For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
رباعیات۔فکرِ نو۔جوش ملیح آبادی
۱
اِک عمر سے ہوتی ہے بصیرت پیدا
کرتا ہے خدا شاذ یہ دولت پیدا
رگ رگ میں تفکّر نہ اُتر جائے اگر
خود علم سے ہوتی ہے جہالت پیدا
۲
کر روح میں بابِ کفر و ایماں مسدود
وہ فہم کی وحشت ہے یہ دانش کا جمود
انکار بہ ایں دماغِ کمزور و علیل
اقرار بہ ایں عقلِ ضعیف و محدود
۳
آزادیِ فکر و درسِ حکمت ہے گناہ
دانا کے لئے نہیں کوئی جائے پناہ
ائے اژدرِ تہذیب کے فرزندِ رشید
یہ مذہب و قانون عیاذاً باللہ
۴
اپنی ہی گرفت میں خود اِنسان ہے آج
کل صاحبِ تدبیر تھا حیران ہے آج
جووقت کے اِقتضا سے تھی کل اِک رسم
وہ وہم کے اِرتقا سے ایمان ہے آج
۵
اِنسان پہ ہے کِس درجہ خرافات کا بار
دِن کا ہے کبھی وزن، کبھی رات کا بار
پیدا ہو بشر میں کیا حکیمانہ مزاج
عقلوں پہ ہے صدیوں کے روایات کا بار
۶
تسنیم ہو جولان گۂِ طوفاں افسوس
پابندِ تعصب ہو اور اِنساں افسوس
دریا جتنے ہیں جا رہے ہیں سوئے بحر
افسوس ہے تجھ پہ کفر و ایماں افسوس
۷
کیا جادۂ پیچیدہ ہے اللہ اللہ
ہر گام پہ ہوتا ہے مسافر گمراہ
سرِ منزلِ جستجوئے راہِ حق میں
حکمت اِک ظن ہے اور حیرت ہے نگاہ
۸
اب رسمِ حقیقت ہے نہ آئینِ مجاز
اے سلسلۂ فکر تیری عمر دراز
بڑھتا ہی چلا گیا میں دِل کی جانب
آتی ہی رہی دیر و حرم کی آواز
۹
ایمان کبھی کھُل کے سانس لیتا ہی نہیں
کشتی آبِ خِرد میں کھیتا ہی نہیں
فریاد کہ افکار کی آزادی کا
مذہب کبھی لائسینس دیتا ہی نہیں
۱۰
پیرانِ حرم صیدِ گنہگاری ہیں
سر تا بقدم غرقِ ریاکاری ہیں
زُہاد سے اور وجودِ باری کا سوال
یہ لوگ تو منکرانِ اقراری ہیں
रुबाईयात-फ़िक्र-ए नौ-जोश मलीहाबादी
१
एक उम्र से होती होती है बसीरत पैदा
करता है ख़ुदा शाज़ ये दौलत पैदा
रग रग में तफ़क्कुर न उतर जाए अगर
ख़ुद इल्म से होती है जेहालत पैदा
२
कर रूह में बाब-ए कुफ़्र ओ ईमां मस्दूद
वो फहम कि वहशत है ये दानिश का जुमूद
इन्कार बा-ईं दिमाग़-ए कमज़ोर ओ अलील
इक़रार बा-ईं अक़्ल-ए ज़ा’ईफ़ ओ
३
आज़ादी-ए फ़िक्र ओ दर्स-ए हिकमत है गुनाह
दाना के लिए नहीं कोई जा-ए पनाह
अए अज़्श्दर-ए तहज़ीब के फ़र्ज़न्द-ए रशीद
ये मज़हब ओ क़ानून अयाज़-अन-बिल-लाह
४
अपनी कि गिरफ़्त में ख़ुद इंसान है आज
कल साहिब-ए तदबीर था हैरान है आज
जो वक़्त के इक़्तेज़ा से थी कल एक रस्म
वो वहम के इर्तेक़ा से ईमान है आज
५
इन्सां पे है किस दर्जा ख़ुराफ़ात का बार
दिन का है कभी वज़्न कभी रात का बार
पैदा हो क्या बशर में हकीमाना मिज़ाज
अक़्लौं पे है सदियों के रिवायात का बार
६
तस्नीम हो जुला-निगह-ए तूफ़ां अफ़्सोस
पाबन्द-ए ता’स्सुब हो और इंसां अफ़्सोस
दर्या जितने हैं जा रहे हैं सू-ए बहर
अफ़्सोस है तुझ पे कुफ़्र ओ ईमां अफ़्सोस
७
क्या जादा-ए पेचीदा है अल्लाह अल्लाह
हर गाम पे होता है मुसाफ़िर गुमराह
सर-ए मंज़िल-ए जुस्तजू-ए राह-ए हक़ में
हिकमत एक ज़न है और हैरत है निगाह
८
अब रस्म-ए हक़ीक़त है आईन-ए मजाज़
अए सिलसिला-ए फ़िक्र तेरी उम्र दराज़
बढ़ता ही चला गया मैं दिल कि जानिब
आती ही रही दैर ओ हरम से आवाज़
९
ईमान कभी खुल के सांस लेता ही नहीं
किश्ती आब-ए ख़िरद में खेता ही नहीं
फ़र्याद के अफ़्कार कि आज़ादी का
मज़्हब कभी लाइसेंस देता ही नहीं
१०
पीरान-ए हरम सैद-ए गुनहगारी हैं
