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Recitation
لینین، خدا سے – محمد اقبال
ائے انفس و آفاق میں پیدا تیرے آیات
حق یہ ہے كہ ہے زندہ و پائندہ تیری ذات
میں کیسے سمجھتا كہ تو ہے یا كہ نہیں ہے
ہر دم متغیّر تھے خِرد كے نظریات
محرم نہیں فِطرت كے سرودِ ازلی سے
بینائے کواکب ہوں كہ دانائے نباتات
آج آنکھ نے دیکھا تو وہ عالم ہوا ثابت
میں جس کو سمجھتا تھا کلیسا كے خُرافات
ہم بندِ شب و روز میں جکڑے ہوئے بندے
تو خالِقِ اعصار و نگارندۂ آنات
اک بات اگر مجھ کو اجازت ہو تو پوچھوں
حَل کر نہ سکے جس کو حکیموں كے مقالات
جب تک میں جیا خیمۂ افلاک كے نیچے
کانٹے کی طرح دِل میں کھٹکتی رہی یہ بات
گفتار كے اسلوب پہ قابو نہیں رہتا
جب روح كے اندر متلاطم ہوں خیالات
وہ کون سا آدم ہے كہ تو جس کا ہے معبود
وہ آدمِ خاکی كہ جو ہے زیرِ سماوات
مشرق كے خداوند سفیدان فرنگی
مغرب كے خداوند درخشندہ فلزات
یوروپ میں بہت روشنیِ علم و ہنر ہے
حق یہ ہے كہ بے چشمۂ حیواں ہے یہ ظلمات
رعنائ تعمیرمیں ، رونق میں ، صفا میں
گِرجوں سے کہیں بڑھ كے ہیں بنکوں كے عمارات
ظاہر میں تجارت ہے حقیقت میں جوا ہے
سود ایک کا لاکھوں كے لئے مرگِ مفاجات
یہ علم ، یہ حکمت ، یہ تدبّر ، یہ حکومت
پیتے ہیں لہو ، دیتے ہیں تعلیمِ مساوات
بیکاری و عریانی و مئے خواری و اِفلاس
کیا کم ہیں فرنگی مدنیّت كے فتوحات
وہ قوم كہ فیضانِ سماوی سے ہو محروم
حد اِس كے کمالات کی ہے برق و بخارات
ہے دِل كے لئے موت مشینوں کی حکومت
اِحساسِ مروّت کو کچل دیتے ہیں آلات
آثار تو کچھ کچھ نظر آتے ہیں كہ آخر
تد بیر کو تقدیر كے شاطر نے کیا مات
مئے خانے کی بنیاد میں آیا ہے تزلزل
بیٹھے ہیں اسی فکر میں پیرانِ خرابات
چہروں پہ جو سرخی نظر آتی ہے سرِ شام
یا غازہ ہے یا ساغر و مینا کی کرامات
تو قادر و عادل ہے مگر تیرے جہاں میں
ہیں تلخ بہت بندۂ مزدور كے اوقات
کب ڈوبے گا سرمایہ پرستی کا سفینہ
دُنیا ہے تری منتظرِ روزِ مکافات
लेनिन, ख़ुदा से – मोहम्मद इक़्बाल
अय अनफ़स ओ आफ़ाक़ में पैदा तेरे आयात
हक़ ये है के है ज़िन्दा ओ पाईन्दा तेरी ज़ात
मैं कैसे समझता के तू है या के नहीं है
हर दम मुतग़य्यर थे ख़िरद के नज़रियात
महरम नहीं फ़ित्रत के सुरूद-ए अज़ली से
बीना-ए कवाकिब हों के दाना-ए नबातात
आज आंख ने देखा तो वो आलम हुआ साबित
मैं जिस को समझता था कलीसा के ख़ुराफ़ात
हम बन्द-ए शब ओ रोज़ में जकड़े बंदे
तू ख़ालिक़-ए आ’सार ओ निगारिंदा-ए आनात
एक बात अगर मुझ को इजाज़त हो तो पूछुं
हल कर ना सके जिस को हकीमों के मक़लात
जब तक मैं जिया ख़ैमा-ए अफ़्लाक के नीचे
कांटे कि तरह दिल में खटकती रही ये बात
गुफ़्तार के अस्लूब पे क़ाबू नहीं रहता
जब रूह के अंदर मुतलातिम हों ख़यालात
वो कौन सा आदम है के तू जिस का है मा’बूद
वो आदम-ए ख़ाकी के जो है ज़ेर-ए समावात
मश्रिक़ के ख़ुदावन्द सफ़ेदान फ़रंगी
मग़्रिब के ख़ुदावन्द दरख़्शन्दा फ़लज़्ज़ात
योरोप में बहुत रौशनी-ए इल्म ओ हुनर है
हक़ ये है के बे-चश्मा-ए हैवां है ये ज़ुल्मात
रा’नाइ-ए ता’मीर में, रौनक़ में, सफ़ा में
गिरजों से कहीं बढ़ के हैं बन्कौं के इमारात
ज़ाहिर में तिजारत है हक़ीक़त में जुव्वा है
सूद एक का लाखों के लिए मर्ग-ए मफ़ाजात
ये इल्म, ये हिकमत, ये तदब्बुर, ये हुकूमत
पीते हैं लहू, देते हैं ता’लीम-ए मसावात
बेकारी ओ उरियानी ओ मैख़्वारी ओ इफ़्लास
क्या कम हैं फ़रंगी मदनीययत के फ़ुतूहात
वो क़ौम के फ़ैज़ान-ए मसावी से हो महरूम
हद इस के कमलात की है बर्क़ ओ बुख़ारात
है दिल के लिए मौत मशीनौं की हुकूमत
एहसास-ए मुरव्वत को कुचल देते हैं आलात
आसार तो कुछ कुछ नज़र आते हैं के आख़िर
तदबीर को तक़दीर के शातिर ने किया मात
