For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
نفرت ہی سہی ۔ منشی رگھوناتھ سنگھ ہاجرؔ دہلوی
۱
اُنہیں دشمن سے محبّت ہی سہی
مجھ سے نفرت ہے تو نفرت ہی سہی
۲
نالہ کرنا مری عادت ہی سہی
گر شکایت ہے شکایت ہی سہی
۳
وصل مشکل ہے تو فرقت ہی سہی
نہیں راحت تو مصیبت ہی سہی
۴
اب کوئی پیچھے قدم ہٹتا ہے
عشق ذلّت ہے تو ذلّت ہی سہی
۵
تیری اُلفت کا تو دم بھرتا ہے
غیر کو مجھ سے عداوت ہی سہی
۶
اب کسی شکل تو پیچھا چھوڑیں
آپ کو مجھ سے محبّت ہی سہی
۷
دلِ غمگیں تو بہل جاتا ہے
اُن کی باتوں میں شرارت ہی سہی
۸
آپ شرمائے چلے جاتے ہیں
آج خلوت ہے تو خلوت ہی سہی
۹
غیر کا پیار مبارک تم کو
مجھ کو مر جانے کی حسرت ہی سہی
۱۰
جانے والے بھی کہیں رکتے ہیں
اُن کے کوچے میں قیامت ہی سہی
۱۱
وجہ تسکیں جو نہیں عشق نہ ہو
باعثِ رنج و مصیبت ہی سہی
۱۲
حسرتِ دید کہیں جاتی ہے
جلوۂ یار اِک آفت ہی سہی
۱۳
کس قدر دل کو بھلی لگتی ہے
ہر ادا اُن کی قیامت ہی سہی
۱۴
نہ ملی دولتِ کونین اگر
دولتِ صبر و قناعت ہی سہی
۱۵
عمر کم ہوتی چلی جاتی ہے
دل میں ارمانوں کی کثرت ہی سہی
۱۶
نہ ملی لذّتِ شیرینیٔ وصل
تلخیٔ صدمۂ فرقت ہی سہی
۱۷
ہم گزاریں گے اِسے ہنس ہنس کر
زندگی ایک مصیبت ہی سہی
۱۸
اب تو عصیاں میں مزا آتا ہے
حشر کے روز ندامت ہی سہی
۱۹
غمِ دُنیا سے رہائی تو ملی
رہنے کو گوشۂ تربت ہی سہی
۲۰
نگہۂ قہر سے محروم نہ کر
غیر پر چشمِ عنایت ہی سہی
۲۱
فائدہ ترکِ سخن سے ہاجرؔ
کچھ نہیں اور تو شہرت ہی سہی
नफ़्रत हि सही – मुंशी रघुनाथ सिंघ हाजर देहलवी
१
उन्हें दुश्मन से मोहब्बत हि सही
मुझ से नफ़्रत है तो नफ़्रत हि सही
२
नाला करना मेरी आदत हि सही
गर शिका’एत है शिका’एत हि सही
३
वस्ल मुश्किल है तो फ़ुर्क़त हि सही
नहीं राहत तो मुसीबत हि सही
४
अब कोई पीछे क़दम हटता है
इश्क़ ज़िल्लत है तो ज़िल्लत हि सही
५
तेरी उल्फ़त का तो दम भरता है
ग़ैर को मुझ से अदावत हि सही
६
अब किसी शक्ल तो पीछा छोढें
आप को मुझ से मोहब्बत हि सही
७
दिल-ए ग़मगीं तो बहल जाता है
उन की बातौं में शरारत हि सही
८
आप शरमाए चले जाते हैं
आज ख़ल्वत है तो ख़ल्वत हि सही
९
ग़ैर का प्यार मुबारक तुम को
मुझ को मर जाने कि हस्रत हि सही
१०
जाने वाले भी कहीं रुकते हैं
उन के कूचे में क़यामत हि सही
११
वजह तस्कीं जो नहीं इश्क़ न हो
बा’अस-ए रंज ओ मुसीबत हि सही
१२
हस्रत-ए दीद कहीं जाती है
जल्वा-ए यार एक आफ़त हि सही
१३
किस क़दर दिल को भली लगती है
हर अदा उन की क़यामत हि सही
१४
न मिली दौलत-ए कौनैन अगर
दौलत-ए सब्र ओ क़िना’अत हि सही
१५
उम्र कम होती चली जाती है
दिल में अर्मानौं कि कस्रत हि सही
१६
न मिली लज़्ज़त-ए शीरीनि-ए वस्ल
तल्ख़ि-ए सद्मा-ए फ़ुर्क़त हि सही
१७
हम गुज़ारेंगे इसे हंस हंस कर
ज़िंदगी एक मुसीबत हि सही
१८
अब तो इस्यां में मज़ा आता है
हश्र के रोज़ नदामत हि सही
१९
ग़म-ए दुनिया से रेहाई तो मिली
रहने को गोशा-ए तुर्बत हि सही
२०
निगह-ए क़हर से महरूम न कर
ग़ैर पर चश्म-ए इना’एत हि सही
२१
फ़ा’एदा तर्क-ए सुख़न से हाजर
कुछ नहीं और तो शोहरत हि सही
