For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
iqbal bano
faiz ahmed faiz
دعا – فیض احمد فیضؔ
۱
آئیے ہاتھ اُٹھائیں ہم بھی
ہم جنہیں رسمِ دعا یاد نہیں
ہم جنہیں سوزِ محبت کے سوا
کوئی بت کوئی خدا یاد نہیں
۲
آیئے عرض گزاریں کہ نگارِ ہستی
زہرِ اِمروز میں شیرینیِ فردا بھر دے
وہ جنھیں تابِ گرانباریِ ایاّم نہیں
اُن کی پلکوں پہ شب و روز کو ہلکا کر دے
۳
جِن کی آنکھوں کو رخِ صبح کا یارا بھی نہیں
اُن کی راتوں میں کوئی شمع مُنوّر کر دے
جن کے قدموں کو کسی رہ کا سہارا بھی نہیں
اُ ن کی نظروں پہ کوئی راہ اُجاگر کر دے
۴
جن کا دیں پیرویِ کذب و ریا ہے اُن کو
ہِمّتِ کفر ملے جراؑتِ تحقیق ملے
جن کے سر منتظرِ تیغِ جفا ہیں اُن کو
دستِ قاتل کو جھٹک دینے کی توفیق ملے
۵
عشق کا سِرّ نہاں جان تپاں ہے جس سے
آج اِقرار کریں اور تپش مِٹ جائے
حرفِ حق دِل میں کھٹکتا ہے جو کانٹے کی طرح
آج اقرار کریں اور خلش مٹ جائے
दो’आ – फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़
१
आइये हात उठाएं हम भी
हम जिन्हें रस्म-ए दुआ याद नहीं
हम जिन्हें सोज़-ए मोहब्बत के सिवा
कोई बुत, कोई ख़ुदा याद नहीं
२
आइए अर्ज़ गुज़ारें के निगार-ए हस्ती
ज़हर-ए इमरोज़ में शिरीनी-ए फ़र्दा भर दे
वो जिन्हें ताब-ए गिरांबारी-ए अय्याम नहीं
उन की पलकों पे शब ओ रोज़ को हल्का कर दे
३
जिन की आँखों को रुख़-ए सुबह का यारा भी नहीं
उन की रातों में कोई शमा’ मुनव्वर कर दे
जिन के क़दमों को किसी रह का सहारा भी नहीं
उन की नज़्रों पे कोई राह उजागर कर दे
४
जिन का दीं पैरवी-ए कज़्ब ओ रिया है उनको
हिम्मत-ए कुफ्र मिले जुर’अत-ए तहक़ीक़ मिले
जिन के सर मुन्तज़िर-ए तेग़-ए जफ़ा हैं उनको
दस्त-ए क़ातिल को झटक देने की तौफ़ीक़ मिले
५
इश्क़ का सिर्र-ए नेहाँ जान तपां है जिस से
आज एक़्रार करें और तपिश मिट जाये
हर्फ़-ए हक़ दिल में खटकता है जो कांटे की तरह
आज एक़्रार करें और ख़लिश मिट जाये
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. faiz ahmed faiz (1911-1984) a poet of romance and resistance, labour leader, journalist, political activist, Lenin Peace Prize awardee writes with great finesse and delicacy using the beloved as a metaphor for the homeland and/or the socialist revolution.
1
aaiye haat uThaeN hum bhi
hum jinheN rasm-e dua1 yaad nahiN
hum jinheN soz-e mohabbat2 ke siva
koi buth, koi Khuda yaad nahiN 1.ritual of prayer 2.fire of love
Come let us too, raise our hands, even we, to who have forgotten the rites of prayer. We who do not, except at the altar of Love, turn to any idol - or to any god.
2
aaiye arz guzaareN3 ke nigaar-e hasti4
zahr-e-imroz5 meN shirini-e-farda6 bhar de
vo jinheN taab7-e giraNbari8-e ayyam9 nahiN
un ki palkauN pe shab o roz10 ko halka kar de 3.submit a petition 4.beauty of life 5.the poison of today/present 6.elixir/sweetness of the future 7.strength 8.bear the weight of 9.days, living 10.night and day
Come, let us pass around a petition that life’s beauty turn today’s poison to the sweet nectar of tomorrow. That those who have not the endurance to bear life’s burdens, have the burdens lightened so much that it can be borne on eyelids with ease. It is to be noted that the petition is submitted not to god, but to the beauty of life.
3
jin ki aaNkhoN ko ruKh-e subah11 ka yara12 bhi nahiN
un ki ratoN meN koi shama’ munnawar13 kar de
jin ke qadmoN14 ko kisi rah15 ka sahara16 bhi nahiN
un ki nazroN pe koi raah ujaagar17 kar de 11.face of the dawn 12.familiarity, friendship 13.illumine 14.feet, steps 15.pathway 16.support 17.reveal
Those whose eyes have missed the rays of the morning, may their dire lives light up, aflame with brightness. Those whose steps have no guide, no path, may their eyes light upon a new direction.
