aaj ki raat-sikandar ali vajd

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.

آج کی رات ۔ سکندر علی وجدؔ

۱

مِل گیا شوخ دعاؤں کو اثر آج کی رات

پیکرِ مہر ہے وہ رشکِ قمر آج کی رات

دولتِ ہوش سرِ راہ لُٹا بیٹھے ہیں

ہم کو درکار نہیں اپنی خبر آج کی رات

حُسن و اُلفت کے گُلِستاں میں بہار آئی ہے

مائلِ لطف ہے ہر شاخ و ثمر آج کی رات

۲

اے جنوں کوششِ ناکام کے دِن بیت گئے

اوج پر ہے علمِ فتح و ظفر آج کی رات

کل پریشانی و حسرت کی فراوانی تھی

دِل میں آباد ہے خوشیوں کا نگر آج کی رات

۳

گرم سانسوں کی مہک، نرم نگاہوں کی کسک

شوکتِ صبر ہوئی زیر و زبر آج کی رات

بے نیازِ لبِ ساغر ہے میری تشنہ لبی

لبِ جاں بخش ہے خود آتشِ تر آج کی رات

بارِ ہستی کا ذرا روح کو احساس نہیں

ڈھل گئے نور کے سانچے میں بشر آج کی رات

۴

آرزوؤں کا تقاضا ہے کہ ہو جائے یوںہی

زندگی کی شبِ تاریک بسر آج کی رات

مل گئی حسرت و محرومی و حرماں کی جزا

دِل نے سیکھا ہے محبت کا ہنر آج کی رات

کتنے نوروز لُٹائے تو یہ سوغات ملی

ہم نفس کاش ہو محرومِ سحر آج کی رات

۵

نوجواں جسم، لپکتے ہوئے عریاں شعلے

ضبط کی تاب اِدھر ہے نہ اُدھر آج کی رات

درد کا، لفظ کا، آواز کا آہنگ نیا

دِل دھڑکتے ہیں بہ اندازِ دِگر آج کی رات

جراؑت انگیز ہیں سرشار بدن کے خط و خم

مست و مغرور ہے شہبازِ نظر آج کی رات

۶

نہ تردّد، نہ تکلّف، نہ تامّل، نہ حیا

جزبۂ شوق ہے بے خوف و خطر آج کی رات

کیا ٹھہرنا تیرا ممکن نہیں اے عمرِ رواں

نہیں ممکن تو پھر آہستہ گزر آج کی رات

आज कि रात – सिकंदर अली वज्द

मिल गया शूख़ दुआऔं को असर आज कि रात

पैकर-ए महर है तो रश्क-ए क़मर आज कि रात

दौलत-ए होश सर-ए राह लुटा बैठे हैं

हम को दरकार नहीं अपनी ख़बर आज कि रात

हुस्न ओ उल्फ़त के गुलिस्तां में बहार आई है

मा’एल-ए है हर शाख़ ओ समर आज कि रात

अए जुनूं कोशिश-ए नाकाम के दिन बीत गए

औज पर है अलम-ए फ़तह ओ ज़फ़र आज कि रात

कल परेशानी ओ हस्रत कि फ़रावानी थी

दिल में आबाद है ख़ुशियों का नगर आज कि रात

गर्म सांसों कि महक, नर्म निगाहों कि कसक

शौकत-ए सब्र हुई ज़ेर ओ ज़बर आज कि रात

बे-नियाज़-ए लब-ए साग़र है मेरी तिश्ना लबी

लब-ए जां-बख़्श है ख़ुद आतिश-ए तर आज कि रात

बार-ए हस्ती का ज़रा रूह को एहसास नहीं

ढल गए नूर के सांचे में बशर आज कि रात

आर्ज़ुऔं का तक़ाज़ा है के हो जाए युं ही

ज़िन्दगी कि शब-ए तारीक बसर आज कि रात

मिल गई हस्रत ओ महरूमी ओ हिर्मां कि जज़ा

दिल ने सीखा है मोहब्बत का हुनर आज कि रात

कितने नौरूज़ लुटाये तो ये सौग़ात मिली

हम-नफ़स, काश हो महरूम-ए सहर आज कि रात

नौजवां जिस्म लपकते हुए उरियां शोले

ज़ब्त कि ताब इधर है न उधर आज कि रात

दर्द का, लफ़्ज़ का, आवाज़ का आहंग नया

दिल धड़कते हैं ब-अंदाज़-ए दिगर आज कि रात

जुर’अत अंगेज़ हैं सरशार बदन के ख़त ओ ख़म

मस्त ओ मग़्रूर है शबाज़-ए नज़र आज कि रात

न तरद्दुद, न तकल्लुफ़, न ता’अम्मुल न हया

जज़्बा-ए शौक़ है बे-ख़ौफ़ ओ ख़तर आज कि रात

क्या ठहरना तेरा मुमकिन नहीं अए उम्र-ए रवां

नहीं मुमकिन तो फिर आहिस्ता गुज़र आज कि रात

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sikandar ali vajd (1914-1983) was a progressive, thoughtful writer from hyderabad, and a contemporary of maKhdoom. A number of shu’ara have written beautiful nazm of exactly the same title “aaj ki raat”. It is highly likely that all these were written specifically for a mushaa’era in which the shaa’er had a special role and wrote a nazm of this title to commemorate that night. See josh, majaz, faiz and maKhdoom for this title or just enter ‘aaj ki raat’ in the search box and hit enter.
