For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
غزل ہوتی ہے ۔ سید محمد شاہد
۱
یوں تو الفاظ سے اِک لحن بنا لے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
مگر الفاظ کو معانی سے جو بھر دے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۲
شاعر بھی ترنُّم سے جو پڑھ لے تو بہت مِلتی ہے داد
مگر کمالِ سخن کلیم بنا دے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۳
غزل گوئی میں غزل گانے میں کچھ فرق ہے دوست
تو سمجھتا ہے فقط بین بجا لے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۴
ہر شعر میں ہے اپنی ہی ناکامی کا رونا تجھ کو
غمِ دوراں کا کبھی ذِکر جو کر لے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۵
ہے فقط کاکُل و رخسار اور دستِ حِنا میں خوبی
دستِ مزدور کی خوبی جو جتا لے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۶
زلفِ یاراں کے خم و پیچ میں اب تک ہے پھنسا
منطق کے پیچ و خم سے اُلجھ لے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۷
تیری دنیا میں فقط ظلم و تشدّد ہے بُتوں کا
سرمایہ کی سختی بھی دِکھا دے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۸
شباب و شعر و شاہد اور شراب حدّ نظر ہے تیری
دورِ فردا کا بھی اِک خواب تُو بُن لے، تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۹
خِرد کے پاس خبر کے سوا کچھ ہو کہ نہ ہو
زندگی باخبر ہو کے سنوارے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۱۰
فقط اوروں کے لئے کفر کا اِلزام اُٹھا رکھا ہے
تو اگر اپنے ہی ایمان کو جانچے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۱۱
ایک کافر ہے تو دوجا ہے ملیچھ، ہیں دونوں نادان
تفرقے دین دھرم کے جو مِٹا لے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
۱۲
اندھے ایمان کی تقلید تو ورثہ میں ملی ہے شاہد
صفت و ذات کے اضداد پرکھ لے تو غزل ہوتی ہے
ग़ज़ल होती है – सय्यद मोहम्मद शाहेद
१
युँ तो अल्फ़ाज़ से एक लहन बना ले तो ग़ज़ल होती है
मगर अल्फ़ाज़ को मो’आनि से जो भर दे तो ग़ज़ल होती है
२
शाएर भी तरन्नुम से जो पढ़ ले तो बहुत मिलती है दाद
मगर कमाल-ए सुख़न कलीम बना दे तो ग़ज़ल होती है
३
ग़ज़ल गोई में ग़ज़ल गाने में कुछ फ़र्क़ है दोस्त
तू समझता है फ़क़त बीन बजा ले तो ग़ज़ल होती है
४
हर शेर में है अपनी ही नाकामी का रोना तुझ को
ग़म-ए दौराँ का कभी ज़िक्र जो कर ले तो ग़ज़ल होती है
५
है फ़क़त काकुल ओ रुख़्सार और दस्त-ए हिना में ख़ूबी
दस्त-ए मज़्दूर कि ख़ूबी जो जता ले तो ग़ज़ल होती है
६
ज़ुल्फ़-ए याराँ के ख़म ओ पेच में अब तक है फँसा
मंतक़ के पेच ओ ख़म से उलझ ले तो ग़ज़ल होती है
७
तेरी दुनिया में फ़क़त ज़ुल्म ओ तशद्दुद है बुतौँ का
सरमाए की सख़्ती भी दिखा दे तो ग़ज़ल होती है
८
शबाब ओ शेर ओ शाहेद और शराब हद्द-ए नज़र है तेरी
दौर-ए फ़र्दा का भी एक ख़्वाब तु बुन ले, तो ग़ज़ल होती है
९
ख़िरद के पास ख़बर के सिवा कुछ हो के न हो
ज़िन्दगी बाख़बर हो के सँवारे तो ग़ज़ल होती हौ
१०
फ़क़त औरौं के लिए कुफ़्र का इल्ज़ाम उठा रक्खा है
तू अगर अपने हि ईमान को जाँचे तो ग़ज़ल होती है
११
एक काफ़ेर है तो दूजा है म्लेच्छ, हैं दोनों नादान
तफ़्रेक़े दीन धरम के जो मिटा ले तो ग़ज़ल होती है
१२
अंधे ईमान की तक़्लीद तो विरसे में मिली है शाहेद
सिफ़त ओ ज़ात के अज़्दाद परख ले तो ग़ज़ल होती है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed mohammed shahed (1944-alive and kicking) is a beginner to urdu language, leave aside poetry, but never-the-less sometimes dares to venture into what he calls “shuru’aat”. This is a reaction to conventional Ghazal of self-pity, wine, women, romance and word-smithing at the expense of a higher purpose.