4
jin ka deeN18 pairavi19-e kazb o riya20 hai unko
himmat-e kufr21 mile jur’at22-e tahqiq23 mile
jin ke sar muntazir24-e teGh-e-jafa25 haiN unko
dast-e-qatil26 ko jhaTak dene ki taufiq27 mile 18.faith, belief 19.advocacy 20.falsehood and hypocricy 21.courage to deny 22.daring 23.inquire, search 24.waiting 25.sword of tyranny 26.hand of the killer 27.ability
Those whose faith it is, to promote the false, the fake, may they have the power to deny – the courage to search. Those who await the fearful assault of the oppressor, may they dust off the looming hands of the slayer.
5
ishq ka sirr-e nehaaN28 jaan tapaaN29 hai jis se
aaj eqraar30 kareN aur tapish31 miT jaaye
harf-e haq32 dil meN KhaTakta33 hai jo kaNTe ki tarah
aaj eqraar30 kareN aur Khalish34 miT jaaye 28.hidden secret 29.life singing/burning 30.confess, declare 31.burning pain 32.word of truth 33.pricks 34.irritation
The hidden secret of love which seethes inside, let us declare it, so that the fever may subside. Let the word of truth which sticks in the heart like a thorn, be declared today, so that nagging soreness subsides.
faiz ahmed faiz (1911-1984) a poet of romance and resistance, labour leader, journalist, political activist, Lenin Peace Prize awardee writes with great finesse and delicacy using the beloved as a metaphor for the homeland and/or the socialist revolution.
1
aaiye haat uThaeN hum bhi
hum jinheN rasm-e dua1 yaad nahiN
hum jinheN soz-e mohabbat2 ke siva
koi buth, koi Khuda yaad nahiN
1.ritual of prayer 2.fire of love
Come let us too, raise our hands, even we, to who have forgotten the rites of prayer. We who do not, except at the altar of Love, turn to any idol - or to any god.
2
aaiye arz guzaareN3 ke nigaar-e hasti4
zahr-e-imroz5 meN shirini-e-farda6 bhar de
vo jinheN taab7-e giraNbari8-e ayyam9 nahiN
un ki palkauN pe shab o roz10 ko halka kar de
3.submit a petition 4.beauty of life 5.the poison of today/present 6.elixir/sweetness of the future 7.strength 8.bear the weight of 9.days, living 10.night and day
Come, let us pass around a petition that life’s beauty turn today’s poison to the sweet nectar of tomorrow. That those who have not the endurance to bear life’s burdens, have the burdens lightened so much that it can be borne on eyelids with ease. It is to be noted that the petition is submitted not to god, but to the beauty of life.
3
jin ki aaNkhoN ko ruKh-e subah11 ka yara12 bhi nahiN
un ki ratoN meN koi shama’ munnawar13 kar de
jin ke qadmoN14 ko kisi rah15 ka sahara16 bhi nahiN
un ki nazroN pe koi raah ujaagar17 kar de
11.face of the dawn 12.familiarity, friendship 13.illumine 14.feet, steps 15.pathway 16.support 17.reveal
Those whose eyes have missed the rays of the morning, may their dire lives light up, aflame with brightness. Those whose steps have no guide, no path, may their eyes light upon a new direction.
4
jin ka deeN18 pairavi19-e kazb o riya20 hai unko
himmat-e kufr21 mile jur’at22-e tahqiq23 mile
jin ke sar muntazir24-e teGh-e-jafa25 haiN unko
dast-e-qatil26 ko jhaTak dene ki taufiq27 mile
18.faith, belief 19.advocacy 20.falsehood and hypocricy 21.courage to deny 22.daring 23.inquire, search 24.waiting 25.sword of tyranny 26.hand of the killer 27.ability
Those whose faith it is, to promote the false, the fake, may they have the power to deny – the courage to search. Those who await the fearful assault of the oppressor, may they dust off the looming hands of the slayer.
5
ishq ka sirr-e nehaaN28 jaan tapaaN29 hai jis se
aaj iqraar30 kareN aur tapish31 miT jaye
harf-e haq32 dil meN KhaTakta33 hai jo kaNTe ki tarah
aaj iqraar30 kareN aur Khalish34 miT jaaye
28.hidden secret 29.life singing/burning 30.confess, declare 31.burning pain 32.word of truth 33.pricks 34.irritation
The hidden secret of love which seethes inside, let us declare it, so that the fever may subside. Let the word of truth which sticks in the heart like a thorn, be declared today, so that nagging soreness subsides.
