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ishq aur maut
Love and Death
عشق اور موت – محمّد اقبال
سہانی نمودِ جہاں کی گھڑی تھی
تبسُّم فشاں زندگی کی کلی تھی
کہیں مہر کو تاجِ زر مِل رہا تھا
عطا چاند کو چاندنی ہو رہی تھی
سیہ پیرہن شام کو دے رہے تھے
ستاروں کو تعلیمِ تابندگی تھی
کہیں شاخِ ہستی کو لگتے تھے پتےّ
کہیں زندگی کی کلی پھوٹتی تھی
فرشتے سکھاتے تھے شبنم کو رونا
ہنسی گُل کو پہلے پہل آ رہی تھی
عطا درد ہوتا تھا شاعر کے دِل کو
خودی تشنہ کامِ مئے بے خودی تھی
اُٹھی اوّل اوّل گھٹا کالی کالی
کوئی حور چوٹی کو کھولے کھڑی تھی
زمیں کو تھا دعویٰ کہ میں آسماں ہوں
مکاں کہہ رہا تھا کہ میں لامکاں ہوں
غرض اِس قدر یہ نظارا تھا پیارا
کہ نظّارگی ہوسراپا نظارا
ملک آزماتے تھے پرواز اپنی
جبینوں سے نورِازل آشکارا
فرشتہ تھا اک عشق تھا نام جس کا
کہ تھی رہبری اِسکی سب کا سہارا
فرشتہ کہ پُتلا تھا بیتا بیوں کا
ملک کا ملک اور پارے کا پارا
پئے سیر فردوس کو جا رہا تھا
قضا سے ملا راہ میں وہ قضارا
یہ پوچھا ترا نام کیا؟ کام کیا ہے
نہیں آ نکھ کو دید تیری گوارا
ہوا سُن کے گویا قضا کا فرشتہ
اجل ہوں، میرا کام ہے آشکارا
اُڑاتی ہوں میں رختِ ہستی کے پرزے
بجھاتی ہوں میں زندگی کا شرارا
میری آنکھ میں جادوئے نیستی ہے
پیامِ فنا ہے اِسی کا اِشارا
مگر ایک ہستی ہے دنیا میں ایسی
وہ آتش ہے میں سامنے اُس کے پارا
شرر بن کے رہتی ہے اِنساں کے دِل میں
وہ ہے نورِ مطلق کی آنکھوں کا تارا
ٹپکتی ہے آنکھوں سے بن بن کے آنسو
وہ آنسوکہ ہوجن کی تلخی گوارا
سُنی عشق نے گفتگو جب قضا کی
ہنسی اِس کے لب پر ہوئی آشکارا
گری اِس تبسمّ کی بجلی اجل پر
اندھیرے کا ہو نورمیں کیا گذارا
بقا کوجودیکھا فنا ہو گئی وہ
قضا تھی، شکارِقضا ہو گئی وہ
इश्क़ और मौत – मोहम्मद इक़बाल
सोहानी नुमूद ए जहाँ की घडी थी
तबस्सुम फ़िशां ज़िन्दगी की कलि थी
कहीं महर को ताज ए ज़र मिल रहा था
अता चाँद को चांदनी हो रही थी
सियह पैरहन शाम को दे रहे थे
सितारों को तालीम ए ताबंदगी थी
कहीं शाख़ ए हस्ती को लगते थे पत्ते
कहीं ज़िन्दगी की कली फूटती थी
फ़रिश्ते सिखाते थे शबनम को रोना
हंसी गुल को पहले पहल आ रही थी
अता दर्द होता था शा’एर के दिल को
ख़ुदी तिश्ना काम इ म’ऐ बेख़ुदी थी
उठी अव्वल अव्वल घटा काली काली
कोई हूर चोटि को खोले खड़ी थी
ज़मीं को था दावा के मैं आसमां हूं
मकां कह रहा था के मैं लामकां हूं
ग़रज़ इस क़दर ये नज़ारा था प्यारा
के नज़्ज़ारगी हो सरापा नज़ारा
मलक आज़्माते थे परवाज़ अपनी
जबीनों से नूर ए अज़ल आशकारा
फ़रिश्ता था एक इश्क़ था नाम जिस का
के थी रहबरी इसकी सब का सहारा
फ़रिश्ता के पुतला था बेताबियों का
मलक का मलक और पारे का पारा
प’अए सैर फ़िरदौस को जा रहा था
क़ज़ा से मिला राह में वो क़ज़ारा
ये पूछा तेरा नाम क्या? काम क्या है?