1
yuN to alfaaz1 se ek lahn2 banaa le to Ghazal hoti hai
magar alfaaz ko mu’aani3 se jo bhar de to Ghazal hoti hai 1.words 2.melody 3.meaning
It is true that words forcibly cast into melody can make a Ghazal. But if you fill the words with meaning, then there can be a Ghazal.
2
aur shaa’er bhi tarannum1 se jo paRh le to bahut milti hai daad2
magar kamaal3-e suKhan4 kaleem5 banaa de to Ghazal hoti hai 1.tune 2.applause 3.excellence 4.verse 5.one who speaks
When the shaa’er recites in a musical voice at a mushaa’era, then he gets much applause. But if the excellence of his verse, makes him into “kaleem”, then there is a Ghazal. “kaleem”, literally means one who speaks. It is used as one of names/titles of moosa because he is supposed to have spoken to god on mount tuur. Thus, kaleem implies a person of exalted speech that can even be addressed to god.
3
Ghazal goii1 meN Ghazal gaane meN kuchh farq2 hai dost
tu samjhta hai faqat biin3 baja le to Ghazal hoti hai 1.speaking, composing 2.difference 3.flute
There is a difference between composing (a thoughtful) Ghazal and reciting it in a melodious voice, my friend. You think that only playing a tune on a flute can make a Ghazal.
4
har she’r meN hai apni hi nakaami1 ka rona tujh ko
Gham2-e dauraaN3 ka kabhi zikr4 jo kar le to Ghazal hoti hai 1.failure 2.sorrows, problems 3.the times 4.mention
Every couplet contains only the wailing of your own failures. If you sometimes write about the difficulties of the times/world, then you can make a Ghazal.
5
hai faqat1 kaakul2 o ruKhsaar3 aur dast-e-hina4 meN Khoobi5
dast-e mazdoor ki Khoobi jo jataa6 le to Ghazal hoti hai 1.only 2.curls 3.cheeks/face 4.hennaed hand 5.goodness, beauty 6.insist on
It seems that there is beauty only in the curls and face and the hennead hand (of the beloved). Sometimes, if you can insist on the beauty of the work of labour, then there can be Ghazal.
6
zulf-e-yaraaN1 ke Kham-o-pech2 meN ab tak hai phaNsa
mantaq3 ke pech-o-Kham4 se ulajh5 le to Ghazal hoti hai 1.hair of the beloved 2.curls and tangles 3.logic 4.twists and turns 5.tangled up, struggle through
You are still stuck in the curls and tangles of the beloved’s hair. If you struggle through the twists and turns of logic, then there can be a Ghazal.
7
teri duniya meN faqat1 zulm2 o tashaddud3 hai butoN4 ka
sarmaaye5 ki saKhti6 bhi dikha de to Ghazal hoti hai 1.only 2.cruelty 3.oppression 4.idols, beloved 5.capital 6.hardness, weight, oppression
In your world there is only the cruelty and oppression of the beloved (in unrequited love). If you can show the cruelty and oppression of capital, then there can be a Ghazal.
