Recitation
لہو کے چراغ – وحید اختر
تیرے جمالِ سحر پاش و تاب ناک کی خیر
وہی سحر ہے جو چمکے امیدِ دید کے ساتھ
وہ صبح جس میں نہ شامل ہو روشنی تیری
اُسے بھی رات سمجھتے ہیں تیرے ہجر زدہ
نہ جانے کون سی ساعت میں تجھ کو دیکھا تھا
یہ جانتے ہوئے چاہا کہ پا نہیں سکتا
یہ جانتے ہوئے مانگی تھی زلف کی راتیں
کہ اِن کے بعد اُجالا پھر آ نہیں سکتا
یہ جانتے ہوئے چہرے کی چاندنی ڈھونڈی
کہ تجھ سے چھوٹ کے مہتاب بھا نہیں سکتا
یہ جانتے ہوئے پوجا تجھے خیالوں میں
کہ پتھروں کو دھڑکنا سِکھا نہیں سکتا
یہ جانتے ہوئے بھٹکا ہوں تیری راہوں میں
کہ لُٹ بھی جاؤں تو میں داد پا نہیں سکتا
جہاں سے گزری نہیں ہے تیرے بدن کی نسیم
وہاں بھی میں نے کھلاۓ ہیں تیری یاد کے پھول
جہاں پہنچ بھی نہ پائی تیری نظر کی کرن
وہاں بھی میں نے گرائی ہے آنکھ سے شبنم
وہ راہیں جو رہیں محروم ہاۓ جادہ نواز
تیری تلاش میں پہنچے وہاں بھی میرے قدم
وہ روز و شب جو گزارے ہیں میں نے تجھ سے دور
تمام عمر کے صدموں کے بار اُٹھاے ہیں
ہر ایک لمحے نے رگ رگ میں نیشتر توڑے
تیرے فراق نے کیا کیا عذاب ڈھاے ہیں
نہ جانے کہہ گئ کیا بات اِک نگاہِ وداع
میں تجھہ کو بھولنا چاہوں تو بھی بُھلا نہ سکوں
تیرے بلند در و بام سے یہ کون کہے
بھٹک رہے ہیں تیرے راستوں پہ میرے خواب
مجھے یہ ڈر ہے کہ آورگانِ کوۓ وفا
تیرے حریم میں در آئے تو کیا ہو گا
پہنچ کہ تیرے شبستاں کے شیش محلوں تک
جو تیری نیند اُڑا گئے تو کیا ہو گا
تیری نگاہوں سے وابستہ نرم و نازک خواب
شکست خواب سے تھّرا گئے تو کیا ہوگا
اگر ملیں کہیں تجھ کو وہ سر برہنہ خواب
نظر بچا کے گزر جانا اُنکے آگے سے
وہ تیری خوشبوۓ زلفِ رسا کو جانتے ہیں
تیری ادا تیرے رنگِ قبا کو جانتے ہیں
وہ تیرے دستِ حنا آشنا کو جانتے ہیں
فروغِ روشنیِ نقشِ پا کو جانتے ہیں
کسی سے کہنا کہ بتلا دیں اُن کو میرا پتہ
وہ میری نیند اُڑا لے گئے ہیں ساتھ اپنے
تیری نگاہِ سکوُں آشنا سے کون کہے
کہ لٹُ گیئں مری نیندیں بھٹک گئے میرے خواب
میں تیرے واسطے رسواۓ عام ہوں پھر بھی
غضب تو یہ کہ ہے پاسِ ننگ و نام ابھی
ہزاروں مصلحتیں ہاتھ تھام لیتی ہیں
بقدرِ حوصلہ دامن بھی تار تار نہیں
غمِ زمانہ نے سمجھا دیا نہ جانے کیا
کہ تجھ سے چھوٹ کے بھی زیست ناگوار نہیں
تجھی سے چاہتا ہوں سادگیِ شوق کی داد
اِسی اُمید پہ روشن ہیں خونِ دل کے دیۓ
کبھی الجھنے لگے دم تیرا جو ظلمت میں
تجھے نہ مجھ سے گلا ہو کہ روشنی نہ رہی
اِسی چراغ سے تو اپنا راستہ پاۓ
بلا سے آج اگر رائگاں لہو جائے
लहू के चिराग़ – वहीद अख़्तर
तेरे जमाल-ए सहर पाश ओ ताबनाक कि ख़ैर
वही सहर है जो चमके उमीद-ए दीद के साथ
वो सुबह जिस में न शामिल हो रौशनी तेरी
उसे भी रातग समझते हैं तेरे हिज्र ज़दा
न जाने कौन सि सा’अत में तुझ को देखा था