सर-ता-ब-क़दम ग़र्क़-ए रियाकारी हैं
ज़ुहाद से और वुजूद-ए बारी का सवाल
ये लोग तो मुन्किरान-ए इक़्रारी हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi is well known for his fiery nazm. He also wrote many romantic as well as cerebral nazm and Ghazal. His marsia are a celebration of dignified death rather than bowing to injustice even at the cost of life. He also wrote numerous rubaaii. This series is a collection of nearly 300 rubaaiyaat from various books organized by subject. This collection of 10 rubaaiyaat about ‘fikr’, thought, thinking, reason, reasoning.
1
ek umr se hoti hai baseerat1 paida
karta hai Khuda shaaz2 ye daulat paida
rag rag meN tafakkur3 na utar jaaye agar
Khud ilm4 se hoti hai jihaalat5 paida 1.wisdom 2.seldom, rarely 3.reasoning 4.knowledge 5.ignorance
It takes a lifetime to get wisdom. God rarely creates this ability. Unless reasoning/rationality makes its way into every fibre of your being, even knowledge can be reduced to ignorance.
2
kar rooh1 meN baab2-e kufr-o-eemaaN3 masdood4
vo fahm5 ki vahshat6 hai ye daanish7 ka jumood8
‘inkaar’9 ba-eeN10 dimaaGh-e kamzor-o-aleel11
‘iqraar’12 ba-eeN aql-e za’eef-o-mahdood13 1.spirit, soul 2.door of 3.faith and unfaith/other faith 4.close, shut 5.understanding, comprehension 6.running away, escape 7.wisdom 8.congealing, freezing 9.refusal, denial 10.in spite of 11.weak and sickened 12.acceptance, agreement 13.weak and limited
Published in 1937. This was a time when there was an active debate among Muslims of the sub-continent about faith and whether it is acceptable for Muslims to live in a non-Islamic regime. josh urges his audience to close the door on this useless debate. One side (of the debate) is as if understanding has run away, the other side is as if wisdom is frozen (they are both useless). Both sides of the debate “inkaar” and “iqraar” are being taken with brains/intelligence that are weak, sickened and limited.
3
aazadi-e fikr1 o dars2-e hikmat3 hai gunaah
daana4 ke liye nahiN koi jaa5-e panaah6
aye azshdar7-e tahzeeb8 ke farzand9-e rashid10
ye mazhab o qaanoon ayaazan-bi-llah11 1.reasoning, rationality 2.lesson of 3.wisdom 4.wise 5.place of 6.refuge, security 7.dragon, demon 8.culture 9.son, successor 10.rightly guided 11.may god protect/help
This was written in 1937 during active debate on the role of religion in the formulation of laws. Freedom to think and lessons in wisdom are declared sinful/forbidden. There is no place of refuge for the wise. O, rightly guided successor of the dragon of civilization (this whole phrase is used as a sarcastic comment on the successors of British rule who are engaged in writing laws), this inter-mingling of religion and law, may god help us.