8
shabaab1 o she’r o shahid2 aur sharaab hadd3-e nazar4 hai teri
daur-e-farda5 ka bhi ek Khwaab tu bun le, to Ghazal hoti hai 1.youth 2.beauty 3.limit, boundary 4.sight, vision 5.future world order 6.weave
Your vision is limited to youth, verse, beauty and wine. If you can weave a vision of the future world order, then there can be a Ghazal. This is a tribute to sahir ludhianavi – aao ke koii Khwaab buneN kal ke vaaste.
9
Khirad1 ke paas Khabar2 ke siva3 kuchh ho ke na ho
zindagi ba-Khabar4 ho ke saNvaare to Ghazal hoti hai 1.knowledge, wisdom 2.awareness, skill 3.except for 4.being aware/knowledgeable
The first misra is adapted from iqbal’s Ghazal. He often uses Khirad to mean material (as opposed to spiritual) knowledge and derides it as if it is undesirable, much like what boko haram does. It may true that Knowledge/Wisdom does not have anything except skill. But if you can take that skill and beautify/improve life, then there can be a Ghazal.
10
faqat1 auroN ke liye kufr2 ka ilzaam3 uTha rakkha hai
tu agar apne hi eemaan ko jaaNche to Ghazal hoti hai 1.only 2.bad/wrong faith/belief 3. accusation
The accusation of wrong beliefs is reserved for others. If you examine your own (wrong) beliefs, then there will be a Ghazal.
11
ek kaafir1 hai to dooja hai mlechchh2, haiN donoN naadaan3
tafreqe4 diin dharam ke jo miTa le to Ghazal hoti hai 1.derogatory word for “other faith” 2.derogatory word for foreigner, muslim, untouchable 3.ignorant 4.differences
If one is kaafir, the other is mlechchh, both are ignorant. If it can erase differences between religions, then there is a Ghazal.
12
andhe eemaan ki taqleed1 to virse2 meN mili hai shahed3
sif’at4 o zaat5 ke azdaad6 parakh7 le to Ghazal hoti hai 1.followership, obedience 2.inheritance 3.name and pen-name of shahed who does not claim to be a poet 4.(divine) attributes 5.(divine) being 6.contradictions, opposites 7.examine
Following/obeying blind faith is what you have received as inheritance (an accident of birth), O, shahed. If you can reason and examine the self contradictions of divine attributes and the divine being, then there can be a Ghazal.
syed mohammed shahed (1944-alive and kicking) is a beginner to urdu language, leave aside poetry, but never-the-less sometimes dares to venture into what he calls “shuru’aat”. This is a reaction to conventional Ghazal of self-pity, wine, women, romance and word-smithing at the expense of a higher purpose.
1
yuN to alfaaz1 se ek lahn2 banaa le to Ghazal hoti hai
magar alfaaz ko mu’aani3 se jo bhar de to Ghazal hoti hai
1.words 2.melody 3.meaning
It is true that words forcibly cast into melody can make a Ghazal. But if you fill the words with meaning, then there can be a Ghazal.
2
aur shaa’er bhi tarannum1 se jo paRh le to bahut milti hai daad2
magar kamaal3-e suKhan4 kaleem5 banaa de to Ghazal hoti hai
1.tune 2.applause 3.excellence 4.verse 5.one who speaks
When the shaa’er recites in a musical voice at a mushaa’era, then he gets much applause. But if the excellence of his verse, makes him into “kaleem”, then there is a Ghazal. “kaleem”, literally means one who speaks. It is used as one of names/titles of moosa because he is supposed to have spoken to god on mount tuur. Thus, kaleem implies a person of exalted speech that can even be addressed to god.
3
Ghazal goii1 meN Ghazal gaane meN kuchh farq2 hai dost
tu samjhta hai faqat biin3 baja le to Ghazal hoti hai
1.speaking, composing 2.difference 3.flute
There is a difference between composing (a thoughtful) Ghazal and reciting it in a melodious voice, my friend. You think that only playing a tune on a flute can make a Ghazal.