1
mil gaya shooKh1 duaauN ko asar2 aaj ki raat
paikar3-e mahr4 hai vo rashk5-e qamar6 aaj ki raat
daulat7-e hosh8 sar-e-raah9 luTa baiThe haiN
hum ko darkaar10 nahiN apni Khabar11 aaj ki raat
husn12 o ulfat13 ke gulistaaN meN bahaar aaii hai
maa’el14-e lutf15 hai har shaaKh o samar16 aaj ki raat  
1.playful, mischievous 2.effect, fulfilment 3.image 4.sun (glorious) 5.envy of 6.moon 7.wealth 8.senses, sobriety 9.head/main part of the street 10.need 11.awareness 12.beauty (beloved) 13.love (poet/lover) 14.inclined towards 15.pleasure 16.fruit
The envy of the moon (the beloved) is glorious (like the sun) tonight. The poet/lover is fortunate that he is able to see her; his prayers have been effective, fulfilled/accepted. The poet/lover and his fellow lovers have lost their sobriety/awareness (they are in a trance). Tonight they don’t need to be aware/conscious of what they are doing, drunk trance is good for them. There is spring in the garden of Beauty and Love. Every branch and fruit in inclined towards (giving) pleasure.

2
aye junooN1 koshish2-e naakaam3 ke din beet gaye
auj4 par hai alam5-e fatah6 o zafar7 aaj ki raat
kal pareshaani o hasrat8 ki faraavaani9 thi
dil meN aabaad10 hai KhushiyauN ka nagar aaj ki raat  
1.passion 2.trying 3.unsuccessful 4.peak, high 5.banner, flag 6.conquest 7.triumph, success 8.longing 9.plenty 10.prosperous
The poet/lover’s passion is finally bearing fruit … the banner of success is flying high, the days of frustrated trying (to win the beloved’s attention) are over. Yesterday there was plenty of difficulty and longing. Today joy prospers in the heart. The “beloved” could be the audience and “success” could be the recognition that he has received.

3
garm saaNsauN ki mahak1, narm nigaahauN ki kasak2
shaukat3-e sabr4 hui zer-o-zabar5 aaj ki raat
be-niyaaz6-e lab7-e saaGhar8 hai meri tishna-labi9
lab10-e jaaN-baKhsh11 hai Khud aatish12-e tar13 aaj ki raat
baar14-e hasti15 ka zara rooh16 ko ehsaas17 nahiN
Dhal gaye noor18 ke saaNche19 meN bashar20 aaj ki raat  
1.fragrance 2.sharp pain 3.grandeur, dignity 4.patience 5.helter skelter 6.not in need of 7.lip/rim of 8.wine cup 9.thirst of lips 10.lips 11.life giving 12.flame, fire 13.wet 14.burden of 15.life, living 16.soul, spirit 17.feeling, awareness, experience 18.light 19.mould 20.men, people
The poet/lover is able to experience the fragrance of warm breath. He can see the pain of longing in the beloved’s soft eyes. This throws the dignity of his patience/forbearance helter skelter. His thirst does not need the rim of the cup of wine. He can get drunk from the lips of the beloved (she is described as ‘aatish-e tar’). His spirit has no consciousness of the burden of living. It is as if he (and everyone) has been cast in the mould of light (spiritual).