नहीं आँख को दीद तेरी गवारा
हुआ सुन के गोया क़ज़ा का फ़रिश्ता
अजल हूं, मेरा काम है आश्कारा
उड़ाती हूं मैं रख्त ए हस्ती के पुर्ज़े
बुझाती हूं मैं ज़िन्दगी का शरारा
मेरी आँख में जादू ए नीस्ती है
पयाम ए फ़ना है इसी का इशारा
मगर ऐक हस्ती है दुनिया में ऐसी
वो आतिश है मैं सामने उसके पारा
शरर बन के रहती है इन्सां के दिल में
वो है नूर ए मुत्लक़ की आँखों का तारा
टपकती है आँखों से बन बन के आंसू
वो आंसू के हो जिन की तल्क़ी गवारा
सुनी इश्क़ ने गुफ़्तगु जब क़ज़ा की
हंसी इस के लब पर हुई आश्कारा
गिरी इस तबस्सुम की बिजली अजल पर
अँधेरे का हो नूर में क्या गुज़ारा
बक़ा को जो देखा फ़ना हो गई वो
क़ज़ा थी, शिकार ए क़ज़ा हो गई वो
ishq aur maut – mohammed iqbal
Love and Death (Alfred Tennyson) – Iqbal’s Rendition
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. Iqbal re-composed in urdu several Romance era poets including Tennyson, Wordsworth and Thoreau. Also see tabatabii and faiz.
sohani1 numood e jahaN2 ki ghaRi thi
tabassum fishaN3 zindagi ki kali thi
kahiN mahr4 ko taaj e zar5 mil raha tha
ata6 chaand ko chaandni ho rahi thi
siyah pairahan7 shaam ko de rahe the
sitaaroN ko taalim8 e tabandagi9 thi
kahiN shaaKh-e hasti10 ko lagte the patte
kahiN zindagi ki kali phooTti thi1.pleasant 2.birth of the worlds 3.smile scattering 4.sun 5.golden crown 6.grant 7.dark cloak 8.training 9.shining 10.branch of existence-life
A pleasant time of creation it was (a very poetic description of the time of creation – no Big Bang here). Life spreading happiness among one and all. Here the sun receiving its golden crown, there the moon being granted its light. Night was receiving its dark cloak. Stars were learning how to sparkle. Here, verdant leaves on the branch of life. There, life budding and blossoming in flowers.
farishte sikhaate the shabnam1 ko rona
haNsi gul2 ko pahle pahl aa rahi thi
ata3 dard hota tha shaa’er ke dil ko
Khudi4 tishna kaam5 e ma’e beKhudi6 thi
uThi avval avval7 ghaTa kaali kaali
koii huur choTi ko khole khaRi thi
zamiN ko tha daava8 ke maiN aasmaN huN
makaN9 kah raha tha ke maiN lamakaN10 huN1.dew drops 2.flowers 3.grant 4.ego 5.thirsty 6.wine of “selflessness” – Sufi concept of “selflessness” is union with god 7.for the first time 8.claim 9.place, finite 10.without place, infinite
Angels were teaching dew drops to shed tears. The rose was learning to smile for the first time. The heart of the poet was being granted a sense of pain, his “self/identy” still thirsty for union with the spirit. The first dark clouds appeared as if a huur had spread her tresses. The earth claimed high status as if, the finite was claiming to be the Infinite.
Gharaz1 is qadar2 ye nazaara3 tha pyaara
ke nazzaragi4 ho saraapa5 nazaara
malak6 aazmate7 the parvaaz8 apni
jabinoN9 se nuur e azal10 aashkara11
farishta12 tha ek ishq tha naam jis ka
ke thi rahbari13 iski sob ka sahara14
farishta ke putla tha betaabiyoN15 ka
malak6 ka malak aur paare15 ka paara1.and so 2.so much 3.sight 4.sightseeing 5.top to toe 6.angel 7.trying out 8.flight 9.forehead, brow 10.light of eternity 11.apparent 12.angel 13.guidance 14.support 15.restlessness, mischief 15.mercury, restless
And thus, this scene was so beautiful. Sight itself was becoming a part of the scene. Angels trying out their wings, eternal light shining from their brow. An angel there was named Love. His careful guidance was a help to all. Was he an angel or the embodiment of restlessness? An angel of god and at the same time so restless!
