For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ahmad faraz
ابو جہاد ۔ احمد فرازؔ
۱
ابو جہاد مرا دل لہو لہو ہے مگر
معاف کر کہ تیرے دشمنوں کے ساتھ ہیں ہم
ترا جنوں ترا ایثار محترم لیکن
جو سچ کہوں تو تیرے قاتلوں کے ساتھ ہیں ہم
۲
ہمیں تو ہیں وہ ستمگر کہ مصلحت جن کی
دراز دستیِ قاتل کا دل بڑھاتی ہے
ہم اس قبیلۂ عشّاق سے نہیں کہ جنہیں
ندیمِ دوست سے خوشبوئے دوست آتی ہے
۳
جو تیرے دل میں تپکتا تھا آبلے کی طرح
وہی تو دُکھ ہے جو چھالا میری زبان کا ہے
ہم اک سناں کے ہدف ایک تیر کے بسمل
اگر ہے فرق تو بس ہاتھ یا کمان کا ہے
۴
تو دشتِ بے وطنی میں لہو لہان ہوا
ہم اپنے گھر میں ہی سینہ فگار پھرتے ہیں
غلام گردشِ زنداں سے صحنِ مقتل تک
ابھی رسن بہ گلو میرے یار پھرتے ہیں
۵
وہ جس نے خون اچھالا تیرے شہیدوں کا
اسی کی تیغ ہمارے سروں پہ چمکی ہے
وہی تو ایک ہے جلّاد جس کے ہاتھوں نے
ہر اک چراغ سے چہرے کی لو قلم کی ہے
۶
ابو جہاد ہمارا جہاد ایک سا ہے
وہ سرزمین تری ہو کہ سرزمیں میری
رہِ وفا میں ترا خوں بہے کہ میرا لہو
دریدہ ہو ترا دامن کہ آستیں میری
۷
چلیں گے ساتھ رفاقت کے پرچموں کو لیے
جہاں جہاں سے بھی ساتھی ہمیں پکاریں گے
اگر ہے دشنہ و خنجر زبان قاتل کی
تو ہم بھی حرفِ وفا کی زرہ سنواریں گے
अबू-जेहाद – अहमद फ़राज़
१
अबू-जेहाद मेरा दिल लहू-लहू है मगर
मु’आफ़ कर के तेरे दुश्मनों के साथ हैं हम
तेरा जुनूं, तेरा ईसार मोहतरम लैकिन
जो सच कहूं तो तेरे क़ातिलों के साथ हैं हम
२
हमीं तो हैं वो सितमगर के मस्लेहत जिन की
दराज़-दस्ती-ए क़ातिल का दिल बढ़ाती है
हम उस क़ाबीला-ए उश्शाक़ से नहीं के जिन्हें
नदीम-ए दोस्त से ख़ुशबू-ए दोस्त आती है
३
जो तेरे दिल में तपक्ता था आबले की तरह
वही तो दुख है जो छाला मेरी ज़बान का है
हम एक सिनाँ के हदफ़ एक तीर के बिस्मिल
अगर है फ़र्क़ तो बस हाथ या कमान का है
४
तू दश्त-ए बेवतनी में लहू-लुहान हुआ
हम अपने घर में ही सीना-फ़िगार फिरते हैं
ग़ुलाम गर्दिश-ए ज़िंदाँ से सहन-ए मक़्तल तक
अभी रसन ब-गुलू मेरे यार फिरते हैं
५
वो जिस ने ख़ून उछाला तेरे शहीदों का
उसी कि तेग़ हमारे सरौं पे चमकी है
वही तो एक है जल्लाद जिसके हाथों ने
हर एक चराग़-से चेहरे की लौ क़लम की है
६
अबू-जेहाद हमारा जेहाद एक सा है
वो सरज़मीन तेरी हो के सरज़मीं मेरी
रह-ए वफ़ा में तेरा ख़ूं बहे के मेरा लहू
दरीदा हो तेरा दामन के आस्तिं मेरी
७
चलेंगे साथ रिफ़ाकत के पर्चमों को लिए
जहाँ-जहाँ से भी साथी हमें पुकारेंगे
अगर है दश्ना ओ ख़ंजर ज़बान क़ातिल की
तो हम भी हर्फ़-ए वफ़ा की ज़िरह संवारेंगे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ahmad faraz (1931-2008) popular love and romance poet as well as a substantial contributor to progressive themes. Here he writes with great feeling about the struggle of Palestinian people to regain their homeland. The title ‘abu-jehaad’ is after the ‘kunya’ of Khalil ibrahim al-vaziir, co-founder of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, together with George Habash. This was a strictly secular, left leaning organization. He was assassinated in 1988 by Israeli commandos.