मैख़ाने की बुनियाद में आया है तज़लज़ुल
बैठे हैं इसी फ़िक्र में पीरान-ए ख़राबात
चेहरों पे जो सुर्ख़ी नज़र आती है सर-ए शाम
या ग़ाज़ा है या साग़र ओ मीना कि करामात
तू क़ादिर ओ आदिल है मगर तेरे जहां में
हैं तल्ख़ बहुत बन्दा-ए मज़्दूर के औक़ात
कब डूबेगा सरमाया-परस्ती का सफ़ीना
दुनिया है तेरी मुंतज़ीर-ए रोज़-ए मकाफ़ात
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. This is a three part nazm. In the first section Lenin is presented before god and complains to him about the injustice of the condition of the worker on earth (in god’s domain). In the second part, angels confirm that conditions on earth are bad. In the third part, god issues an edict to his angels which sounds like he wants socialism established.
aye anfas o aafaaq1 meN paida tere aayaat2
haq3 ye hai ke hai zinda4 o paainda5 teri zaat6
maiN kaise samajhta ke tu hai ya ke nahiN hai
har dam7 mutaGhayyar8 the Khirad9 ke nazariyaat10 1.life/earth and skies 2.signs, proofs 3.truth 4.alive/real 5.permanent, everlasting 6.being 7.moment 8.changing 9.wisdom 10.points of view, opinions
Your signs (of your benevolences) are visible all over the earth and sky. Yes, it is true that your being is real and everlasting. How could I have understood whether you existed or not. Every minute the opinion of wise people was changing.
mahram1 nahiN fitrat2 ke surood3-e azali4 se
beena-e kavaakib5 ho ke daana-e nabataat6
aaj aaNkh ne dekha to vo aalam7 hua saabit8
maiN jis ko samajhta tha kalisa9 ke Khurafaat10 1.familiar 2.nature 3.song of 4.eternity 5.those who can see stars/constellations i.e. astromers 6.those who know that which grows on earth i.e. biologists 7.condition, situation 8.proved 9.church 10.trivialities, fables
Scientists (astronomers and biologists) are not familiar with the song of eternity. Now that I see with my own eyes, that which I used to consider fables of the church has been proved to be true.
hum bund1-e shab o roz2 meN jakRe3 hue bande4
tu Khaaliq5-e aa’saar6 o nigaarinda7-e aanaat8
ek baat agar mujh ko ijaazat9 ho to poochuN
hal10 kar na sakey jis ko hakimauN11 ke maqalaat12 1.bound by 2.day and night, livelihood 3.trapped in 4.servants 5.creator 6.ages, epochs 7.writer/author/creator 8.moments, time 9.permission 10.solve 11.wise ones 12.discourses
We are your (humble) servants trapped in the bounds of daily living. You are the creator of long epochs as well as of fleeting moments (you are all powerful). If I have permission I would like to ask a question that could not be solved even by the most learned discourses of wise people.
jab tak maiN jiya Khaima1-e aflaak2 ke neeche
kaaNTe ki tarah dil meN khaTakti rahi ye baat
guftaar3 ke asloob4 pe qaabu5 nahiN rahta
jab rooh ke andar mutalaatim6 hoN Khayalaat 1.tent 2.skies 3.conversation 4.ways, methods, rules 5.control 6.agitated
As long as I lived under the tent of these skies (i.e. on earth) this question has been pricking my heart like a thorn. I have no control and cannot follow the proper etiquette of conversation when the soul is agitated by (disturbing) thoughts. (Hence I make bold to ask this question).
