For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
کلیسہ نہ دیر و حرم دیکھتے ہیں ۔ مٹّھن لال وفاؔ
۱
تری شانِ رحمت جو ہم دیکھتے ہیں
اسے بندۂ حرص کم دیکھتے ہیں
۲
بھلا عاصیوں کو ہو کیوں فکرِ عصیاں
کہ وہ تیرا لطف و کرم دیکھتے ہیں
۳
ترے وحشیوں کی نظر اللہ اللہ
اِشاروں میں ناز و نعم دیکھتے ہیں
۴
ہے فانی جہاں اور تجھ کو بقا ہے
یہاں ہم حدوث و قِدَم دیکھتے ہیں
۵
ہر چیز سے تیری قدرت عیاں ہے
ہر اک شے میں تیرا بھرم دیکھتے ہیں
۶
بباطن تری جلوہ آرائیاں ہیں
بظاہر وجودِ صنم دیکھتے ہیں
۷
بصیرت سے اہلِ بصیرت جہاں میں
خدا کو خدا کی قسم دیکھتے ہیں
۸
تجھے دیکھنے کی کہاں استطاعت
یہ کیسے کہیں تجھ کو ہم دیکھتے ہیں
۹
وجودِ خدا کا تصور بنا کر
غلط فلسفی کیف و کم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۰
جو بندے ہیں تیرے تیری ہر ادا پر
ہر اک سمت باغِ اِرم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۱
برائے جہاں بن گئے رہنما وہ
تمہارا جو نقشِ قدم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۲
جہاں تو ملے اپنا معبد وہی ہے
کلیسا نہ دیر و حرم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۳
پہنچ جائیں جس کے ذریعہ سے تجھ تک
وفاؔ ہم تو ایسا دھرم دیکھتے ہیں
कलीसा न दैर ओ हरम देखते हैं – मट्ठन लाल वफ़ा
१
तेरी शान-ए रहमत जो हम देखते हैं
उसे बन्दा-ए हिर्स कम देखते हैं
२
भला आसियौं को हो क्यूं फ़िक्र-ए इस्यां
के वो तेरा लुत्फ़ ओ करम देखते हैं
३
तेरे वहशियौं कि नज़र अल्लाह अल्लाह
इशारौं में नाज़ ओ न’अम देखते हैं
४
है फ़ानी जहां और तुझ को बक़ा है
यहां हम हुदूस ओ क़िदम देखते हैं
५
हर चीज़ से तेरी क़ुदरत अयां है
हर एक शय में तेरा भरम देखते हैं
६
ब-बातिन तेरी जल्वा आराईयां हैं
ब-ज़ाहर वुजूद-ए सनम देखते हैं
७
बसीरत से अलह-ए बसीरत जहां में
ख़ुदा को ख़ुदा की क़सम देखते हैं
८
तुझे देखने की कहां इस्तेता’अत
ये कैसे कहें तुझ को हम देखते हैं
९
वुजूद-ए ख़ुदा का तसव्वुर बना कर
ग़लत फ़ल्सफ़ी कैफ़ ओ कम देखते
१०
जो बन्दे हैं तेरे तेरी हर अदा पर
हर एक सम्त बाग़-ए इरम देखते हैं
११
बराए जहां बन गए रहनुमा वो
तुम्हारा जो नक़्श-ए क़दम देखते हैं
१२
जहां तू मिले अपना मा’बद वही है
कलीसा न दैर ओ हरम देखते हैं
१३
पहुंच जाएं जिस के ज़र्ये से तुझ तक
वफ़ा हम तो ऐसा धरम देखते हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. miTThan lal vafa (1913-xxxx) after formal schooling in urdu and faarsi he passed the intermediate exam from Government College, amroha and served as a teacher at a local school. He also wrote/published urdu short stories and novels. This is a ‘hamd’ – ode to god, in a Ghazal structure similar to Ghalib’s ‘jahaaN tera naqsh-e qadam dekhte haiN’ and is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam. The beauty of this ‘hamd’ (as I see it) is that it is impossible to attribute any religious label to it or to its poet.
1
teri shaan1-e rahmat2 jo ham dekhte haiN
ise banda3-e hirs4 kam dekhte haiN 1.glory 2.benevolence 3.slaves 4.greed
The greedy ones cannot see your glorious benevolence that we see. Because we see your benevolence, we are more inclined to share it with others. The greedy ones cannot see it and keep everything to themselves.