1
abu-jehaad1 mera dil lahu-lahu2 hai magar
mu’aaf kar keh teray dushmanoN ke saath haiN ham
tera junooN3, tera iisaar4 mohtaram5 laikin
jo sach kahuN to teray qaatiloN6 ke saath haiN ham 1.see background 2.bleeding profusely 3.passion 4.sacrifice, selflessness 5.respected, honourable 6.killers
O abu-jehaad, my heart bleeds but I regret that we stand with your enemies. Your passion, your selfless sacrifice are honourable but if I speak the truth, we are with your killers. This probably speaks to the influence that the US exercises.
2
hameeN1 to haiN vo sitamgar2 keh maslehat3 jinki
daraaz-dasti4-e qaatil5 ka dil baRhaati6 hai
hum uss qabeela7-e usshaaq8 se nahiN keh jinheN
nadeem9-e dost10 se Khushboo-e dost aati hai 1.we ourselves 2.oppressors 3.convenience, diplomacy 4.oppression, tyranny 5.killer 6.dil baRhaana means encourage 7.tribe 8.lovers 9.companion, confidant 10.friend, god
We are ourselves are those oppressors whose prudent/selfish diplomacy encourages the tyranny of the killers. We are not of the tribe of lovers who can ‘smell the fragrance of god from the companion of god’. This phrase is taken from Ghalib’s she’r …
Ghalib nadeem-e dost se aati hai buu-e dost
mashGhool-e haq huN bandagi-e bu-turaab meN
The shaa’er probably uses this to mean, ‘we are unable to see and express solidarity with the rightfulness of your claim’.
3
jo tere dil me tapaktaa1 tha aable2 ki tar’ha
vahi to dukh hai jo chhaala3 meri zabaan ka hai
hum ek sinaaN4 ke hadaf5 aek tiir kay bismil6
agar hai farq7 to buss haath ya kamaan8 ka hai 1.throb, ache 2.blister 3.blister 4.spear 5.target 6.prey 7.difference 8.bow as in bow and arrow
That which throbs in pain like a blister in your heart, is the same blister on my tongue that bleeds. We are both targets and prey of the same spear and the same arrow. If there is any difference, it is that one is thrown by hand and the other shot with a bow.
4
tu dasht1-e bevatani2 me lahu-luhaan3 hua
hum apne ghar meN hi seena-figaar4 phirte haiN
Ghulaam5 gardish6-e zindaaN7 se sahn8-e maqtal9 tak
abhi rasan10 ba-guloo11 meray yaar phirte hain 1.wilderness 2.homelessness 3.drenched in blood 4.torn/cut breast 5.slaves, captives 6.circulating, moving round 7.prison 8.field 9.slaughter house 10.rope 11.around neck
You are drenched in blood in the wilderness of homelessness. We are in our homes but with our bosoms slashed. Both are enslaved, one going around in the prison yard, the other taken to the slaughter house with a rope around his neck.
5
voh jis ne Khoon uchhaala teray shahiidoN1 ka
usii ki teGh2 hamaare saroN peh chamki3 hai
vahi to aek hai jallaad4 jis ke haathoN ne
har ek charaaGh-se5 chehre ki lau6 qalam7 kii hai 1.martyrs 2.sword 3.flashing 4.executioner, killer 5.shining like a lamp 6.wick 7.cut off
He who spilled the blood of your martyrs is the same one whose sword flashes on our heads. The hands of the same killer have cut off the wicks of every shining lamp … extinguished the hopes of youth.
6
abu-jehaad1 hamaara jehaad2 aek sa hai
vo sarzamiin3 teri ho keh sarzamiiN meri
rah4-e vafa5 meN tera KhooN bahay keh mera lahu6
dariida7 ho tera daaman8 keh aastiiN9 meri 1.see background 2.struggle 3.homeland 4.path 5.fidelity, truth 6.blood 7.torn, rent 5.hem of the garment 9.sleeve
O abu-jehaad, our struggle is the same. Be it your homeland or mine, be it your blood that is spilled in the path of truth or mine, be it the torn hem of your garment or my sleeve, we are both part of the same struggle, against the same oppressor.
7
chaleNge saath rifaaqat1 ke parchamoN2 ko liye
jahaaN-jahaaN3 se bhi saathi4 hameN pukaareNge
agar hai dashna5 o Khanjar6 zabaan7 qaatil8 ki
to ham bhi harf9-e vafa10 kii zirah11 saNvaareNge 1.friendship, solidarity 2.banners 3.from wherever 4.companions, comrades 5.knife 6.dagger 7.tongue, language 8.killer 9.word 10.fidelity, truth 11.chain mail, shield
We will march together carrying banners of solidarity. We will come, to answer comrades, from wherever they call. If the killer speaks the language of knife and dagger, then we will embellish the shield of the words of truth.
ahmad faraz (1931-2008) popular love and romance poet as well as a substantial contributor to progressive themes. Here he writes with great feeling about the struggle of Palestinian people to regain their homeland. The title ‘abu-jehaad’ is after the ‘kunya’ of Khalil ibrahim al-vaziir, co-founder of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, together with George Habash. This was a strictly secular, left leaning organization. He was assassinated in 1988 by Israeli commandos.