vo kaun sa aadam1 hai ke tu jis ka hai ma’abood2
vo aadam-e Khaaki3 ke jo hai zer4-e samavaat5
mashriq6 ke Khudavand7 safedaan8 faraNgi9
maGhrib10 ke Khudavand daraKhshand falazzat11 1.human 2.object of worship 3.made of clay 4.under 5.skies 6.East 7.god, object of worship 8.white 9.Europeans 10.West 11.shining metals i.e. gold, silver, gems
Who/what is the human of whom you are the object of worship/veneration. Is it the same human of clay that lives under the skies? (But the picture under the skies is different. That same human which is supposed to worship you worships others). In the East they worship white people of Europe. In the West they worship gold and silver.
yorop meN bahut raushni-e ilm1 o hunar2 hai
haq3 ye hai ke be-chashma-e haivaaN4 hai ye zulmaat5
raa’naaii6-e ta’amir7 meN, raunaq8 meN, safa9 meN
girjauN10 se kahiN baRh ke haiN bankauN ke imaraat11 1.knowledge 2.skills, talent 3.truth 4.without the spring of the elixir of life 5.darkness 6.grace, beauty 7.construction 8.brilliance 9.cleanliness 10.churches 11.buildings
Legend is that somewhere in the darkness of the universe there is a spring of the water of life. Here iqbal uses the water/elixir of life as a metaphor for eternal afterlife (spirituality). Thus … while in Europe there is much knowedge and skill (of the material world), the truth is that it is devoid of spirituality. In beauty and grace of construction, glory and brilliance and in cleanliness bank buildings are far better than churches. Editorial comment: Of course, this is a metaphor. There are many magnificent cathedrals and churches more beautiful than banks. iqbal simply means to say that spirituality plays second fiddle to materialism.
zaahir1 meN tijaarat2 hai haqiqat3 meN juvva4 hai
sood5 ek ka laakhauN ke liye marg-e mafajaat6
ye ilm7, ye hikmat8, ye tadabbur9, ye hukumat10
peete haiN lahu11, dete haiN ta’aleem12-e masavaat13 1.appearance 2.trade, business 3.truth 4.gambling 5.profit 6.unforeseen death, doom 7.knowledge, learning 8.wisdom 9.planning 10.administration 11.blood 12.lessons 13.equality
In appearance it is business, but in truth it is gambling. It is profit for one and doom for millions. All this learning, wisdom, planning and administration is designed to allow them to suck (the) blood (of the worker) while giving lessons of equality.
bekaari1 o uriyaani2 o maiKhwaari3 o iflaas4
kya kam haiN faraNgi5 madaniyyat6 ke futuhaat7
vo qaum8 ke faizaan9-e masaavi10 se ho mahroom11
had12 is ke kamalaat13 ki hai barq14 o baKharaat15 1.unemployment 2.nakedness 3.drunken-ness 4.destitution 5.European 6.civilization 7.victories, conquests 8.nation 9.blessings 10.equality 11.deprived of 12.limits 13.accomplishments 14.lightning/flash 15.vapour/fog
Unemployment, destitution and alcoholism (among the deprived workers), these are the successes of Western civilization. The accomplishments of a nation devoid of equality is limited to show (flash and fog), without any lasting substance. Note that iqbal is moving between spirituality and equality almost as if the two are the same.
hai dil ke liye maut mashinauN ki hukumat
ehsaas1-e muravvat2 ko kuchal3 dete haiN aalaat4
aasaar5 to kuchh kuchh nazar aate haiN ke aaKhir
tadbir6 ko taqdir7 ke shaatir8 ne kiya maat9 1.feelings of 2.kindness, humanism 3.trample 4.tools 5.effects 6.planning, effort, labour 7.fate, privilege 8.chess piece 9.defeated
The government of machines (capital) is the killing of the heart. All these tools (of capitalist production) trample upon feelings of humanism. From the effects that I see it looks like privilege has defeated labour.
maiKhaane1 ki buniyaad2 meN aaya hai tazalzul3
baiThe haiN isi fikr4 meN peeraan5-e Kharabaat6
chehrauN pe jo surKhi7 nazar aati hai sar-e shaam8
ya Ghaaza9 hai ya saaGhar10 o meena11 ki karamaat12 1.tavern 2.foundation 3.shaking, quake 4.worry 5.elders 6.tavern 7.redness, glow 8.head/beginning/early evening 9.rouge, make-up 10.cup 11.flask (of wine) 12.miracles
The foundations of tavern (the European system) are shaking badly. The elders of the tavern are contemplating this with much worry. (In Europe) the glow on faces that is seen early in the evening is nothing but rouge/make-up or the effects of wine (it is not the glow of happiness).