4
aarzuauN1 ka taqaaza2 hai ke ho jaaye yuN hi
zindagi ki shab3-e tareek4 basar5 aaj ki raat
mil gaii hasrat6 o mahroomi7 o hirmaaN8 ki jaza9
dil ne seekha hai mohabbat ka hunar10 aaj ki raat
kitne nau-rooz11 luTaaye to ye sauGhaat12 mili
hum-nafas13 kaash14 ho mahroom15-e sahr16 aaj ki raat 
1.desires 2.demand 3.night 4.dark 5.spend, pass 6.longing 7.deprivation (of the company of the beloved) 8.hopelessness 9.compensation 10.talent, skill 11.new-year’s day, years 12.gift 13.friend 14.wish, hope 15.deprived of 16.dawn
This night is so pleasant and festive that desires demand that the whole life be spent like this night. The poet/lover has spent his life in a state of longing, deprivation and hopelessness, but tonight he has received compensation for all that pain. It is as if the heart has learnt the skill of love. How many years were spent/wasted to get this gift. O, friend, I wish that this night be denied a dawn i.e. the festivities of the night continue forever, without the end that dawn would normally bring.

5
naujavaaN jism, lapakte1 hue uriyaaN2 shole3
zabt4 ki taab5 idhar hai na udhar aaj ki raat
dard ka, lafz ka, aavaaz ka aahaNg6 naya
dil dhaRakte haiN ba-andaaz7-e digar8 aaj ki raat
jur’at-angez9 haiN sarshaar10 badan ke Khat-o-Kham11
mast-o-maGhroor12 hai shahbaaz-e-nazar13 aaj ki raat  
1.rising, flaring 2.bare, nude 3.flames 4.self-control 5.strength, capability 6.melody 7.style 8.different 9.courage/dare inspiring 10.satiated/perfect 11.lines and curves 12.intoxicated and proud 13.hawk’s eye, keen/sharp sight
The audience (presumably the many women fans) is described as warm like bare flaring flames. Hearts beat in a different style tonight. The lines and curves of perfect bodies inspire daring. They eyes of the beloved are sharp like the sight of a hawk (she is looking at the poet/lover).

6
na taraddud1, na takalluf2, na ta’ammul3 na haya4
jazba5-e shauq6 hai be-Khauf7 o Khatar8 aaj ki raat
kya Thahrna tera mumkin9 nahiN aye umr-e-ravaaN10
nahiN mumkin hai to phir aahista guzar11 aaj ki raat  
1.hesitation 2.formality 3.deliberation, thinking 4.bashfulness 5.sentiment 6.desire, love 7.without fear 8.danger 9.possible 10.flowing/passing time/life 11.pass
The beloved is not bashful, hesitant or formal tonight. Love (the poet/lover) is fearless and daring. He wishes that time would stop. If it cannot stop, can it at least flow slowly.

sikandar ali vajd (1914-1983) was a progressive, thoughtful writer from hyderabad, and a contemporary of maKhdoom.  A number of shu’ara have written beautiful nazm of exactly the same title “aaj ki raat”.  It is highly likely that all these were written specifically for a mushaa’era in which the shaa’er had a special role and wrote a nazm of this title to commemorate that night.  See josh, majaz, faiz and maKhdoom for this title or just enter ‘aaj ki raat’ in the search box and hit enter.
1
mil gaya shooKh1 duaauN ko asar2 aaj ki raat
paikar3-e mahr4 hai vo rashk5-e qamar6 aaj ki raat
daulat7-e hosh8 sar-e-raah9 luTa baiThe haiN
hum ko darkaar10 nahiN apni Khabar11 aaj ki raat
husn12 o ulfat13 ke gulistaaN meN bahaar aaii hai
maa’el14-e lutf15 hai har shaaKh o samar16 aaj ki raat

1.playful, mischievous 2.effect, fulfilment 3.image 4.sun (glorious) 5.envy of 6.moon 7.wealth 8.senses, sobriety 9.head/main part of the street 10.need 11.awareness 12.beauty (beloved) 13.love (poet/lover) 14.inclined towards 15.pleasure 16.fruit

The envy of the moon (the beloved) is glorious (like the sun) tonight.  The poet/lover is fortunate that he is able to see her; his prayers have been effective, fulfilled/accepted.  The poet/lover and his fellow lovers have lost their sobriety/awareness (they are in a trance).  Tonight they don’t need to be aware/conscious of what they are doing, drunk trance is good for them.  There is spring in the garden of Beauty and Love.  Every branch and fruit in inclined towards (giving) pleasure.
2
aye junooN1 koshish2-e naakaam3 ke din beet gaye
auj4 par hai alam5-e fatah6 o zafar7 aaj ki raat
kal pareshaani o hasrat8 ki faraavaani9 thi
dil meN aabaad10 hai KhushiyauN ka nagar aaj ki raat

1.passion 2.trying 3.unsuccessful 4.peak, high 5.banner, flag 6.conquest 7.triumph, success 8.longing 9.plenty 10.prosperous

