhuNKhwaar7 darinde8 haiN raqsaaN9
is zulm o sitam10 ko lutf o karam11 is dukh ko dava kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna1. truth 2. whip, lashes 3. prison 4. evil 5. grip 6. scared 7. blood thirsty 8. brutes 9. dancing 10. oppression and cruelty 11. pleasure and benevolence
We get whip lashes or prison for telling the truth. Life is in the grip of evil. People are sitting scared, blood thirsty brutes are dancing for joy. How can I write that this oppression and cruelty is a blessing and benevolence?
har shaam yahaaN shaam-e viraaN1, aaseb zada2 raste galiyaaN
jis shahr ki dhun meN nikle the, vo shahr-e dil-e barbaad3 kahaaN
sahra4 ko chaman ban5 ko gulshan6 baadal ko rida7 kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna1. desolate 2. full of demons, haunted 3. sorrowful 4. desert 5. jungle, wilderness 6. flower garden 7. (comforting/protective) shawl/covering
Every evening is desolate. Every street is haunted. The life that we had set out to search, where is that comfort of this sorrowful heart! How can I write that the desert is a park, that the wilderness is a flower garden that these threatening clouds are like a comfortable covering?
aye mere vatan ke funkaaro1, zulmat pe na apna fun vaaro2
ye mahal saraauN3 ke baasi4, qaatil haiN sabhi apne yaaro
virse5 meN hameN ye Gham hai mila, is Gham ko naya kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna1.artists, poets 2. sacrifice 3. palaces 4. residents of 5. inheritance
O, poets/artists of my homeland, do not sacrifice your art to evil. The owners of these palaces are all our killers. We have received this sorrow as our heritage. How can I write that this is something new and will pass.
kya likhna – habib jalib
Overall Comments: Poets were invited to compose in praise of Zia-ul Haq. Habib Jalib composed this nazm and recited it in a public gathering. He also plays a pun with Zia-ul Haq’s name. “zia” means light and “zulmat” means darkness. Thus how can I call “darkness”, “light” is a beautiful refrain and pun.
zulmat1 ko zia2, sarsar3 ko saba4, bande5 ko Khuda, kya likhna
patthar ko gohar6, deevar ko dar7, kargas8 ko huma9, kya likhna
ek hashr10 bapa11 hai ghar ghar meN, dam ghuTta hai gunbad12-e be-dar13 meN
ek shaKhs14 ke haathauN muddat15 se rusva16 hai vatan duniya bhar meN
aye dida-varo17 is zillat18 ko qismat ka likha kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
1. darkness, ignorance 2. light, pun on zia-ul haq’s name 3. cold blustery wind 4. pleasant morning breeze 5. servant (of god) 6. jewel 7. doorway 8. vulture 9. legendary/imaginary bird that brings good fortune 10. doomsday 11. happening 12. dome 13. doorless 14. person, man 15. long time 16. embarrassed 17. those who have eyes/can see 18. insult
How can I write that darkness is light, that cold blustery wind is a pleasant breeze, that lowly creature is god? How can I call an ordinary rock a jewel, a wall a doorway, a vulture a Phoenix? There is misery in every household, suffocation under the dome (of the sky), the nation has long been embarrassed by this man. O, you who can see what is going on, how can we accept that this misery is our fate.
ye ahl-e hasham1, ye daara2 o jam3, sab naqsh4 bar-aab5 haiN aye hamdam6
miT jaa’eNge sab parvarda-e shab7, aye ahl-e vafa8 rah jaa’eNge hum
ho jaaN ka ziyaaN9 par qaatil10 ko, maasoom11 ada12 kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
1. people of grandeur 2. (from Darius) king, lord 3. short for Jamshed (Darius and Jamshed – tyrannical kings) 4. etchings 5. on water 6. friend 7. raised/nurtured by darkness 8. people of love 9. loss 10. killer 11. innocent 12. style, character
These showy people, these lords of wealth, they are all like etchings on water my friend. These children of darkness will disappear and only us, people of love, will endure. Even if there is danger of loss of life, how can I call a murder innocent.
logauN pe hi hum ne jaaN vaari1, ki hum ne unhiN ki Gham Khwaari2
hote haiN to hoN ye haath qalam3, shaa’er na baneNge darbaari4
iblis numa5 insaanauN ki, aye dost sanaa6 kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
1. offering, sacrifice 2. “eating”/sharing sorrow 3. chopped 4. courtiers 5. satan faced 6. praise
We have always made an offering of our lives for the people, we have always shared their sorrows. Let these hands be chopped off, we poets will never become fawning courtiers. How can we sing praises of these devilish people.
haq1 baat pe koRe2 aur zindaaN3, baatil4 ke shikanje5 meN hai ye jaaN
insaaN haiN ke sahme6 baiThe haiN, KhuNKhwaar7 darinde8 haiN raqsaaN9
is zulm o sitam10 ko lutf o karam11 is dukh ko dava kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
1. truth 2. whip, lashes 3. prison 4. evil 5. grip 6. scared 7. blood thirsty 8. brutes 9. dancing 10. oppression and cruelty 11. pleasure and benevolence
We get whip lashes or prison for telling the truth. Life is in the grip of evil. People are sitting scared, blood thirsty brutes are dancing for joy. How can I write that this oppression and cruelty is a blessing and benevolence?
har shaam yahaaN shaam-e viraaN1, aaseb zada2 raste galiyaaN
jis shahr ki dhun meN nikle the, vo shahr-e dil-e barbaad3 kahaaN
sahra4 ko chaman ban5 ko gulshan6 baadal ko rida7 kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
1. desolate 2. full of demons, haunted 3. sorrowful 4. desert 5. jungle, wilderness 6. flower garden 7. (comforting/protective) shawl/covering
Every evening is desolate. Every street is haunted. The life that we had set out to search, where is that comfort of this sorrowful heart! How can I write that the desert is a park, that the wilderness is a flower garden that these threatening clouds are like a comfortable covering?
aye mere vatan ke funkaaro1, zulmat pe na apna fun vaaro2
ye mahal saraauN3 ke baasi4, qaatil haiN sabhi apne yaaro
virse5 meN hameN ye Gham hai mila, is Gham ko naya kya likhna
zulmat ko zia, sarsar ko saba, bande ko Khuda, kya likhna
1. artists, poets 2. sacrifice 3. palaces 4. residents of 5. inheritance
O, poets/artists of my homeland, do not sacrifice your art to evil. The owners of these palaces are all our killers. We have received this sorrow as our heritage. How can I write that this is something new and will pass.
