For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
اضطراب آہستہ آہستہ ۔ شاہد عزیز روشؔ صدیقی
۱
سکوں ہے ہمنوائے اضطراب آہستہ آہستہ
محبت ہو رہی ہے کامیاب آہستہ آہستہ
۲
عجب عالم ہے آغازِ سرورِ عشق کا عالم
اُٹھے جیسے افق سے ماہتاب آہستہ آہستہ
۳
حجابِ ضبط، تارِ نااُمیدی، زخمۂ حسرت
خموشی بن گئی خود ہی رباب آہستہ آہستہ
۴
سرشکِ غم کبھی شمع جدائی کو بجھا دیں گے
یہی تارے بنیں گے آفتاب آہستہ آہستہ
۵
بالآخر کیفِ غم نے منظرِ ہستی بدل ڈالا
سرِ میخانہ پہنچا ہے سحاب آہستہ آہستہ
۶
ابھی محسوس کیا ہوگی حوادث کی سُبُک گامی
رُکے گا کاروانِ اِنقلاب آہستہ آہستہ
۷
خرابِ نرگسِ مستانہ آخر ہو گیا زاہد
رسا ہوتی ہے تاثیرِ شراب آہستہ آہستہ
۸
نشاطِ آرزو، خوابِ تمنّا، دردِ محرومی
محبت نے اُٹھائے سب حجاب آہستہ آہستہ
۹
بہ ہر عنواں مسلسل چھیڑ ہے اب اُن کے جلووں سے
بہک نکلی نگاہِ باریاب آہستہ آہستہ
۱۰
روشؔ راز محبت آج بھی ہے راز لا ینحل
غلط ثابت ہوئے سارے جواب آہستہ آہستہ
माहताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता-रविश सिद्दीक़ी
१
सुकूँ है हमनवा-ए इज़्तिराब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
मोहब्बत हो रही है कामयाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
२
अजब आलम है आग़ाज़-ए-सुरूर-ए-इश्क़ का आलम
उठे जैसे उफ़ुक़ से माहताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
३
हिजाब-ए ज़ब्त, तार-ए ना-उमीदी, ज़ख़्मा-ए हस्रत
ख़मोशी बन गई ख़ुद ही रबाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
४
सरिश्क-ए-ग़म कभी शम’अ-ए-जुदाई को बुझा देंगे
यही तारे बनेंगे आफ़्ताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
५
बिल-आख़र कैफ़-ए ग़म ने मंज़र-ए हस्ती बदल डाला
सर-ए मयख़ाना पहुंचा है सहाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
६
अभी महसूस क्या होगी हवादिस की सुबुक-गामी
रुके गा कारवान-ए इन्क़लाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
७
ख़राब-ए नर्गिस-ए मस्ताना आख़िर हो गया ज़ाहिद
रसा होती है तासीर-ए-शराब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
८
निशात-ए आर्ज़ू, ख़्वाब-ए तमन्ना, दर्द-ए महरूमी
मोहब्बत ने उठाए सब हिजाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
९
ब-हर-उनवाँ मुसल्सल छेड़ है अब उन के जल्वों से
बहक निकली निगाह-ए बार्याब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
१०
रविश राज़-ए मोहब्बत आज भी है राज़-ए ला-यनहल
ग़लत साबित हुए सारे जवाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. shahid aziz ravish siddiqui (1909-1971) was brought up in a religious atmosphere but in addition to arabi and faarsi, he learnt sanskrit and hindi and was well versed in vedantic literature. A close associate of maulana abul kalam azad he was quite secular in outlook, reflected in this she’r …
ab is se kya Gharaz ye haram hai ki dair hai
baiThe haiN ham to saaya-e diivaar dekh kar
He composed mostly in the classical style with classical themes. This is composed using the refrain of vali dakkhani’s (1667-1707) popular Ghazal which he recited in dehli and which persuaded the likes of mir taqi mir to compose in urdu rather than an increasingly inaccessible faarsi.
1
sukuuN1 hai hamnavaa2-e izteraab3 aahista aahista
mohabbat ho rahi hai kaamyaab4 aahista aahista 1.comfort, tranquility 2.cry/call/sing together 3.restlessness, pain 4.successful
Tranquility and comfort are gradually accompanying restlessness and pain. It appears that love is succeeding little by little. Thus, love is a mixture of pain and pleasure.
2
ajab1 aalam2 hai aaGhaaz3-e suruur4-e ishq ka aalam5
uThe jaise ufuq6 se maahtaab7 aahista aahista 1.unusual, amazing 2.condition 3.beginning 4.elation, joy 5.condition, world 6.horizon 7.full/bright
The poet/lover probably in the later despondent stages of love is recalling the beginning stage. The beginning of the joy of love was amazing. It was like the full moon rising gradually above the horizon.