4
apni hi giraft1 meN Khud insaan hai aaj
kal saahib-e-tadbeer2 tha hairaan3 hai aaj
jo vaqt ke iqteza4 se thi kal ek rasm5
vo vahm6 ke irteqa7 se eemaan8 hai aaj 1.grip 2.owner/lord of plan/destiny 3.worried, bewildered 4.demands 5.tradition/ritual 6.superstition/fear 7.increase 8.faith
Humanity is caught up in its own grip today. Yesterday it was lord of its own destiny but today it is lost/helpless. That which was a ritual yesterday, because of the demands of time, has become faith/religion today, due to increase in superstition/fear.
5
insaaN pe hai kis darja1 Khuraafaat2 ka baar3
din ka hai kabhi vazn, kabhi raat ka baar
paida ho bashar4 meN kya hakeemaana5 mizaj6
aqlauN pe hai sadiyauN7 ke rivaayaat8 ka baar 1.extent, much 2.trivialities 3.burden 4.human 5.wisdom, rationality 6.temperament, habit 7.centuries 8.traditions/beliefs
O, how much burden of trivialities there is on humanity, day and night. How can a temperament of rationality develop in humans when they are burdened with centuries of traditions/beliefs.
6
tasneem1 ho jaulaan-gah2-e toofaaN3 afsos4
paaband5-e ta’ssub6 ho aur insaaN afsos
darya7 jitne haiN jaa rahe haiN soo8-e bahr9
afsos hai tujh pe kufr-o-eemaaN10 afsos 1.river in heaven, used as a symbol of tranquility 2.training grounds for war horses, place of frenzy 3.storm, frenzy 4.sorrow, alas 5.bound by 6.prejudice, bigotry 7.rivers 8.towards 9.ocean 10.faith and non-faith (other faith)
This was also written in 1937 during intense debate in India about independence and faith. Alas, tranquility has become the training ground of frenzy. Alas, man has become bound by bigotry. The rest of the world is normal, like rivers flowing into the sea. Alas, this debate of faith and non-faith (kufr-o-eemaN).
7
kya jaada1-e pecheeda2 hai allah allaah
har gaam3 pe hota hai musaafir4 gumraah5
sar-e-manzil6-e justaju7-e raah8-e haq9 meN
hikmat10 ek zan11 hai aur hairat12 hai nigaah13 1.pathway 2.twisted, complicated 3.step 4.traveler 5.lost 6.focus of goal 7.search 8.pathway 9.truth, righteousness 10.wisdom 11.speculation, conjecture, suspicion 12.puzzle, bewilderment 13.sight, eye
What a twisted pathway this is, my god. The traveler is led astray at every step. At the start of the pathway of the search for truth, wisdom is nowhere to be seen (is reduced to a mere suspicion). My eye is puzzled.
8
ab rasm1-e haqiqat2 hai na aaiin3-e majaaz4
aye silsila5-e fikr6 teri umr-daraaz7
baRhta hi chala gaya maiN dil ki jaanib
aati hi rahi dair-o-haram8 ki aavaaz 1.tradition 2.truth, reality 3.rules, laws 4.not real, apparent, imaginary 5.continuation 6.thought, reason 7.long live 8.temple and mosque
The old traditions of ‘haqiqi/majaazi’ – exoteric/esoteric – inner/real meaning vs superficial/apparent meaning – are no more. Long live the continuity of reason. I kept progressing towards my heart’s desire (rationality), even though temple and mosque called me.
9
eemaan1 kabhi khul ke saaNs leta hi nahiN
kishti aab-e-Khirad2 meN kheta3 hi nahiN
faryaad4 ke afkaar5 ki aazaadi ka
mazhab kabhi license deta hi nahiN 1.faith 2.waters of reason 3.paddle 4.appeal/protest 5.thought
Faith does not come out in the open. It never paddles its boat in the waters of Reason. I protest that religion never gives a license of freedom of thought.