2
bhala aasiyoN1 ko ho kyuN fikr2-e isyaaN3
keh vo tera lutf4 o karam5 dekhte haiN 1.sinners 2.worry 3.transgressions 4.grace 5.generosity
Why should sinners be worried about their transgressions. They see your grace and generosity (forgiveness).
3
tere vahshiyoN1 ki nazar2 allah allah
ishaaroN3 meN naaz-o-n’am4 dekhte haiN 1.wild, mad 2.sight 3.signs 4.short for naaz or ne’mat – greatness, blessings
By god, look at the discerning eye of your mad lovers. Even in ordinary signs from you, they see great blessings. This could be interpreted as either sincere or sarcastic, either meant for the beloved or for the divine.
4
hai faani1 jahaaN2 aur tujh ko baqaa3 hai
yahaaN ham hudoos4 o qadam5 dekhte haiN 1.mortal, transitory 2.world 3.immortality, permanence 4.invention, creation, new 5.ancient
The world is transient/fleeting and you (O god) are eternal. Here we talk about what is new and what is ancient (because things changing and you are unchanging).
5
har chiiz se teri qudrat1 ayaaN2 hai
har ek shai3 meN tera bharam4 dekhte haiN 1.nature, ability, miracle 2.manifest 3.thing 4.respect, reputation (see notes)
In modern day usage the words ‘bhram’ and ‘bharam’ are used interchangeably and cause confusion. Original dictionary meanings – ‘bhram’ – suspicion, confusion and ‘bharam’ – respect, reputation. This is the correct usage here. Your miraculous qualities are apparent in everything. We see your miracle in everywhere.
6
ba-baatin1 teri jalva-aaraaiyaaN2 haiN
ba-zaahir3 vujood4-e sanam5 dekhte haiN 1.hidden, inside, inner reality 2.manifestation of glory 3.on the surface 4.presence, existence 5.idol
The presence of the idol (worshipping an idol) is only an appearance, a superficiality. In reality, hidden behind this appearance is the manifestation of your glory.
7
basiirat1 se ahl2-e basiirat1 jahaaN3 meN
Khuda ko Khuda ki qasam dekhte haiN 1.sight, discerning eye 2.people 3.world
I swear by god that people of discerning sight see god manifested in this world.
8
tujhe dekhne ki kahaaN istetaa’at1
ye kaise kaheN tujh ko ham dekhte haiN 1.ability, power
How can we have the power to see you. How can we say that we see you.
9
vujood1-e Khuda ka tasavvur2 bana kar
Ghalat3 falsafi kaif-o-kam4 dekhte haiN 1.existence 2.mental picture 3.wrong 4.more and less, add and subtract
Perhaps this relates to the sufi ‘vahdat’ and vedanta ‘advaita’ concepts which emphasizes one-ness of the creator and created. Thus, philosophers form a wrong mental picture of the existence of god (as separate from the universal creative power) and they add and subtract from his qualities.
10
jo bande1 haiN tere teri har ada2 par
har ek samt3 baaGh-e iram4 dekhte haiN 1.servants, devotees 2.style, manifestation 3.direction 4.heaven
In every manifestation of you, your devotees see the gardens of heaven in every direction.
11
baraa’e1 jahaaN2 ban gaye rahnuma3 vo
tumhaara jo naqsh-e-qadam4 dekhte haiN 1.for the sake of 2.world 3.guide 4.footsteps
Those who see your footsteps (follow in your footsteps) became guides for the good of the world.
12
jahaaN tuu mile apna maa’bad1 vahi hai
kaliisa2 na dair3 o haram4 dekhte haiN 1.place of worship 2.church 3.temple 4.mosque
Wherever we see you, that is our place of worship. We don’t look for church, temple or mosque.
13
pahuNch jaayeN jis ke zariye1 se tujh tak
vafa2 ham to aisa dharam3 dekhte haiN 1.by means of, through 2.pen-name of the poet 3.faith
O vafa, whichever leads us to you (O god) that is the faith we want.
miTThan lal vafa (1913-xxxx) after formal schooling in urdu and faarsi he passed the intermediate exam from Government College, amroha and served as a teacher at a local school. He also wrote/published urdu short stories and novels. This is a ‘hamd’ – ode to god, in a Ghazal structure similar to Ghalib’s ‘jahaaN tera naqsh-e qadam dekhte haiN’ and is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam. The beauty of this ‘hamd’ (as I see it) is that it is impossible to attribute any religious label to it or to its poet.
1
teri shaan1-e rahmat2 jo ham dekhte haiN
ise banda3-e hirs4 kam dekhte haiN
1.glory 2.benevolence 3.slaves 4.greed
The greedy ones cannot see your glorious benevolence that we see. Because we see your benevolence, we are more inclined to share it with others. The greedy ones cannot see it and keep everything to themselves.
2
bhala aasiyoN1 ko ho kyuN fikr2-e isyaaN3
keh vo tera lutf4 o karam5 dekhte haiN
1.sinners 2.worry 3.transgressions 4.grace 5.generosity
Why should sinners be worried about their transgressions. They see your grace and generosity (forgiveness).
3
tere vahshiyoN1 ki nazar2 allah allah
ishaaroN3 meN naaz-o-n’am4 dekhte haiN
1.wild, mad 2.sight 3.signs 4.short for naaz or ne’mat – greatness, blessings
By god, look at the discerning eye of your mad lovers. Even in ordinary signs from you, they see great blessings. This could be interpreted as either sincere or sarcastic, either meant for the beloved or for the divine.
4
hai faani1 jahaaN2 aur tujh ko baqaa3 hai
yahaaN ham hudoos4 o qadam5 dekhte haiN
1.mortal, transitory 2.world 3.immortality, permanence 4.invention, creation, new 5.ancient
The world is transient/fleeting and you (O god) are eternal. Here we talk about what is new and what is ancient (because things changing and you are unchanging).
5
har chiiz se teri qudrat1 ayaaN2 hai
har ek shai3 meN tera bharam4 dekhte haiN
1.nature, ability, miracle 2.manifest 3.thing 4.respect, reputation (see notes)
In modern day usage the words ‘bhram’ and ‘bharam’ are used interchangeably and cause confusion. Original dictionary meanings – ‘bhram’ – suspicion, confusion and ‘bharam’ – respect, reputation. This is the correct usage here. Your miraculous qualities are apparent in everything. We see your miracle in everywhere.
6
ba-baatin1 teri jalva-aaraaiyaaN2 haiN
ba-zaahir3 vujood4-e sanam5 dekhte haiN
1.hidden, inside, inner reality 2.manifestation of glory 3.on the surface 4.presence, existence 5.idol
The presence of the idol (worshipping an idol) is only an appearance, a superficiality. In reality, hidden behind this appearance is the manifestation of your glory.
7
basiirat1 se ahl2-e basiirat1 jahaaN3 meN
Khuda ko Khuda ki qasam dekhte haiN
1.sight, discerning eye 2.people 3.world
I swear by god that people of discerning sight see god manifested in this world.
8
tujhe dekhne ki kahaaN istetaa’at1
ye kaise kaheN tujh ko ham dekhte haiN
1.ability, power
How can we have the power to see you. How can we say that we see you.
9
vujood1-e Khuda ka tasavvur2 bana kar
Ghalat3 falsafi kaif-o-kam4 dekhte haiN
1.existence 2.mental picture 3.wrong 4.more and less, add and subtract
Perhaps this relates to the sufi ‘vahdat’ and vedanta ‘advaita’ concepts which emphasizes one-ness of the creator and created. Thus, philosophers form a wrong mental picture of the existence of god (as separate from the universal creative power) and they add and subtract from his qualities.
10
jo bande1 haiN tere teri har ada2 par
har ek samt3 baaGh-e iram4 dekhte haiN
1.servants, devotees 2.style, manifestation 3.direction 4.heaven
In every manifestation of you, your devotees see the gardens of heaven in every direction.
11
baraa’e1 jahaaN2 ban gaye rahnuma3 vo
tumhaara jo naqsh-e-qadam4 dekhte haiN
1.for the sake of 2.world 3.guide 4.footsteps
Those who see your footsteps (follow in your footsteps) became guides for the good of the world.
12
jahaaN tuu mile apna maa’bad1 vahi hai
kaliisa2 na dair3 o haram4 dekhte haiN
1.place of worship 2.church 3.temple 4.mosque
Wherever we see you, that is our place of worship. We don’t look for church, temple or mosque.
13
pahuNch jaayeN jis ke zariye1 se tujh tak
vafa2 ham to aisa dharam3 dekhte haiN
1.by means of, through 2.pen-name of the poet 3.faith
O vafa, whichever leads us to you (O god) that is the faith we want.