ये जानते हुए चाहा के पा नहीं सकता
ये जानते हुए मांगी थी ज़ुल्फ़ की रातें
के इस के बाद उजाला फिर आ नहीं सकता
ये जानते हुए चेहरे कि चांदनी ढूंडी
के तुझ से छूट के महताब भा नहीं सकता
ये जानते हुए पूजा तुझे ख़यालों में
के पत्थरों को धड़कना सिखा नहीं सकता
ये जानते हुए भटका हूँ तेरी राहों में
के लूट भी जाऊं तो मैं दाद पा नहीं सकता
जहां से गुज़री नहीं है तेरे बदन की नसीम
वहां भी मैं ने खिलाए हैं तेरी याद के फूल
जहाँ पहुँच भी न पाई तेरी नज़र की किरन
वहां भी मैं ने गिराई है आँख से शबनम
वो राहें जो रहीं महरूम-हां-ए जादा नवाज़
तेरी तलाश में पहुंचे वहां भी मेर क़दम
वो रोज़ ओ शब जो गुज़ारे हैं मैं ने तुझ से दूर
तमाम उम्र के सदमों का बार उठाए हुए
हर एक लम्हे ने रग रग में निश्तर तोड़े
तेरे फ़िराक़ ने क्या क्या अज़ाब ढाए हैं
न जाने कह गई क्या बात एक निगाह-ए विदा
मैं तुझ को भूलना चाहूँ तो भी भुला न सकूं
तेरे बलन्द दर ओ बाम से ये कौन कहे
भटक रहे हैं तेरे रास्तों पे मेरे ख़्वाब
मुझे ये डर है के आवारगान-ए कू-ए वफ़ा
तेरे हरीम में दर आए तो क्या होगा
पहुँच के तेरे शबिस्तां के शीश महलों तक
जो तेरी नींद उड़ा गए तो क्या होगा
तेरी निगाहों से वाबस्ता नर्म ओ नाज़ुक ख़्वाब
शिकस्त-ए ख़्वाब से थर्रा गए तो क्या होगा
अगर मिलें कहीं तुझ को वो सर बरहना ख़्वाब
नज़र बचा के गुज़र जाना उनके आगे से
वो तेरी ख़ुश्बू-ए ज़ुल्फ़-ए रसा को जानते हैं
तेरी अदा तेरे रंग-ए क़बा को जानते हैं
वो तेरे दस्त-ए हिना-आशना को जानते हैं
फ़रोग़-ए रौशनी-ए नक़्श-ए पा को जानते हैं
किसी से कहना के बत्ला बेन उनको मेरा पता
वो मेरी नींद उड़ा ले गए हैं साथ अपने
तेरी निगाह-ए सुकून-आशना से कौन कहे
के लुट गईं मेरी नींदें भटक गए मेरे ख़्वाब
मैं तेरे वास्ते रुस्वा-ए आ’म हूं फिर भी
ग़ज़ब तो ये के है पास-ए नंग ओ नाम अभी
हज़ारों मस्लेहतें हाथ थाम लेती हैं
ब क़द्र-ए हौसला दामन भी तार तार नहीं
ग़म-ए ज़माना ने समझा दिया न जाने क्या
के तुझ से छूट के भी ज़ीस्त नागवार नहीं
तुझी से चाहता हूँ सादगी-ए शौक़ कि दाद
इसी उमीद पे रौशन हैं ख़ून-ए दिल के दिये
कभी उलझने लगे दम तेरा जो ज़ुल्मत में
तुझे न मुझ से गिला हो के रौशनी न रही
इसी चिराग़ से तू अपना रास्ता पाए
बला से आज अगर राएगां लहू जाए
lahu ke chiraaGh – vaheed aKhtar
Click here for comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. A beautiful and poignant expression of unrequited love with faint echoes of Faiz’s “mujh se pahli si mohabbat”, but with an about turn back towards the beloved, offering her “lahu ke chiraaGh” – lamps using the lover’s blood as fuel.
tere jamaal1-e sahr paash2 o taabnaak3 ki Khair
vahi sahr hai jo chamke umeed-e deed4 ke saath
vo subah jis meN na shaamil5 ho raushni teri
usay bhi raat samajhte haiN tere hijr-zada61. face, beauty 2. dawn spreading 3. shining, glorious 4. hope of sight (of you) 5. included, mixed 6. stricken by separation (from you), lovers
May your glorious, dawn spreading face/beauty be blessed. The only dawn that is a genuine dawn is the one that shines with hope of a sight of you. If dawn does not bring such hope then your lovers consider it dark as night.
na jaane kaun si sa’at1 meN tujh ko dekha thaa
yeh jaante hue chaaha, ke paa nahiN sakta
yeh jaante hue maaNgi thiiN zulf2 ki raateN
keh inke baad ujaala phir aa nahiN sakta1. time, moment 2. hair, tresses
I do not know what moment it was that I saw you and loved you, knowing that I would be able to get your love in return. I wished for the shelter of your dark tresses knowing that after that there would be no dawn for me.
yeh jaante hue chehre ki chaandni DhoonDi
keh tujh se chhooT ke mahtaab1 bhaa2 nahiN sakta
yeh jaante hue pooja tujhe KhayaalauN meN
keh pattharauN ko dhaRakna sikha nahiN sakta
yeh jaante hue bhaTka huN teri raahauN meN
keh luT3 bhi jaauN to maiN daad4 paa nahiN sakta1. full moon 2. pleasing 3. robbed 4. justice, compensation
I looked for your moonlike face knowing that after this even the full moon would not give me any pleasure. I worshipped you in my thoughts knowing that even if I recreated an stone idol in your likeness, it would not have a throbbing heart. I have wandered through your pathways knowing that I would be robbed of everything and would not get any justice/recompense.
jahaaN se guzri nahiN hai tere badan ki naseem1
vahaaN bhi maiN ne khilaae haiN teri yaad ke phool
jahaaN pahuNch bhi na paaii teri nazar ki kiran
vahaaN bhi maiN ne giraaii hai aaNkh se shabnam2
vo raaheN jo rahiN mahroom-haa-e3 jaada-navaaz4
teri talaash meN pahuNche vahaaN bhi mere qadam1. fragrant breeze 2. dew drops, tears 3. devoid of (I am interpreting mahroom-ha as plural of mahroom) 4. one who bestows glory on the pathway (that she walks)
Even where the breeze of your fragrance has never blown, there I have nurtured blooms of flowers i.e. flowers are redolent (for me) only because of the fragrance of your memories. Even in those places/corners which your sight never reached, I have shed tears (of sorrow because of separation from you). The pathways that remained devoid of your glorious presence, even there have my steps wandered in search of you.
voh roz o shab jo guzaare1 haiN maiN ne tujh se duur
tamaam umr ke sadmauN2 ka baar uThaae haiN
har ek lamhe3 ne rug rug meN neeshtar4 toRey
tere firaaq5 ne kya kya azaab6 Dhaae haiN1. spent 2. calamities, sorrows 3. moment 4. lance 5. separation 6. wrath, punishment
The days and nights that I have spent away from you, bearing the heavy load of all the sorrows of my life, every moment has pierced every vein as if with a lance. Oh how much punishment separation from you has visited upon me.
na jaane kah gaii kya baat ek nigaah-e vidaa1
maiN tujh ko bhoolna chaahuN bhi to bhula na sakuN
tere baland2 dar o baam3 se yeh kaun kahe
bhaTak rahe haiN tere raastauN pe mere Khwaab4 1. parting look 2. high, grand 3. door and roof, house, chamber 4. dreams, hopes
Oh! the effect of that parting look. I would not be able to forget you, even if I tried. How can I get this message to your grand chamber (where you sleep peacefully) that my dreams/hopes wander in your street.
mujhe yeh Dar hai ke aavaaragaan1-e koo-e vafa2
tere hareem3 meN dar aaye4 to kya hoga
pahuNch ke tere shabistaaN5 ke sheesh mahlauN6 tak
jo teri neend uRa gaye to kya ho ga
teri nagaahauN se vaabasta7 narm o naazuk Khwaab
shikast-e Khwaab8 se thharra9 gaye to kya ho ga1. wanderers 2. street of love (the poet is referring to his dreams/hopes that are wandering in her street) 3. private chamber 4. forcefully intrude 5. bedchamber 6. associated with 7. associated 8. defeat of the dream, unfulfilled dream 9. tremble, fear, give up hope
I fear that my dreams/hopes that wander in your street may intrude your privacy. what would happen if, breaking into the crystal palace of your bedchamber, they rob you of your sleep. These tender and fragile hopes that are associated with your eyes (with the sight of you), what would happen if these dreams/hopes are shattered.
agar mileN kahiN tujh ko voh sar barahna1 Khwaab
nazar bachaa ke guzar jaana inke aage se
vo teri Khushboo-e zulf-e rasa2 ko jaante haiN
teri ada3, tere raNg-e qabaa4 ko jaante haiN
voh tere dast5-e hina-aashna6 ko jaante haiN
faroGh7-e raushni-e naqsh-e paa8 ko jaante haiN1. bare-headed, sorrowful 2. wrapped, entwined/curly hair 3. style 4. colour of robe 5. hand, palm 6. familiar with henna 7. increase 8. footprints
If you encounter my sorrowful hopes, pass by looking away from them for they know the fragrance of your hair, they know your style, the colour of your robe, they know your henna covered hand, they know the brightness of your foot prints.
kisi se kahna ke batla deN unko mera pata
voh meri neend uRa le gaye haiN saath apne
teri nigaah1-e sukooN-aashna2 se kaun kahe
keh luT gaiiN meri neendeN bhaTak gaye mere Khwaab1. eye, sight, outlook 2. familiar with comfort
Ask someone to tell them (my wandering dreams/hopes) where I live for they have taken my sleep with them. How can anyone make your comfortable outlook understand that I have been robbed of my sleep, my hopes wander, lost in your streets.
maiN tere vaaste rusvaa-e aa’m1 huN phir bhi
Ghazab to yeh ke hai paas2-e naNg o naam3 abhi
hazaarauN maslehateN4 haath thhaam leti haiN
ba qadr5-e hausla6 daaman7 bhi taar taar8 nahiN
Gham-e zamaana9 ne samjha diya na jaane kya
keh tujh se chhooT ke bhi zeest10 nagavaar11 nahiN1. publicly humiliated 2. concern for 3. respect and reputation 4. expediencies, interests 5. in measure of 6. capability 7. apron 8. torn to threads 9. sorrow, concern of the times/world 10. life 11. unbearable
Because of my (unrequited) love of you, I face public humiliation but am still concerned about my reputation. But thousands of other expediencies pull me away. I still am able to bear all the sorrow that has befallen me. “daaman taar taar hona” – apron/cloak shredded to threads is say that grief has been unbearable. Here the poet/lover claims that he has more capability to bear pain than has been visited upon him. The demands of Time have consoled him that life without the beloved is unbearable, because attention is diverted to other issues. Compare this with Faiz’s “mujh se pahli si mohabbat” where he says, “lauT jaati hai udhar ko bhi nazar kya keeje …”.
tujhi se chaahta huN saadagi-e shauq1 ki daad2
isi umeed3 pe raushan haiN Khoon-e dil ke diye4
kabhi ulajhne lage dam tera jo zulmat5 meN
tujhe na mujh se gila6 ho ke raushni na rahi
isi chiraaGh se tu apna raasta paae
balaa se aaj agar raaegaaN7 lahu jaae1. simplicity of passion (loving on in spite of unrequited love) 2. appreciation 3. hope 4. lamps that burn the blood of my heart (not oil) 5. darkness 6. complaint 7. wasted
Unlike Faiz in “mujh se pahi si mohabbat”, vaheed aKhtar takes an about turn back towards the beloved. It is from you alone that I ask for an appreciation of the simple steadfastness of my passion. I keep the lamp lit, burning the blood of my heart in the hope that if ever you feel suffocated by darkness, you should not have reason to complain that I did not provide any light. May you be able to find your way with this light, I don’t care if today my blood is wasted (I will keep the lamp burning for the day that you need it).
lahu ke chiraaGh – vaheed aKhtar
A beautiful and poignant expression of unrequited love with faint echoes of Faiz’s “mujh se pahli si mohabbat”, but with an about turn back towards the beloved, offering her “lahu ke chiraaGh” – lamps using the lover’s blood as fuel.
tere jamaal1-e sahr paash2 o taabnaak3 ki Khair
vahi sahr hai jo chamke umeed-e deed4 ke saath
vo subah jis meN na shaamil5 ho raushni teri
usay bhi raat samajhte haiN tere hijr-zada6
1. face, beauty 2. dawn spreading 3. shining, glorious 4. hope of sight (of you) 5. included, mixed 6. stricken by separation (from you), lovers
May your glorious, dawn spreading face/beauty be blessed. The only dawn that is a genuine dawn is the one that shines with hope of a sight of you. If dawn does not bring such hope then your lovers consider it dark as night.
na jaane kaun si sa’at1 meN tujh ko dekha thaa
yeh jaante hue chaaha, ke paa nahiN sakta
yeh jaante hue maaNgi thiiN zulf2 ki raateN
keh inke baad ujaala phir aa nahiN sakta
1. time, moment 2. hair, tresses
I do not know what moment it was that I saw you and loved you, knowing that I would be able to get your love in return. I wished for the shelter of your dark tresses knowing that after that there would be no dawn for me.
yeh jaante hue chehre ki chaandni DhoonDi
keh tujh se chhooT ke mahtaab1 bhaa2 nahiN sakta
yeh jaante hue pooja tujhe KhayaalauN meN
keh pattharauN ko dhaRakna sikha nahiN sakta
yeh jaante hue bhaTka huN teri raahauN meN
keh luT3 bhi jaauN to maiN daad4 paa nahiN sakta
1. full moon 2. pleasing 3. robbed 4. justice, compensation
I looked for your moonlike face knowing that after this even the full moon would not give me any pleasure. I worshipped you in my thoughts knowing that even if I recreated an stone idol in your likeness, it would not have a throbbing heart. I have wandered through your pathways knowing that I would be robbed of everything and would not get any justice/recompense.
jahaaN se guzri nahiN hai tere badan ki naseem1
vahaaN bhi maiN ne khilaae haiN teri yaad ke phool
jahaaN pahuNch bhi na paaii teri nazar ki kiran
vahaaN bhi maiN ne giraaii hai aaNkh se shabnam2
vo raaheN jo rahiN mahroom-haa-e3 jaada-navaaz4
teri talaash meN pahuNche vahaaN bhi mere qadam
1. fragrant breeze 2. dew drops, tears 3. devoid of (I am interpreting mahroom-ha as plural of mahroom) 4. one who bestows glory on the pathway (that she walks)
Even where the breeze of your fragrance has never blown, there I have nurtured blooms of flowers i.e. flowers are redolent (for me) only because of the fragrance of your memories. Even in those places/corners which your sight never reached, I have shed tears (of sorrow because of separation from you). The pathways that remained devoid of your glorious presence, even there have my steps wandered in search of you.
voh roz o shab jo guzaare1 haiN maiN ne tujh se duur
tamaam umr ke sadmauN2 ka baar uThaae haiN
har ek lamhe3 ne rug rug meN neeshtar4 toRey
tere firaaq5 ne kya kya azaab6 Dhaae haiN
1. spent 2. calamities, sorrows 3. moment 4. lance 5. separation 6. wrath, punishment
The days and nights that I have spent away from you, bearing the heavy load of all the sorrows of my life, every moment has pierced every vein as if with a lance. Oh how much punishment separation from you has visited upon me.
na jaane kah gaii kya baat ek nigaah-e vidaa1
maiN tujh ko bhoolna chaahuN bhi to bhula na sakuN
tere baland2 dar o baam3 se yeh kaun kahe
bhaTak rahe haiN tere raastauN pe mere Khwaab4
1. parting look 2. high, grand 3. door and roof, house, chamber 4. dreams, hopes
Oh! the effect of that parting look. I would not be able to forget you, even if I tried. How can I get this message to your grand chamber (where you sleep peacefully) that my dreams/hopes wander in your street.
mujhe yeh Dar hai ke aavaaragaan1-e koo-e vafa2
tere hareem3 meN dar aae4 to kya hoga
pahuNch ke tere shabistaaN5 ke sheesh mahlauN6 tak
jo teri neend uRa gaye to kya ho ga
teri nagaahauN se vaabasta7 narm o naazuk Khwaab
shikast-e Khwaab8 se thharra9 gaye to kya ho ga
1. wanderers 2. street of love (the poet is referring to his dreams/hopes that are wandering in her street) 3. private chamber 4. forcefully intrude 5. bedchamber 6. associated with 7. associated 8. defeat of the dream, unfulfilled dream 8. tremble, fear, give up hope
I fear that my dreams/hopes that wander in your street may intrude your privacy. what would happen if, breaking into the crystal palace of your bedchamber, they rob you of your sleep. These tender and fragile hopes that are associated with your eyes (with the sight of you), what would happen if these dreams/hopes are shattered.
agar mileN kahiN tujh ko voh sar barahna1 Khwaab
nazar bachaa ke guzar jaana inke aage se
vo teri Khushboo-e zulf-e rasa2 ko jaante haiN
teri ada3, tere raNg-e qabaa4 ko jaante haiN
voh tere dast5-e hina-aashna6 ko jaante haiN
faroGh7-e raushni-e naqsh-e paa8 ko jaante haiN
1. bare-headed, sorrowful 2. wrapped, entwined/curly hair 3. style 4. colour of robe 5. hand, palm 6. familiar with henna 7. increase 8. footprints
If you encounter my sorrowful hopes, pass by looking away from them for they know the fragrance of your hair, they know your style, the colour of your robe, they know your henna covered hand, they know the brightness of your foot prints.
kisi se kahna ke batla deN unko mera pata
voh meri neend uRa le gaye haiN saath apne
teri nigaah1-e sukooN-aashna2 se kaun kahe
keh luT gaiiN meri neendeN bhaTak gaye mere Khwaab
1. eye, sight, outlook 2. familiar with comfort
Ask someone to tell them (my wandering dreams/hopes) where I live for they have taken my sleep with them. How can anyone make your comfortable outlook understand that I have been robbed of my sleep, my hopes wander, lost in your streets.
maiN tere vaaste rusvaa-e aa’m1 huN phir bhi
Ghazab to yeh ke hai paas2-e naNg o naam3 abhi
hazaarauN maslehateN4 haath thhaam leti haiN
ba qadr5-e hausla6 daaman7 bhi taar taar8 nahiN
Gham-e zamaana9 ne samjha diya na jaane kya
keh tujh se chhooT ke bhi zeest10 nagavaar11 nahiN
1. publicly humiliated 2. concern for 3. respect and reputation 4. expediencies, interests 5. in measure of 6. capability 7. apron 8. torn to threads 9. sorrow, concern of the times/world 10. life 11. unbearable
Because of my (unrequited) love of you, I face public humiliation but am still concerned about my reputation. But thousands of other expediencies pull me away. I still am able to bear all the sorrow that has befallen me. “daaman taar taar hona” – apron/cloak shredded to threads is say that grief has been unbearable. Here the poet/lover claims that he has more capability to bear pain than has been visited upon him. The demands of Time have consoled him that life without the beloved is unbearable, because attention is diverted to other issues. Compare this with Faiz’s “mujh se pahli si mohabbat” where he says, “lauT jaati hai udhar ko bhi nazar kya keeje …”.
tujhi se chaahta huN saadagi-e shauq1 ki daad2
isi umeed3 pe raushan haiN Khoon-e dil ke diye4
kabhi ulajhne lage dam tera jo zulmat5 meN
tujhe na mujh se gila6 ho ke raushni na rahi
isi chiraaGh se tu apna raasta paae
balaa se aaj agar raaegaaN7 lahu jaae
1. simplicity of passion (loving on in spite of unrequited love) 2. appreciation 3. hope 4. lamps that burn the blood of my heart (not oil) 5. darkness 6. complaint 7. wasted
Unlike Faiz in “mujh se pahi si mohabbat”, vaheed aKhtar takes an about turn back towards the beloved. It is from you alone that I ask for an appreciation of the simple steadfastness of my passion. I keep the lamp lit, burning the blood of my heart in the hope that if ever you feel suffocated by darkness, you should not have reason to complain that I did not provide any light. May you be able to find your way with this light, I don’t care if today my blood is wasted (I will keep the lamp burning for the day that you need it).