pa’e saer1 firdaus2 ko jaa raha tha
qaza3 se mila raah4 meN vo qazara5
ye puchha tera naam kya? kaam kya hai?
nahiN aaNkh ko deed6 teri gavara7
hua sun ke goya8 qaza3 ka farishta9
ajal10 huN, mera kaam hai aaskhara11
uRati huN maiN raKht e hasti12 ke purze13
bujhati huN maiN zindagi ka sharaara14
meri aaNkh meN jadoo e neesti15 hai
payam16 e fana17 hai isi ka ishara18 1.for the sake of a walk/saunter 2.heaven 3.Death 4.on the way 5.by chance 6.sight 7.tolerable (Death is ugly) 8.speaking 9.angel (of death) 10.death 11.evident 12.robe/dress of life 13.shreds 14.sparks 15.non-being 16.message 17.destruction 18.indication
(Love) was on his way to take a stroll in heaven, when by chance he came upon Death and asked, what’s your name, what do you do. It is upleasant even to look at you. The angel of death heard this and replied, I am Death, my work is evident to all. I shred the cloak of life to pieces. I put out the spark of life. The mystery of non-being in my eyes. The history of destruction its evidence!
magar ek hasti1 hai duniya meN aisi
vo aatish2 hai maiN saamne uske paara3
sharar3 ban ke rahti hai insaaN ke dil meN
vo hai nuur e mutlaq4 ki aaNkhoN ka tara5
Tapakti hai aaNkhoN se ban ban ke aaNsu
vo aaNsu ke ho jin ki talqi6 gavara7 1.individual, being 2.fire 3.part, kindling 3.sparks 4.perfect light, god 5.light of the eyes, beloved 6.bitterness, pain 7.acceptable, tolerable
But there is another one in this world, who is the embodiment of light. It is the spark in the human heart, it is the beloved of the creator. At times it flows down as tears, but tears whose pain is pleasing.
suni ishq ne guftagu8 jab qaza9 ki
haNsi is ke lab par hui aashkara10
giri is tabassum11 ki bijli ajal12 par
andhere ka ho nuur meN kya guzara13
baqa14 ko jo dekha fana15 ho gayee vo
qaza thi, shikaar e qaza ho gayee vo8.conversation 9.Death 10.evident 11.smile 12.Death 13.soujourn 14.existence 15.destroyed
As Love heard Death say this, a smile appeared on its lips. The lightning of this smile struck Death. How can darkness survive in light? When it saw Life, it disappeared. It was Death, it fell victim to Death.
ishq aur maut – mohammed iqbal
Love and Death (Alfred Tennyson) – Iqbal’s Rendition
Iqbal re-composed in urdu several Romance era poets including Tennyson, Wordsworth and Thoreau. Also see tabatabii and faiz.
sohani1 numood e jahaN2 ki ghaRi thi
tabassum fishaN3 zindagi ki kali thi
kahiN mahr4 ko taaj e zar5 mil raha tha
ata6 chaand ko chaandni ho rahi thi
siyah pairahan7 shaam ko de rahe the
sitaaroN ko taalim8 e tabandagi9 thi
kahiN shaaKh-e hasti10 ko lagte the patte
kahiN zindagi ki kali phooTti thi
1.pleasant 2.birth of the worlds 3.smile scattering 4.sun 5.golden crown 6.grant 7.dark cloak 8.training 9.shining 10.branch of existence-life
A pleasant time of creation it was (a very poetic description of the time of creation – no Big Bang here). Life spreading happiness among one and all. Here the sun receiving its golden crown, there the moon being granted its light. Night was receiving its dark cloak. Stars were learning how to sparkle. Here, verdant leaves on the branch of life. There, life budding and blossoming in flowers.
farishte sikhaate the shabnam1 ko rona
haNsi gul2 ko pahle pahl aa rahi thi
ata3 dard hota tha shaa’er ke dil ko
Khudi4 tishna kaam5 e ma’e beKhudi6 thi
uThi avval avval7 ghaTa kaali kaali
koii huur choTi ko khole khaRi thi
zamiN ko tha daava8 ke maiN aasmaN huN
makaN9 kah raha tha ke maiN lamakaN10 huN
1.dew drops 2.flowers 3.grant 4.ego 5.thirsty 6.wine of “selflessness” – Sufi concept of “selflessness” is union with god 7.for the first time 8.claim 9.place, finite 10.without place, infinite
Angels were teaching dew drops to shed tears. The rose was learning to smile for the first time. The heart of the poet was being granted a sense of pain, his “self/identy” still thirsty for union with the spirit. The first dark clouds appeared as if a huur had spread her tresses. The earth claimed high status as if, the finite was claiming to be the Infinite.