4
har she’r meN hai apni hi nakaami1 ka rona tujh ko
Gham2-e dauraaN3 ka kabhi zikr4 jo kar le to Ghazal hoti hai
1.failure 2.sorrows, problems 3.the times 4.mention
Every couplet contains only the wailing of your own failures. If you sometimes write about the difficulties of the times/world, then you can make a Ghazal.
5
hai faqat1 kaakul2 o ruKhsaar3 aur dast-e-hina4 meN Khoobi5
dast-e mazdoor ki Khoobi jo jataa6 le to Ghazal hoti hai
1.only 2.curls 3.cheeks/face 4.hennaed hand 5.goodness, beauty 6.insist on
It seems that there is beauty only in the curls and face and the hennead hand (of the beloved). Sometimes, if you insist on the beauty of the work of labour, then there can be Ghazal.
6
zulf-e-yaraaN1 ke Kham-o-pech2 meN ab tak hai phaNsa
mantaq3 ke pech-o-Kham4 se ulajh5 le to Ghazal hoti hai
1.hair of the beloved 2.curls and tangles 3.logic 4.twists and turns 5.tangled up, struggle through
You are still stuck in the curls and tangles of the beloved’s hair. If you struggle through the twists and turns of logic, then there can be a Ghazal.
7
teri duniya meN faqat1 zulm2 o tashaddud3 hai butoN4 ka
sarmaaye5 ki saKhti6 bhi dikha de to Ghazal hoti hai
1.only 2.cruelty 3.oppression 4.idols, beloved 5.capital 6.hardness, weight, oppression
In your world there is only the cruelty and oppression of the beloved (in unrequited love). If you can show the cruelty and oppression of capital, then there can be a Ghazal.
8
shabaab1 o she’r o shahid2 aur sharaab hadd3-e nazar4 hai teri
daur-e-farda5 ka bhi ek Khwaab tu bun6 le, to Ghazal hoti hai
1.youth 2.beauty 3.limit, boundary 4.sight, vision 5.future world order 6.weave
Your vision is limited to youth, verse, beauty and wine. If you can weave a vision of the future world order, then there can be a Ghazal. This is a tribute to sahir ludhianavi – aao ke koii Khwaab buneN kal ke vaaste.
9
Khirad1 ke paas Khabar2 ke siva3 kuchh ho ke na ho
zindagi ba-Khabar5 ho ke saNvaare to Ghazal hoti hai
1.knowledge, wisdom 2.awareness, skill 3.except for 4.being aware/knowledgeable
The first misra is adapted from iqbal’s Ghazal. He often uses Khirad to mean material (as opposed to spiritual) knowledge and derides it as if it is undesirable, much like what boko haram does. It may true that Knowledge/Wisdom does not have anything except skill. But if you can take that skill and beautify/improve life, then there can be a Ghazal.
10
faqat1 auroN ke liye kufr2 ka ilzaam3 uTha rakkha hai
tu agar apne hi eemaan ko jaaNche to Ghazal hoti hai
1.only 2.bad/wrong faith/belief 3. accusation
The accusation of wrong beliefs is reserved for others. If you examine your own (wrong) beliefs, then there will be a Ghazal.
11
ek kaafir1 hai to dooja hai mlechchh2, haiN donoN naadaan3
tafreqe4 diin dharam ke jo miTa le to Ghazal hoti hai
1.derogatory word for “other faith” 2.derogatory word for foreigner, muslim, untouchable 3.ignorant 4.differences
If one is kaafir, the other is mlechchh, both are ignorant. If it can erase differences between religions, then there is a Ghazal.
12
andhe eemaan ki taqleed1 to virse2 meN mili hai shahed3
sif’at4 o zaat5 ke azdaad6 parakh7 le to Ghazal hoti hai
1.followership, obedience 2.inheritance 3.name and pen-name of shahed who does not claim to be a poet 4.(divine) attributes 5.(divine) being 6.contradictions, opposites 7.examine
Following/obeying blind faith is what you have received as inheritance (an accident of birth), O, shahed. If you can reason and examine the self contradictions of divine attributes and the divine being, then there can be a Ghazal.
Key Search Words:
