For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
آج کی رات نہ جا ۔ مخدوم محی الدین
۱
رات آئی ہے بہت راتوں کے بعد آئی ہے
دیر سے دور سے آئی ہے مگر آئی ہے
مرمریں صبح کی ہاتھوں میں چھلکتا ہوا جام آئیگا
رات ٹوٹے گی اُجالوں کا پیام آئیگا
آج کی رات نہ جا
۲
زندگی لطف بھی ہے، زندگی آزار بھی ہے
ساز و آہنگ بھی زنجیر کی جھنکار بھی ہے
زندگی دید بھی ہے حسرتِ دیدار بھی ہے
زہر بھی آبِ حیاتِ لب و رخسار بھی ہے
آج کی رات نہ جا
۳
آج کی رات بہت راتوں کے بعد آئی ہے
کتنی فرخندہ ہے شب، کتنی مبارک ہے سحر
وقف ہے میرے لئے تیری محبت کی نظر
آج کی رات نہ جا
आज की रात ना जा – मख़्दूम मोहिउद्दीन
१
रात आई है बहुत रातों के बाद आई है
देर से दूर से आई है मगर आई है
मरमरीं सुबह की हाथों में छलकता हुआ जाम आएगा
रात टूटेगी, उजालों का पयाम आएगा
आज की रात ना जा
२
ज़िंदगी लुत्फ़ भी है, ज़िंदगी आज़ार भी है
साज़ ओ आहंग भी, ज़ंजीर की झंकार भी है
ज़िंदगी दीद भी है, हसरत ए दीदार भी है
ज़हर भी आब ए हयात ए लब ओ रुख़सार भी है
आज की रात ना जा
३
आज की रात बहुत रातों के बाद आई है
कितनी फ़रख़ुन्दा है शब, कितनी मुबारक है सहर
वक़्फ़ है मेरे लिये तेरी मोहब्बत की नज़र
आज की रात ना जा
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. maKhdoom mohiuddin (1908-1969), progressive, communist, freedom fighter, labour union leader/organizer, beloved of the city of hyderabad. maKhdoom and faiz were great friends and they have many similar nazm/Ghazal. This is linked to ‘maKhdoom-faiz parallels’ on the Theme Index page. Just like faiz in his ‘aaj ki raat’, maKhdoom too wants to enjoy the present. The present has arrived after many trials and tribultions, tarry a while, my beloved. Do not leave tonight. Right along with romanticism is the double meaning of the dawn of the revolution – the breaking of the dark (old, oppressive) order and the coming of the message of the new dawn.
1
raat aaii hai bahut raatoN ke baad aaii hai
der se duur se aaii hai magar aaii hai
marmareeN subah ki haathoN meN chhalakta hua jaam1 aaega
raat TooTegi, ujaaloN ka payaam2 aaega
aaj ki raat na jaa 1.overflowing goblet (of wine) 2.message
After many many nights, this night has come tonight. After a long wait, a long way, but it has come, this rare night. In the dawn’s marble hands sparkles the brimming goblet of wine. The night will break, the message of a new dawn will arrive. Do not leave tonight. There is a hint that the new dawn will be dawn of social justice.
2
zindagi lutf3 bhi hai, zindagi aazaar4 bhi hai
saaz-o-aahaNg5 bhi, zanjir ki jhankaar bhi hai
zindagi deed6 bhi hai, hasrat-e-deedaar7 bhi hai
zahr bhi aab-e-hayaat8 e lab o ruKhsaar9 bhi hai
aaj ki raat na jaa 3.pleasure 4.pain 5.song and melody 6.sight (beautiful) 7.longing to see (being deprived of) 8.water (elixir) of life, immortality 9.lips and face
Life brings pleasure, life also brings pain. A justification for taking time off from revolutionary struggle and enjoying the moment – life is a mixture of pleasure and pain – enjoy this moment. Song and music yes, also clangs of the ankle chain. Life is a vision and a hankering for that vision. Life is poison but also elixir of the beloved’s lip and cheek. Do not leave tonight.
3
aaj ki raat bahut raatoN ke baad aaii hai
kitni farKhunda10 hai shab, kitni mubarak11 hai sahr
vaqf12 hai mere liye teri mohabbat ki nazar
aaj ki raat na jaa 10.brilliant 11.blessed, lucky 12.reserved
After many nights of trial this night has come. The night is brilliant and the blessed the dawn is about to come. Reserved for me tonight, is your love. Do not leave tonight.
maKhdoom mohiuddin (1908-1969), progressive, communist, freedom fighter, labour union leader/organizer, beloved of the city of hyderabad. maKhdoom and faiz were great friends and they have many similar nazm/Ghazal. This is linked to ‘maKhdoom-faiz parallels’ on the Theme Index page. Just like faiz in his ‘aaj ki raat’, maKhdoom too wants to enjoy the present. The present has arrived after many trials and tribultions, tarry a while, my beloved. Do not leave tonight. Right along with romanticism is the double meaning of the dawn of the revolution – the breaking of the dark (old, oppressive) order and the coming of the message of the new dawn.
1
raat aaii hai bahut raatoN ke baad aaii hai
der se duur se aaii hai magar aaii hai
marmareeN subah ki haathoN meN chhalakta hua jaam1 aaega
raat TooTegi, ujaaloN ka payaam2 aaega
aaj ki raat na jaa
1.overflowing goblet (of wine) 2.message
After many many nights, this night has come tonight. After a long wait, a long way, but it has come, this rare night. In the dawn’s marble hands sparkles the brimming goblet of wine. The night will break, the message of a new dawn will arrive. Do not leave tonight. There is a hint that the new dawn will be dawn of social justice.
2
zindagi lutf3 bhi hai, zindagi aazaar4 bhi hai
saaz-o-aahaNg5 bhi, zanjir ki jhankaar bhi hai
zindagi deed6 bhi hai, hasrat-e-deedaar7 bhi hai
zahr bhi aab-e-hayaat8 e lab o ruKhsaar9 bhi hai
aaj ki raat na jaa
3.pleasure 4.pain 5.song and melody 6.sight (beautiful) 7.longing to see (being deprived of) 8.water (elixir) of life, immortality 9.lips and face
Life brings pleasure, life also brings pain. A justification for taking time off from revolutionary struggle and enjoying the moment – life is a mixture of pleasure and pain – enjoy this moment. Song and music yes, also clangs of the ankle chain. Life is a vision and a hankering for that vision. Life is poison but also elixir of the beloved’s lip and cheek. Do not leave tonight.
3
aaj ki raat bahut raatoN ke baad aaii hai
kitni farKhunda10 hai shab, kitni mubarak11 hai sahr
vaqf12 hai mere liye teri mohabbat ki nazar
aaj ki raat na jaa
10.brilliant 11.blessed, lucky 12.reserved
After many nights of trial this night has come. The night is brilliant and the blessed the dawn is about to come. Reserved for me tonight, is your love. Do not leave tonight.