10
peeraan-e-haram1 said2-e gunahgaari3 haiN
sar-taa-ba-qadam4 Gharq5-e riyakaari6 haiN
zuhaad7 se aur vujood-e-baari8 ka savaal
ye log to munkiraan-e-iqraari9 haiN 1.elders of the mosque/temple/church 2.prey (caught in a net/web) 3.sinfulness 4.head to toe 5.drowned 6.hypocrisy 7.pious 8.existence of god 8.deniers of acceptance (in principle refuse to accept any argument presented to them)
The elders of the faith are caught in a web of sinning. They are steeped in hypocrisy from head to toe. Why even ask the pious about the existence of god. They are committed in principle to refuse to accept any argument presented to them.
josh malihabadi is well known for his fiery nazm. He also wrote many romantic as well as cerebral nazm and Ghazal. His marsia are a celebration of dignified death rather than bowing to injustice even at the cost of life. He also wrote numerous rubaaii. This series is a collection of nearly 300 rubaaiyaat from various books organized by subject. This collection of 10 rubaaiyaat about ‘fikr’, thought, thinking, reason, reasoning.
1
ek umr se hoti hai baseerat1 paida
karta hai Khuda shaaz2 ye daulat paida
rag rag meN tafakkur3 na utar jaaye agar
Khud ilm4 se hoti hai jihaalat5 paida
1.wisdom 2.seldom, rarely 3.reasoning 4.knowledge 5.ignorance
It takes a lifetime to get wisdom. God rarely creates this ability. Unless reasoning/rationality makes its way into every fibre of your being, even knowledge can be reduced to ignorance.
2
kar rooh1 meN baab2-e kufr-o-eemaaN3 masdood4
vo fahm5 ki vahshat6 hai ye daanish7 ka jumood8
‘inkaar’9 ba-eeN10 dimaaGh-e kamzor-o-aleel11
‘iqraar’12 ba-eeN aql-e za’eef-o-mahdood13
1.spirit, soul 2.door of 3.faith and unfaith/other faith 4.close, shut 5.understanding, comprehension 6.running away, escape 7.wisdom 8.congealing, freezing 9.refusal, denial 10.in spite of 11.weak and sickened 12.acceptance, agreement 13.weak and limited
Published in 1937. This was a time when there was an active debate among Muslims of the sub-continent about faith and whether it is acceptable for Muslims to live in a non-Islamic regime. josh urges his audience to close the door on this useless debate. One side (of the debate) is as if understanding has run away, the other side is as if wisdom is frozen (they are both useless). Both sides of the debate “inkaar” and “iqraar” are being taken with brains/intelligence that are weak, sickened and limited.
3
aazadi-e fikr1 o dars2-e hikmat3 hai gunaah
daana4 ke liye nahiN koi jaa5-e panaah6
aye azshdar7-e tahzeeb8 ke farzand9-e rashid10
ye mazhab o qaanoon ayaazan-bi-llah11
1.reasoning, rationality 2.lesson of 3.wisdom 4.wise 5.place of 6.refuge, security 7.dragon, demon 8.culture 9.son, successor 10.rightly guided 11.may god protect/help
This was written in 1937 during active debate on the role of religion in the formulation of laws. Freedom to think and lessons in wisdom are declared sinful/forbidden. There is no place of refuge for the wise. O, rightly guided successor of the dragon of civilization (this whole phrase is used as a sarcastic comment on the successors of British rule who are engaged in writing laws), this inter-mingling of religion and law, may god help us.
4
apni hi giraft1 meN Khud insaan hai aaj
kal saahib-e-tadbeer2 tha hairaan3 hai aaj
jo vaqt ke iqteza4 se thi kal ek rasm5
vo vahm6 ke irteqa7 se eemaan8 hai aaj
1.grip 2.owner/lord of plan/destiny 3.worried, bewildered 4.demands 5.tradition/ritual 6.superstition/fear 7.increase 8.faith
Humanity is caught up in its own grip today. Yesterday it was lord of its own destiny but today it is lost/helpless. That which was a ritual yesterday, because of the demands of time, has become faith/religion today, due to increase in superstition/fear.