The poet/lover’s passion is finally bearing fruit … the banner of success is flying high, the days of frustrated trying (to win the beloved’s attention) are over.  Yesterday there was plenty of difficulty and longing.  Today joy prospers in the heart.  The “beloved” could be the audience and “success” could be the recognition that he has received.
3
garm saaNsauN ki mahak1, narm nigaahauN ki kasak2
shaukat3-e sabr4 hui zer-o-zabar5 aaj ki raat
be-niyaaz6-e lab7-e saaGhar8 hai meri tishna-labi9
lab10-e jaaN-baKhsh11 hai Khud aatish12-e tar13 aaj ki raat
baar14-e hasti15 ka zara rooh16 ko ehsaas17 nahiN
Dhal gaye noor18 ke saaNche19 meN bashar20 aaj ki raat

1.fragrance 2.sharp pain 3.grandeur, dignity 4.patience 5.helter skelter 6.not in need of 7.lip/rim of 8.wine cup 9.thirst of lips 10.lips 11.life giving 12.flame, fire 13.wet 14.burden of 15.life, living 16.soul, spirit 17.feeling, awareness, experience 18.light 19.mould 20.men, people

The poet/lover is able to experience the fragrance of warm breath.  He can see the pain of longing in the beloved’s soft eyes.  This throws the dignity of his patience/forbearance helter skelter.  His thirst does not need the rim of the cup of wine.  He can get drunk from the lips of the beloved (she is described as ‘aatish-e tar’).  His spirit has no consciousness of the burden of living.  It is as if he (and everyone) has been cast in the mould of light (spiritual).
4
aarzuauN1 ka taqaaza2 hai ke ho jaaye yuN hi
zindagi ki shab3-e tareek4 basar5 aaj ki raat
mil gaii hasrat6 o mahroomi7 o hirmaaN8 ki jaza9
dil ne seekha hai mohabbat ka hunar10 aaj ki raat
kitne nau-rooz11 luTaaye to ye sauGhaat12 mili
hum-nafas13 kaash14 ho mahroom15-e sahr16 aaj ki raat

1.desires 2.demand 3.night 4.dark 5.spend, pass 6.longing 7.deprivation (of the company of the beloved) 8.hopelessness 9.compensation 10.talent, skill 11.new-year’s day, years 12.gift 13.friend 14.wish, hope 15.deprived of 16.dawn

This night is so pleasant and festive that desires demand that the whole life be spent like this night.  The poet/lover has spent his life in a state of longing, deprivation and hopelessness, but tonight he has received compensation for all that pain. It is as if the heart has learnt the skill of love.  How many years were spent/wasted to get this gift.  O, friend, I wish that this night be denied a dawn i.e. the festivities of the night continue forever, without the end that dawn would normally bring.
5
naujavaaN jism, lapakte1 hue uriyaaN2 shole3
zabt4 ki taab5 idhar hai na udhar aaj ki raat
dard ka, lafz ka, aavaaz ka aahaNg6 naya
dil dhaRakte haiN ba-andaaz7-e digar8 aaj ki raat
jur’at-angez9 haiN sarshaar10 badan ke Khat-o-Kham11
mast-o-maGhroor12 hai shahbaaz-e-nazar13 aaj ki raat

1.rising, flaring 2.bare, nude 3.flames 4.self-control 5.strength, capability 6.melody 7.style 8.different 9.courage/dare inspiring 10.satiated/perfect 11.lines and curves 12.intoxicated and proud 13.hawk’s eye, keen/sharp sight

The audience (presumably the many women fans) is described as warm like bare flaring flames.  Hearts beat in a different style tonight.  The lines and curves of perfect bodies inspire daring.  They eyes of the beloved are sharp like the sight of a hawk (she is looking at the poet/lover).
6
na taraddud1, na takalluf2, na ta’ammul3 na haya4
jazba5-e shauq6 hai be-Khauf7 o Khatar8 aaj ki raat
kya Thahrna tera mumkin9 nahiN aye umr-e-ravaaN10
nahiN mumkin hai to phir aahista guzar11 aaj ki raat

1.hesitation 2.formality 3.deliberation, thinking 4.bashfulness 5.sentiment 6.desire, love 7.without fear 8.danger 9.possible 10.flowing/passing time/life 11.pass

The beloved is not bashful, hesitant or formal tonight.  Love (the poet/lover) is fearless and daring.  He wishes that time would stop.  If it cannot stop, can it at least flow slowly.

Key Search Words:

One comment:

  1. Aaj ki Raat — Sikander Ali Wajd — is all about lovemaking, ain’ it? Every one of the ash’ar speaks of an ecstasy of the most familiar kind. The last one is the bomb: Life, if you must keep movin’ into the future, slow down, please!

Comments are closed.