tu qaadir1 o aadil2 hai magar tere jahaaN meN
haiN talKh3 bahut banda-e mazdoor4 ke auqaat5
kab Doobega sarmaaya-parasti6 ka safina7
duniya hai teri muntazir8-e roz9-e makafaat10 1.controller of (the laws of) nature 2.just 3.hard 4.worker 5.conditions 6.worshipping capital 7.boat 8.waiting 9.day of 10.revenge
You control the way things work, you are just (then why) is the lot of the worker so hard. When will the boat of power of capital be sunk. Your world is waiting for the day of judgement (justice, revenge).
lenin Khuda se – mohammed iqbal
This is a three part nazm. In the first section Lenin is presented before god and complains to him about the injustice of the condition of the worker on earth (in god’s domain). In the second part, angels confirm that conditions on earth are bad. In the third part, god issues an edict to his angels which sounds like he wants socialism established.
aye anfas o aafaaq1 meN paida tere aayaat2
haq3 ye hai ke hai zinda4 o paainda5 teri zaat6
maiN kaise samajhta ke tu hai ya ke nahiN hai
har dam7 mutaGhayyar8 the Khirad9 ke nazariyaat10
1.life/earth and skies 2.signs, proofs 3.truth 4.alive/real 5.permanent, everlasting 6.being 7.moment 8.changing 9.wisdom 10.points of view, opinions
Your signs (of your benevolences) are visible all over the earth and sky. Yes, it is true that your being is real and everlasting. How could I have understood whether you existed or not. Every minute the opinion of wise people was changing.
mahram1 nahiN fitrat2 ke surood3-e azali4 se
beena-e kavaakib5 ho ke daana-e nabataat6
aaj aaNkh ne dekha to vo aalam7 hua saabit8
maiN jis ko samajhta tha kalisa9 ke Khurafaat10
1.familiar 2.nature 3.song of 4.eternity 5.those who can see stars/constellations i.e. astromers 6.those who know that which grows on earth i.e. biologists 7.condition, situation 8.proved 9.church 10.trivialities, fables
Scientists (astronomers and biologists) are not familiar with the song of eternity. Now that I see with my own eyes, that which I used to consider fables of the church has been proved to be true.
hum bund1-e shab o roz2 meN jakRe3 hue bande4
tu Khaaliq5-e aa’saar6 o nigaarinda7-e aanaat8
ek baat agar mujh ko ijaazat9 ho to poochuN
hal10 kar na sakey jis ko hakimauN11 ke maqalaat12
1.bound by 2.day and night, livelihood 3.trapped in 4.servants 5.creator 6.ages, epochs 7.writer/author/creator 8.moments, time 9.permission 10.solve 11.wise ones 12.discourses
We are your (humble) servants trapped in the bounds of daily living. You are the creator of long epochs as well as of fleeting moments (you are all powerful). If I have permission I would like to ask a question that could not be solved even by the most learned discourses of wise people.
jab tak maiN jiya Khaima1-e aflaak2 ke neeche
kaaNTe ki tarah dil meN khaTakti rahi ye baat
guftaar3 ke asloob4 pe qaabu5 nahiN rahta
jab rooh ke andar mutalaatim6 hoN Khayalaat
1.tent 2.skies 3.conversation 4.ways, methods, rules 5.control 6.agitated
As long as I lived under the tent of these skies (i.e. on earth) this question has been pricking my heart like a thorn. I have no control and cannot follow the proper etiquette of conversation when the soul is agitated by (disturbing) thoughts. (Hence I make bold to ask this question).
vo kaun sa aadam1 hai ke tu jis ka hai ma’abood2
vo aadam-e Khaaki3 ke jo hai zer4-e samavaat5
mashriq6 ke Khudavand7 safedaan8 faraNgi9
maGhrib10 ke Khudavand daraKhshand falazzat11
1.human 2.object of worship 3.made of clay 4.under 5.skies 6.East 7.god, object of worship 8.white 9.Europeans 10.West 11.shining metals i.e. gold, silver, gems
Who/what is the human of whom you are the object of worship/veneration. Is it the same human of clay that lives under the skies? (But the picture under the skies is different. That same human which is supposed to worship you worships others). In the East they worship white people of Europe. In the West they worship gold and silver.