Gharaz1 is qadar2 ye nazaara3 tha pyaara
ke nazzaragi4 ho saraapa5 nazaara
malak6 aazmate7 the parvaaz8 apni
jabinoN9 se nuur e azal10 aashkara11
farishta12 tha ek ishq tha naam jis ka
ke thi rahbari13 iski sob ka sahara14
farishta ke putla tha betaabiyoN15 ka
malak6 ka malak aur paare15 ka paara
1.and so 2.so much 3.sight 4.sightseeing 5.top to toe 6.angel 7.trying out 8.flight 9.forehead, brow 10.light of eternity 11.apparent 12.angel 13.guidance 14.support 15.restlessness, mischief 15.mercury, restless
And thus, this scene was so beautiful. Sight itself was becoming a part of the scene. Angels trying out their wings, eternal light shining from their brow. An angel there was named Love. His careful guidance was a help to all. Was he an angel or the embodiment of restlessness? An angel of god and at the same time so restless!
pa’e saer1 firdaus2 ko jaa raha tha
qaza3 se mila raah4 meN vo qazara5
ye puchha tera naam kya? kaam kya hai?
nahiN aaNkh ko deed6 teri gavara7
hua sun ke goya8 qaza3 ka farishta9
ajal10 huN, mera kaam hai aaskhara11
uRati huN maiN raKht e hasti12 ke purze13
bujhati huN maiN zindagi ka sharaara14
meri aaNkh meN jadoo e neesti15 hai
payam16 e fana17 hai isi ka ishara18
1.for the sake of a walk/saunter 2.heaven 3.Death 4.on the way 5.by chance 6.sight 7.tolerable (Death is ugly) 8.speaking 9.angel (of death) 10.death 11.evident 12.robe/dress of life 13.shreds 14.sparks 15.non-being 16.message 17.destruction 18.indication
(Love) was on his way to take a stroll in heaven, when by chance he came upon Death and asked, what’s your name, what do you do. It is upleasant even to look at you. The angel of death heard this and replied, I am Death, my work is evident to all. I shred the cloak of life to pieces. I put out the spark of life. The mystery of non-being in my eyes. The history of destruction its evidence!
magar ek hasti1 hai duniya meN aisi
vo aatish2 hai maiN saamne uske paara3
sharar3 ban ke rahti hai insaaN ke dil meN
vo hai nuur e mutlaq4 ki aaNkhoN ka tara5
Tapakti hai aaNkhoN se ban ban ke aaNsu
vo aaNsu ke ho jin ki talqi6 gavara7
1.individual, being 2.fire 3.part, kindling 3.sparks 4.perfect light, god 5.light of the eyes, beloved 6.bitterness, pain 7.acceptable, tolerable
But there is another one in this world, who is the embodiment of light. It is the spark in the human heart, it is the beloved of the creator. At times it flows down as tears, but tears whose pain is pleasing.
suni ishq ne guftagu8 jab qaza9 ki
haNsi is ke lab par hui aashkara10
giri is tabassum11 ki bijli ajal12 par
andhere ka ho nuur meN kya guzara13
baqa14 ko jo dekha fana15 ho gayee vo
qaza thi, shikaar e qaza ho gayee vo
8.conversation 9.Death 10.evident 11.smile 12.Death 13.soujourn 14.existence 15.destroyed
As Love heard Death say this, a smile appeared on its lips. The lightning of this smile struck Death. How can darkness survive in light? When it saw Life, it disappeared. It was Death, it fell victim to Death.
Love and Death – Alfred Lord Tennyson
What time the mighty moon was gathering light
Love paced the thymy plots of Paradise,
And all about him roll’d his lustrous eyes;
When, turning round a cassia, full in view
Death, walking all alone beneath a yew,
And talking to himself, first met his sight:
“You must begone,” said Death, “these walks are mine”.
Love wept and spread his sheeny vans for flight;
Yet ere he parted said, “This hour is thine;
Thou art the shadow of life, and as the tree
Stands in the sun and shadows all beneath,
So in the light of great eternity
Life eminent creates the shade of death;
The shadow passeth when the tree shall fall,
But I shall reign for ever over all.
