For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
noor jahaaN
خبر ہو گئی زمانے کو ۔ قمرؔ جلالوی
۱
کبھی کہا نہ کِسی سے ترے فسانے کو
نہ جانے کیسے خبر ہو گئی زمانے کو
۲
دعا بہار کی مانگی تو اِتنے پھول کھلے
کہیں جگہ نہ رہی میرے آشیانے کو
۳
مری لہد پہ پتنگوں کا خون ہوتا ہے
حضور شمع نہ لایا کریں جلانے کو
۴
سُنا ہے غیر کی محفل میں تم نہ جاؤ گے
کہو تو آج سجا لوں غریب خانے کو
۵
دبا کے قبر میں سب چل دئے دعا نہ سلام
ذرا سی دیر میں کیا ہو گیا زمانے کو
۶
اب آگے اِس میں تمہارا بھی نام آئے گا
جو حکم ہو تو یہیں چھوڑ دوں فسانے کو
۷
قمرؔ ذرا بھی نہیں تم کو خوفِ رسوائی
چلے ہو چاندنی شب میں اُنہیں بُلانے کو
ख़बर हो गई ज़माने को – क़मर जलालवी
१
कभी कहा ना किसी से तेरे फ़साने को
ना जाने कैसे ख़बर हो गई ज़माने को
२
दुआ बहार की मांगी तो इतने फूल खिले
कहीं जगह ना रही मेरे आशियाने को
३
मेरी लहद पे पतंगों का ख़ून होता है
हुज़ूर शमा’ ना लाया करें जलाने को
४
सुना है ग़ैर की महफ़िल में तुम ना जाओगे
कहो तो आज सजा लूं ग़रीब ख़ाने को
५
दबा के क़ब्र में सब चल दिए दुआ ना सलाम
ज़रा सी देर में क्या हो गया ज़माने को
६
अब आगे इस में तुम्हारा भी नाम आएगा
जो हुक्म हो तो यहीं छोड़ दूं फ़साने को
७
क़मर ज़रा भी नहीं तुम को ख़ौफ़-ए रुसवाइ
चले हो चाँदनी शब में उन्हें बुलाने को
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed husain qamar jalaalavi (1887-1968), was born in jalaali, near aligaRh, moved to pakistan after partition/independence. He was popularly known as ‘ustad’, for his expertise in repairing bicycles, which is how he earned his living and lived in penury, in spite of his excellence as a poet. He wrote Ghazal is chaste classical style, many of which have been put to music.
1
kabhi kaha na kisi se tere fasaane1 ko
na jaane kaise Khabar2 ho gayee zamaane3 ko1.story 2.aware 3.times, society
urdu poetic tradition is the poet/lover loves and suffers in silence. Any exposure of the story would malign her name. He swears that he has not told anyone about her story (about his love for her) and wonders how everyone became aware of it. The implication is that his distraught state revealed the secret.
2
dua bahaar ki maaNgi to itne phool khile
kahiN jagah na rahi mere aashiyaane1 ko1.nest, home
The poet/lover is so unfortunate that even when he has he good fortune that his prayer is answered, it is answered with such intensity that he loses out. He prayed for spring and there were so many blooms that there was no room left for him (metaphorically, a bird) to build a nest.
3
meri lahad1 pe pataNgauN2 ka Khoon hota hai
huzoor3 shama’ na laaya kareN jalaane ko1.grave 2.moths 3.apellation of honor/respect perhaps with a tinge of sarcasm
There is a well accepted tradition in urdu poetry where the poet/lover writes about his own death as if he is standing apart and observing everthing. The beloved visits his grave and lights a candle resulting in the death of moths. Again, traditionally the candle is the beloved and moths are lovers who perish in their steadfast love. Does this remind the poet/lover of his own death as he asks the beloved not to do it?
4
suna hai Ghair1 ki mahfil meN tum na jaaoge
kaho to aaj sajaa luN Gharib-Khaane2 ko1.other, rival 2.humble abode, a polite way to refer to one’s own house
The poet/lover has heard that she is no longer going to visit the rival. He is hopeful that she will turn her attention to him and is waiting for an indication/word. As soon as you say it, I will clean up my humble abode to receive you.
5
daba ke qabr meN sub chal diye dua na salaam
zara si der meN kya ho gaya zamaane koAgain the poet/lover is describing his own funeral. His friends/rivals unceremiously dump him in the grave, cover it up and leave. In such a short time, how much have they changed … they forgot him so soon after he died. He will not be remembered/mourned after his death.
6
ab aage is meN tumhaara bhi naam aayega
jo hukm ho to yahiN chhoR duN fasaane koThe poet/lover has related his story so far. Beyond this stage her name is bound to come up. He forewarns the beloved. If you so order, I will stop now.
7
qamar1 zara bhi nahiN tum ko Khauf2-e rusvaaii3
chale ho chaandni shab meN unheN bulaane ko1.name and pen name of the poet, full moon 2.fear of 3.embarrassment
qamar jalalavi often uses his name to great effect in word play. urdu poetic tradition is that the poet/lover asks the beloved for a secret tryst. But when “qamar” does it, it is by definition on the night of a full moon. She is bound to refuse because she will be seen and tryst will not be secret. The poet/lover admonishes himself (again standing apart as an observer/critic) – are you not afraid of being embarrassed. How can you ask her to meet you under the full moon when everyone can see her.
mohammed husain qamar jalaalavi (1887-1968), was born in jalaali, near aligaRh, moved to pakistan after partition/independence. He was popularly known as ‘ustad’, for his expertise in repairing bicycles, which is how he earned his living and lived in penury, in spite of his excellence as a poet. He wrote Ghazal is chaste classical style, many of which have been put to music.
1
kabhi kaha na kisi se tere fasaane1 ko
na jaane kaise Khabar2 ho gayee zamaane3 ko
1.story 2.aware 3.times, society
urdu poetic tradition is the poet/lover loves and suffers in silence. Any exposure of the story would malign her name. He swears that he has not told anyone about her story (about his love for her) and wonders how everyone became aware of it. The implication is that his distraught state revealed the secret.
2
dua bahaar ki maaNgi to itne phool khile
kahiN jagah na rahi mere aashiyaane1 ko
1.nest, home
The poet/lover is so unfortunate that even when he has he good fortune that his prayer is answered, it is answered with such intensity that he loses out. He prayed for spring and there were so many blooms that there was no room left for him (metaphorically, a bird) to build a nest.
3
meri lahad1 pe pataNgauN2 ka Khoon hota hai
huzoor3 shama’ na laaya kareN jalaane ko
1.grave 2.moths 3.apellation of honor/respect perhaps with a tinge of sarcasm
There is a well accepted tradition in urdu poetry where the poet/lover writes about his own death as if he is standing apart and observing everthing. The beloved visits his grave and lights a candle resulting in the death of moths. Again, traditionally the candle is the beloved and moths are lovers who perish in their steadfast love. Does this remind the poet/lover of his own death as he asks the beloved not to do it?
4
suna hai Ghair1 ki mahfil meN tum na jaaoge
kaho to aaj sajaa luN Gharib-Khaane2 ko
1.other, rival 2.humble abode, a polite way to refer to one’s own house
The poet/lover has heard that she is no longer going to visit the rival. He is hopeful that she will turn her attention to him and is waiting for an indication/word. As soon as you say it, I will clean up my humble abode to receive you.
5
daba ke qabr meN sub chal diye dua na salaam
zara si der meN kya ho gaya zamaane ko
Again the poet/lover is describing his own funeral. His friends/rivals unceremiously dump him in the grave, cover it up and leave. In such a short time, how much have they changed … they forgot him so soon after he died. He will not be remembered/mourned after his death.
6
ab aage is meN tumhaara bhi naam aayega
jo hukm ho to yahiN chhoR duN fasaane ko
The poet/lover has related his story so far. Beyond this stage her name is bound to come up. He forewarns the beloved. If you so order, I will stop now.
7
qamar1 zara bhi nahiN tum ko Khauf2-e rusvaaii3
chale ho chaandni shab meN unheN bulaane ko
1.name and pen name of the poet, full moon 2.fear of 3.embarrassment
qamar jalalavi often uses his name to great effect in word play. urdu poetic tradition is that the poet/lover asks the beloved for a secret tryst. But when “qamar” does it, it is by definition on the night of a full moon. She is bound to refuse because she will be seen and tryst will not be secret. The poet/lover admonishes himself (again standing apart as an observer/critic) – are you not afraid of being embarrassed. How can you ask her to meet you under the full moon when everyone can see her.