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. munshi raghunath singh haajir dehlavi (1884-1922). Both father and grandfather were poets and scholars of urdu and faarsi. He started composing at the age of 13-14. His father died in 1906 and he moved to bhopal for work and returned to dehli in 1910 to re-start his family practice, establishing a clinic named ‘daar-ul-shifa’. He died in 1922 before he could publish his diivaan, but his son collected his papers and published it. His brother, kaviraj raghunandan singh saahir wrote the preface. In addition to his diivan, there is a collection of his Ghazal called, ‘Ghalib aur haajir’, all composed in the zamin of Ghalib.
1
unheN dushman se mohabbat hi sahi
mujh se nafrat1 hai to nafrat his sahi 1.hatred
If she loves the rival, let it be. If she hates me, let it be. The implication is that no matter what she does, the poet/lover will continue to love her.
2
naala1 karna meri aadat2 his sahi
gar3 shikaa’et4 hai shikaa’et his sahi 1.wailing 2.habit 3.if 4.complaint
It is customary in poetic tradition for the lover to wail loudly all night long. It is probably the neighbours complaining that wailing has become his habit. He says – it they complain, let it be, the implication being that he will continue to do what he is doing.
3
vasl1 mushkil2 hai to furqat3 hi sahi
nahiN raahat4 to musiibat5 hi sahi 1.union 2.difficult 3.separation 4.comfort, joy 5.problems, deprivation, sorrow
The sorrow of separation is highly valued because it is associated with the beloved. If union is difficult, then the poet/lover is satisfied with holding on to her thoughts in separation. If he cannot have pleasure, he will deal with sorrows. What he does not want to do is give up all thought of the beloved.
4
ab koii piichhe qadam1 haTta hai
ishq zillat2 hai to zillat hi sahi 1.step 2.disrepute
Once launched on the path of love, does anyone pull back. Of course not! If being a mad/passionate lover causes disrepute, so be it.
5
teri ulfat1 ka to dam-bharta2 hai
Ghair3 ko mujh se adaavat4 hi sahi 1.love 2.give strength to or declare/speak about 3.other, rival 4.conflict, enmity
The poet/lover finds common cause with the rival. He may consider me his enemy, but at least he declares his love for you.
6
ab kisi shakl1 to piichha chhoReN
aap ko mujh se mohabbat hi sahi 1.used here to mean ‘some way or the other’
This CANNOT be the poet/lover speaking. He is quoting the beloved, who is tired of his importunities. One way or the other, leave me alone, even though you love me.
7
dil-e GhamgiiN1 to bahal2 jaata hai
un ki baatoN meN sharaarat3 hi sahi 1.sorrowful 2.consoled, calmed 3.mischief, not seriousness
The beloved is not serious. She makes false promises, shows interest only to tease and dangle possibilities before the lover. He knows it full well, but at least his sorrowful heart is calmed down even if her words/gestures are just mischief.
8
aap sharmaaye chale jaate haiN
aaj Khalvat1 hai to Khalvat his sahi 1.privacy
It seems like the poet/lover has finally gained access to the beloved in a private/secluded setting but she is being bashful and trying to get out of the situation. He protests, why do you continue to be bashful, let there be intimacy. Take advantage of this opportunity.
9
Ghair1 ka pyaar mubarak2 tum ko
mujh ko mar jaane ki hasrat3 his sahi 1.other, rival 2.may it bring joy 3.longing, wish
The beloved has shown a preference for the rival. The poet/lover wishes her happiness – don’t worry about me, even if this means that I will long for death.
10
jaane vaale bhi kahiN rukte haiN
un ke kooche1 meN qayaamat2 his sahi 1.street 2.calamities, abuse
All admirers/lovers throng to the street of the beloved knowing full well that they will face abuse (perhaps at the hands of the doorman who shoos them away). But does this stop anyone! Of course not.
11
vajah1 taskiiN2 jo nahiN ishq na ho
baa’as3-e ranj4 o musiibat5 his sahi 1.reason 2.comfort, tranquility, happiness 3.basis, cause 4.sorrow 5.problems
Love may not be the reason of, may not bring any comfort to me. It may be the cause of sorrow and problems. But I am not giving it up.
12
hasrat1-e diid2 kahiN jaati hai
jalva3-e yaar4 ek aafat5 his sahi 1.longing 2.sighting 3.face, beauty, appearance 4.friend, beloved 5.calamity
The dazzling beauty of the beloved causes problems whenever the poet/lover is able to see her. But does this mean that the desire/longing to get a glimpse of her will die down! Of course not.
13
kis qadar1 dil ko bhali2 lagti hai
har ada3 un ki qayaamat4 hi sahi 1.much 2.pleasant 3.style, pose, gesture 4.calamity
Every gesture of the beloved may bring down a calamity, but still how pleasing it is for the heart.
14
na mili daulat1-e kaunain2 agar
daulat1-e sabr3 o qinaa’at4 hi sahi 1.wealth 2.worlds 3.patience, acceptance 4.making do with what you have, prudence
If I don’t get the wealth of the whole world, so be it. I will be happy with the wealth of forbearance and prudence.
15
umr1 kam hoti chali jaati hai
dil meN armaanoN2 ki kasrat3 hi sahi 1.life (remaining) 2.desires, longing 3.numerous
Even though there are numerous (unfulfilled) desires in the heart, with each passing day the life remaining to be lived keeps getting shorter.
16
na mili lazzat1-e shiiriini2-e vasl3
talKhi4-e sadma5-e furqat6 hi sahi 1.pleasure 2.sweetness 3.union 4.bitterness 5.shock, tragedy 6.separation
What if I did not get the pleasure of sweetness of union, I will do with the bitterness of the tragedy of separation (but will not give up my love).
17
hum guzaareNge ise haNs haNs kar
zindagi ek musiibat hi sahi Life may be difficult, but we will spend it smiling.
18
ab to isyaaN1 meN maza aata hai
hashr2 ke roz nadaamat3 hi sahi 1.transgression, sin 2.doomsday 3.regret
I enjoy my excesses/transgressions today. I will worry about the regret that I will have to undergo on doomsday later.
19
Gham-e duniya se rehaaii1 to mili
rahne ko gosha2-e turbat3 hi sahi 1.release 2.corner 3.grave
At least I got release from the sorrows of life even if all got to spend my time in was a corner of the grave.
20
nigah-e qahar se mahroom na kar
Ghair par chashm-e inaa’et hi sahi 1.glance 2.anger, curse 3.deprive 4.other, rival 5.eye 6.gift, generosity
Do not deprive me of your glance of anger, O beloved even though your glance of kindness/love falls on the rival i.e., he does not want to be ignored.
21
faa’eda1 tark2-e suKhan3 se haajir4
kuchh nahiN aur to shohrat5 hi sahi 1.benefit 2.giving up, quitting 3.versification 4.pen-name of the poet 5.fame
What is the use of quitting versification O haajir. If nothing else, it will give you fame. It feels like he was reflecting on his own ability to compose poetry. Why quit, at least gain some fame, even if your verse is not of high quality.
munshi raghunath singh haajir dehlavi (1884-1922). Both father and grandfather were poets and scholars of urdu and faarsi. He started composing at the age of 13-14. His father died in 1906 and he moved to bhopal for work and returned to dehli in 1910 to re-start his family practice, establishing a clinic named ‘daar-ul-shifa’. He died in 1922 before he could publish his diivaan, but his son collected his papers and published it. His brother, kaviraj raghunandan singh saahir wrote the preface. In addition to his diivan, there is a collection of his Ghazal called, ‘Ghalib aur haajir’, all composed in the zamin of Ghalib.
1
unheN dushman se mohabbat hi sahi
mujh se nafrat1 hai to nafrat his sahi
1.hatred
If she loves the rival, let it be. If she hates me, let it be. The implication is that no matter what she does, the poet/lover will continue to love her.
2
naala1 karna meri aadat2 his sahi
gar3 shikaa’et4 hai shikaa’et his sahi
1.wailing 2.habit 3.if 4.complaint
It is customary in poetic tradition for the lover to wail loudly all night long. It is probably the neighbours complaining that wailing has become his habit. He says – it they complain, let it be, the implication being that he will continue to do what he is doing.
3
vasl1 mushkil2 hai to furqat3 hi sahi
nahiN raahat4 to musiibat5 hi sahi
1.union 2.difficult 3.separation 4.comfort, joy 5.problems, deprivation, sorrow
The sorrow of separation is highly valued because it is associated with the beloved. If union is difficult, then the poet/lover is satisfied with holding on to her thoughts in separation. If he cannot have pleasure, he will deal with sorrows. What he does not want to do is give up all thought of the beloved.
4
ab koii piichhe qadam1 haTta hai
ishq zillat2 hai to zillat hi sahi
1.step 2.disrepute
Once launched on the path of love, does anyone pull back. Of course not! If being a mad/passionate lover causes disrepute, so be it.
5
teri ulfat1 ka to dam-bharta2 hai
Ghair3 ko mujh se adaavat4 hi sahi
1.love 2.give strength to or declare/speak about 3.other, rival 4.conflict, enmity
The poet/lover finds common cause with the rival. He may consider me his enemy, but at least he declares his love for you.
6
ab kisi shakl1 to piichha chhoReN
aap ko mujh se mohabbat hi sahi
1.used here to mean ‘some way or the other’
This CANNOT be the poet/lover speaking. He is quoting the beloved, who is tired of his importunities. One way or the other, leave me alone, even though you love me.
7
dil-e GhamgiiN1 to bahal2 jaata hai
un ki baatoN meN sharaarat3 hi sahi
1.sorrowful 2.consoled, calmed 3.mischief, not seriousness
The beloved is not serious. She makes false promises, shows interest only to tease and dangle possibilities before the lover. He knows it full well, but at least his sorrowful heart is calmed down even if her words/gestures are just mischief.
8
aap sharmaaye chale jaate haiN
aaj Khalvat1 hai to Khalvat his sahi
1.privacy
It seems like the poet/lover has finally gained access to the beloved in a private/secluded setting but she is being bashful and trying to get out of the situation. He protests, why do you continue to be bashful, let there be intimacy. Take advantage of this opportunity.