1
abu-jehaad1 mera dil lahu-lahu2 hai magar
mu’aaf kar keh teray dushmanoN ke saath haiN ham
tera junooN3, tera iisaar4 mohtaram5 laikin
jo sach kahuN to teray qaatiloN6 ke saath haiN ham
1.see background 2.bleeding profusely 3.passion 4.sacrifice, selflessness 5.respected, honourable 6.killers
O abu-jehaad, my heart bleeds but I regret that we stand with your enemies. Your passion, your selfless sacrifice are honourable but if I speak the truth, we are with your killers. This probably speaks to the influence that the US exercises.
2
hameeN1 to haiN vo sitamgar2 keh maslehat3 jinki
daraaz-dasti4-e qaatil5 ka dil baRhaati6 hai
hum uss qabeela7-e usshaaq8 se nahiN keh jinheN
nadeem9-e dost10 se Khushboo-e dost aati hai
1.we ourselves 2.oppressors 3.convenience, diplomacy 4.oppression, tyranny 5.killer 6.dil baRhaana means encourage 7.tribe 8.lovers 9.companion, confidant 10.friend, god
We are ourselves are those oppressors whose prudent/selfish diplomacy encourages the tyranny of the killers. We are not of the tribe of lovers who can ‘smell the fragrance of god from the companion of god’. This phrase is taken from Ghalib’s she’r …
Ghalib nadeem-e dost se aati hai buu-e dost
mashGhool-e haq huN bandagi-e bu-turaab meN
The shaa’er probably uses this to mean, ‘we are unable to see and express solidarity with the rightfulness of your claim’.
3
jo tere dil me tapaktaa1 tha aable2 ki tar’ha
vahi to dukh hai jo chhaala3 meri zabaan ka hai
hum ek sinaaN4 ke hadaf5 aek tiir kay bismil6
agar hai farq7 to buss haath ya kamaan8 ka hai
1.throb, ache 2.blister 3.blister 4.spear 5.target 6.prey 7.difference 8.bow as in bow and arrow
That which throbs in pain like a blister in your heart, is the same blister on my tongue that bleeds. We are both targets and prey of the same spear and the same arrow. If there is any difference, it is that one is thrown by hand and the other shot with a bow.
4
tu dasht1-e bevatani2 me lahu-luhaan3 hua
hum apne ghar meN hi seena-figaar4 phirte haiN
Ghulaam5 gardish6-e zindaaN7 se sahn8-e maqtal9 tak
abhi rasan10 ba-guloo11 meray yaar phirte hain
1.wilderness 2.homelessness 3.drenched in blood 4.torn/cut breast 5.slaves, captives 6.circulating, moving round 7.prison 8.field 9.slaughter house 10.rope 11.around neck
You are drenched in blood in the wilderness of homelessness. We are in our homes but with our bosoms slashed. Both are enslaved, one going around in the prison yard, the other taken to the slaughter house with a rope around his neck.
5
voh jis ne Khoon uchhaala teray shahiidoN1 ka
usii ki teGh2 hamaare saroN peh chamki3 hai
vahi to aek hai jallaad4 jis ke haathoN ne
har ek charaaGh-se5 chehre ki lau6 qalam7 kii hai
1.martyrs 2.sword 3.flashing 4.executioner, killer 5.shining like a lamp 6.wick 7.cut off
He who spilled the blood of your martyrs is the same one whose sword flashes on our heads. The hands of the same killer have cut off the wicks of every shining lamp … extinguished the hopes of youth.
6
abu-jehaad1 hamaara jehaad2 aek sa hai
vo sarzamiin3 teri ho keh sarzamiiN meri
rah4-e vafa5 meN tera KhooN bahay keh mera lahu6
dariida7 ho tera daaman8 keh aastiiN9 meri
1.see background 2.struggle 3.homeland 4.path 5.fidelity, truth 6.blood 7.torn, rent 5.hem of the garment 9.sleeve
O abu-jehaad, our struggle is the same. Be it your homeland or mine, be it your blood that is spilled in the path of truth or mine, be it the torn hem of your garment or my sleeve, we are both part of the same struggle, against the same oppressor.
7
chaleNge saath rifaaqat1 ke parchamoN2 ko liye
jahaaN-jahaaN3 se bhi saathi4 hameN pukaareNge
agar hai dashna5 o Khanjar6 zabaan7 qaatil8 ki
to ham bhi harf9-e vafa10 kii zirah11 saNvaareNge
1.friendship, solidarity 2.banners 3.from wherever 4.companions, comrades 5.knife 6.dagger 7.tongue, language 8.killer 9.word 10.fidelity, truth 11.chain mail, shield
We will march together carrying banners of solidarity. We will come, to answer comrades, from wherever they call. If the killer speaks the language of knife and dagger, then we will embellish the shield of the words of truth.
OMG Shahed! These words are loaded with poignancy and helplessness at the current events and the betraying governmental attitude.
Overwhelming and powerful.