5
insaaN pe hai kis darja1 Khuraafaat2 ka baar3
din ka hai kabhi vazn, kabhi raat ka baar
paida ho bashar4 meN kya hakeemaana5 mizaj6
aqlauN pe hai sadiyauN7 ke rivaayaat8 ka baar
1.extent, much 2.trivialities 3.burden 4.human 5.wisdom, rationality 6.temperament, habit 7.centuries 8.traditions/beliefs
O, how much burden of trivialities there is on humanity, day and night. How can a temperament of rationality develop in humans when they are burdened with centuries of traditions/beliefs.
6
tasneem1 ho jaulaan-gah2-e toofaaN3 afsos4
paaband5-e ta’ssub6 ho aur insaaN afsos
darya7 jitne haiN jaa rahe haiN soo8-e bahr9
afsos hai tujh pe kufr-o-eemaaN10 afsos
1.river in heaven, used as a symbol of tranquility 2.training grounds for war horses, place of frenzy 3.storm, frenzy 4.sorrow, alas 5.bound by 6.prejudice, bigotry 7.rivers 8.towards 9.ocean 10.faith and non-faith (other faith)
This was also written in 1937 during intense debate in India about independence and faith. Alas, tranquility has become the training ground of frenzy. Alas, man has become bound by bigotry. The rest of the world is normal, like rivers flowing into the sea. Alas, this debate of faith and non-faith (kufr-o-eemaN).
7
kya jaada1-e pecheeda2 hai allah allaah
har gaam3 pe hota hai musaafir4 gumraah5
sar-e-manzil6-e justaju7-e raah8-e haq9 meN
hikmat10 ek zan11 hai aur hairat12 hai nigaah13
1.pathway 2.twisted, complicated 3.step 4.traveler 5.lost 6.focus of goal 7.search 8.pathway 9.truth, righteousness 10.wisdom 11.speculation, conjecture, suspicion 12.puzzle, bewilderment 13.sight, eye
What a twisted pathway this is, my god. The traveler is led astray at every step. At the start of the pathway of the search for truth, wisdom is nowhere to be seen (is reduced to a mere suspicion). My eye is puzzled.
8
ab rasm1-e haqiqat2 hai na aaiin3-e majaaz4
aye silsila5-e fikr6 teri umr-daraaz7
baRhta hi chala gaya maiN dil ki jaanib
aati hi rahi dair-o-haram8 ki aavaaz
1.tradition 2.truth, reality 3.rules, laws 4.not real, apparent, imaginary 5.continuation 6.thought, reason 7.long live 8.temple and mosque
The old traditions of ‘haqiqi/majaazi’ – exoteric/esoteric – inner/real meaning vs superficial/apparent meaning – are no more. Long live the continuity of reason. I kept progressing towards my heart’s desire (rationality), even though temple and mosque called me.
9
eemaan1 kabhi khul ke saaNs leta hi nahiN
kishti aab-e-Khirad2 meN kheta3 hi nahiN
faryaad4 ke afkaar5 ki aazaadi ka
mazhab kabhi license deta hi nahiN
1.faith 2.waters of reason 3.paddle 4.appeal/protest 5.thought
Faith does not come out in the open. It never paddles its boat in the waters of Reason. I protest that religion never gives a license of freedom of thought.
10
peeraan-e-haram1 said2-e gunahgaari3 haiN
sar-taa-ba-qadam4 Gharq5-e riyakaari6 haiN
zuhaad7 se aur vujood-e-baari8 ka savaal
ye log to munkiraan-e-iqraari9 haiN
1.elders of the mosque/temple/church 2.prey (caught in a net/web) 3.sinfulness 4.head to toe 5.drowned 6.hypocrisy 7.pious 8.existence of god 8.deniers of acceptance (in principle refuse to accept any argument presented to them)
The elders of the faith are caught in a web of sinning. They are steeped in hypocrisy from head to toe. Why even ask the pious about the existence of god. They are committed in principle to refuse to accept any argument presented to them.
Key Search Words: reason, rationality, thinking