9
Ghair1 ka pyaar mubarak2 tum ko
mujh ko mar jaane ki hasrat3 his sahi
1.other, rival 2.may it bring joy 3.longing, wish
The beloved has shown a preference for the rival. The poet/lover wishes her happiness – don’t worry about me, even if this means that I will long for death.
10
jaane vaale bhi kahiN rukte haiN
un ke kooche1 meN qayaamat2 his sahi
1.street 2.calamities, abuse
All admirers/lovers throng to the street of the beloved knowing full well that they will face abuse (perhaps at the hands of the doorman who shoos them away). But does this stop anyone! Of course not.
11
vajah1 taskiiN2 jo nahiN ishq na ho
baa’as3-e ranj4 o musiibat5 his sahi
1.reason 2.comfort, tranquility, happiness 3.basis, cause 4.sorrow 5.problems
Love may not be the reason of, may not bring any comfort to me. It may be the cause of sorrow and problems. But I am not giving it up.
12
hasrat1-e diid2 kahiN jaati hai
jalva3-e yaar4 ek aafat5 his sahi
1.longing 2.sighting 3.face, beauty, appearance 4.friend, beloved 5.calamity
The dazzling beauty of the beloved causes problems whenever the poet/lover is able to see her. But does this mean that the desire/longing to get a glimpse of her will die down! Of course not.
13
kis qadar1 dil ko bhali2 lagti hai
har ada3 un ki qayaamat4 hi sahi
1.much 2.pleasant 3.style, pose, gesture 4.calamity
Every gesture of the beloved may bring down a calamity, but still how pleasing it is for the heart.
14
na mili daulat1-e kaunain2 agar
daulat1-e sabr3 o qinaa’at4 hi sahi
1.wealth 2.worlds 3.patience, acceptance 4.making do with what you have, prudence
If I don’t get the wealth of the whole world, so be it. I will be happy with the wealth of forbearance and prudence.
15
umr1 kam hoti chali jaati hai
dil meN armaanoN2 ki kasrat3 hi sahi
1.life (remaining) 2.desires, longing 3.numerous
Even though there are numerous (unfulfilled) desires in the heart, with each passing day the life remaining to be lived keeps getting shorter.
16
na mili lazzat1-e shiiriini2-e vasl3
talKhi4-e sadma5-e furqat6 hi sahi
1.pleasure 2.sweetness 3.union 4.bitterness 5.shock, tragedy 6.separation
What if I did not get the pleasure of sweetness of union, I will do with the bitterness of the tragedy of separation (but will not give up my love).
17
hum guzaareNge ise haNs haNs kar
zindagi ek musiibat hi sahi
Life may be difficult, but we will spend it smiling.
18
ab to isyaaN1 meN maza aata hai
hashr2 ke roz nadaamat3 hi sahi
1.transgression, sin 2.doomsday 3.regret
I enjoy my excesses/transgressions today. I will worry about the regret that I will have to undergo on doomsday later.
19
Gham-e duniya se rehaaii1 to mili
rahne ko gosha2-e turbat3 hi sahi
1.release 2.corner 3.grave
At least I got release from the sorrows of life even if all got to spend my time in was a corner of the grave.
20
nigah-e qahar se mahroom na kar
Ghair par chashm-e inaa’et hi sahi
1.glance 2.anger, curse 3.deprive 4.other, rival 5.eye 6.gift, generosity
Do not deprive me of your glance of anger, O beloved even though your glance of kindness/love falls on the rival i.e., he does not want to be ignored.
21
faa’eda1 tark2-e suKhan3 se haajir4
kuchh nahiN aur to shohrat5 hi sahi
1.benefit 2.giving up, quitting 3.versification 4.pen-name of the poet 5.fame
What is the use of quitting versification O haajir. If nothing else, it will give you fame. It feels like he was reflecting on his own ability to compose poetry. Why quit, at least gain some fame, even if your verse is not of high quality.