yorop meN bahut raushni-e ilm1 o hunar2 hai
haq3 ye hai ke be-chashma-e haivaaN4 hai ye zulmaat5
raa’naaii6-e ta’amir7 meN, raunaq8 meN, safa9 meN
girjauN10 se kahiN baRh ke haiN bankauN ke imaraat11
1.knowledge 2.skills, talent 3.truth 4.without the spring of the elixir of life 5.darkness 6.grace, beauty 7.construction 8.brilliance 9.cleanliness 10.churches 11.buildings
Legend is that somewhere in the darkness of the universe there is a spring of the water of life. Here iqbal uses the water/elixir of life as a metaphor for eternal afterlife (spirituality). Thus … while in Europe there is much knowedge and skill (of the material world), the truth is that it is devoid of spirituality. In beauty and grace of construction, glory and brilliance and in cleanliness bank buildings are far better than churches. Editorial comment: Of course, this is a metaphor. There are many magnificent cathedrals and churches more beautiful than banks. iqbal simply means to say that spirituality plays second fiddle to materialism.
zaahir1 meN tijaarat2 hai haqiqat3 meN juvva4 hai
sood5 ek ka laakhauN ke liye marg-e mafajaat6
ye ilm7, ye hikmat8, ye tadabbur9, ye hukumat10
peete haiN lahu11, dete haiN ta’aleem12-e masavaat13
1.appearance 2.trade, business 3.truth 4.gambling 5.profit 6.unforeseen death, doom 7.knowledge, learning 8.wisdom 9.planning 10.administration 11.blood 12.lessons 13.equality
In appearance it is business, but in truth it is gambling. It is profit for one and doom for millions. All this learning, wisdom, planning and administration is designed to allow them to suck (the) blood (of the worker) while giving lessons of equality.
bekaari1 o uriyaani2 o maiKhwaari3 o iflaas4
kya kam haiN faraNgi5 madaniyyat6 ke futuhaat7
vo qaum8 ke faizaan9-e masaavi10 se ho mahroom11
had12 is ke kamalaat13 ki hai barq14 o baKharaat15
1.unemployment 2.nakedness 3.drunken-ness 4.destitution 5.European 6.civilization 7.victories, conquests 8.nation 9.blessings 10.equality 11.deprived of 12.limits 13.accomplishments 14.lightning/flash 15.vapour/fog
Unemployment, destitution and alcoholism (among the deprived workers), these are the successes of Western civilization. The accomplishments of a nation devoid of equality is limited to show (flash and fog), without any lasting substance. Note that iqbal is moving between spirituality and equality almost as if the two are the same.
hai dil ke liye maut mashinauN ki hukumat
ehsaas1-e muravvat2 ko kuchal3 dete haiN aalaat4
aasaar5 to kuchh kuchh nazar aate haiN ke aaKhir
tadbir6 ko taqdir7 ke shaatir8 ne kiya maat9
1.feelings of 2.kindness, humanism 3.trample 4.tools 5.effects 6.planning, effort, labour 7.fate, privilege 8.chess piece 9.defeated
The government of machines (capital) is the killing of the heart. All these tools (of capitalist production) trample upon feelings of humanism. From the effects that I see it looks like privilege has defeated labour.
maiKhaane1 ki buniyaad2 meN aaya hai tazalzul3
baiThe haiN isi fikr4 meN peeraan5-e Kharabaat6
chehrauN pe jo surKhi7 nazar aati hai sar-e shaam8
ya Ghaaza9 hai ya saaGhar10 o meena11 ki karamaat12
1.tavern 2.foundation 3.shaking, quake 4.worry 5.elders 6.tavern 7.redness, glow 8.head/beginning/early evening 9.rouge, make-up 10.cup 11.flask (of wine) 12.miracles
The foundations of tavern (the European system) are shaking badly. The elders of the tavern are contemplating this with much worry. (In Europe) the glow on faces that is seen early in the evening is nothing but rouge/make-up or the effects of wine (it is not the glow of happiness).
tu qaadir1 o aadil2 hai magar tere jahaaN meN
haiN talKh3 bahut banda-e mazdoor4 ke auqaat5
kab Doobega sarmaaya-parasti6 ka safina7
duniya hai teri muntazir8-e roz9-e makafaat10
1.controller of (the laws of) nature 2.just 3.hard 4.worker 5.conditions 6.worshipping capital 7.boat 8.waiting 9.day of 10.revenge
You control the way things work, you are just (then why) is the lot of the worker so hard. When will the boat of power of capital be sunk. Your world is waiting for the day of judgement (justice, revenge).
Key Search Words: socialism, labour, labor, progressive