3
hijaab1-e zabt2, taar3-e na-umiidi4, zaKhma5-e hasrat6
Khamoshi ban gayii Khud hi rabaab7 aahista aahista 1.hiding, putting a curtain/veil on 2.self-control 3.string, continuity 4.hopelessness, disappointments 5.wound 6.longing, yearning 7.sarod/harp
The poet/lover has been hiding his pain, exercising self control in the face of continuous disappointments and bearing the pain of unfulfilled yearning. Now his silence itself has begun to be like a harp i.e. it is playing out all his feelings in the open.
4
sarishk1-e Gham2 kabhi sham’a-e judaaii3 ko bujhaa deNge
yahi taare baneNge aaftaab4 aahista aahista 1.river/rivulet of tears 2.sorrow 3.separation 4.sun
The poet/lover has been crying rivers of pain. This water flow is likely to extinguish the “lamp of separation” i.e. even in separation there has been some hope (lamp), but now even that is in danger. His tears are like stars and gradually they will become like the sun … the logic is that when the sun rises, lamps are put out or they become so weak compared to the brightness of the sun that they will not be seen.
5
bil-aaKhir1 kaif2-e Gham ne manzar3-e hasti4 badal Daala
sar-e maiKhaana pahuNcha hai sahaab5 aahista aahista 1.ultimately, finally 2.pleasure 3.scene 4.life 5.cloud (of benevolence)
‘kaif-e Gham’ is pleasure of pain. This seems self-contradictory but conventions of poetry and love value the pain of suffering in love. This value is considered a pleasure. Also ‘sahaab’, meaning cloud has two significant implications. Cloud is associated with rain which is a blessing. Sustenance depends on it. Also, clouds gather bringing good news of coming rain and there is celebration. It is a time to gather in the ‘maiKhaana’. Thus, finally, the pleasure of suffering seems to be bearing fruit. It has changed the scene/conditions of life. The blessed cloud has reached over the tavern and it is time to celebrate.
6
abhi mahsoos1 kya hogi havaadis2 ki subuk-gaami3
ruke ga kaarvaan-e inqelaab aahista aahista 1.feel 2.events, occurances 3.soft/light tread
‘kaarvaan-e inqelaab’ will stop only when it has reached its goal. We will not feel the effects of all that is happening because of the soft-tread of the movement.
7
Kharaab1-e nargis2-e mastaana3 aaKhir ho gaya zaahid4
rasaa5 hoti hai taasir6-e sharaab aahista aahista 1.drunk 2.eye 3.intoxicating 4.orthodox, preacher 5.reaching, effective 6.effect
Finally, the preacher is drunk by the intoxicating eyes of the beloved. The effect of wine reaches/attains its effect gradually.
8
nishaat1-e aarzu2, Khwaab-e tamanna3, dard-e mahruumi4
mohabbat ne uThaaye sab hijaab5 aahista aahista 1.pleasure 2.desire, longing 3.yearning 4.deprivation (of the beloved’s company) 5.veil
Love has gradually lifted the veil from, revealed/subjected the poet/lover to all these sentiments – the pleaure of longing, dreams of yearning (for the love of the beloved), deprivation (of the beloved’s company).
9
ba-har-unvaaN1 musalsal2 chheR hai ab un ke jalvoN3 se
bahak4 nikli nigaah5-e baaryaab6 aahista aahista 1.with every excuse 2.constantly, continuously 3.manifestations, appearances 4.becoming incoherent/daring/reckless 5.glance 6.reaching, succeeding.
Normally the glance of the poet/lover is controlled. He does not look directly at the beloved. But now, his glance has become reckless and fearless because it has become successful once. So, now it uses every excuse to constantly play with looking at her.
10
ravish1 raaz2-e mohabbat aaj bhi hai raaz-e laa-yanhal3
Ghalat saabit4 hue saare javaab aahista aahista 1.pen-name of the poet 2.mystery 3.without solution/answer 4.proven
The mystery of love is still unsolved, O, ravish. Every solution/answer that was given turned out to be wrong, over time.
shahid aziz ravish siddiqui (1909-1971) was brought up in a religious atmosphere but in addition to arabi and faarsi, he learnt sanskrit and hindi and was well versed in vedantic literature. A close associate of maulana abul kalam azad he was quite secular in outlook, reflected in this she’r …
ab is se kya Gharaz ye haram hai ki dair hai
baiThe haiN ham to saaya-e diivaar dekh kar
He composed mostly in the classical style with classical themes. This is composed using the refrain of vali dakkhani’s (1667-1707) popular Ghazal which he recited in dehli and which persuaded the likes of mir taqi mir to compose in urdu rather than an increasingly inaccessible faarsi.
1
sukuuN1 hai hamnavaa2-e izteraab3 aahista aahista
mohabbat ho rahi hai kaamyaab4 aahista aahista
1.comfort, tranquility 2.cry/call/sing together 3.restlessness, pain 4.successful
Tranquility and comfort are gradually accompanying restlessness and pain. It appears that love is succeeding little by little. Thus, love is a mixture of pain and pleasure.
2
ajab1 aalam2 hai aaGhaaz3-e suruur4-e ishq ka aalam5
uThe jaise ufuq6 se maahtaab7 aahista aahista
1.unusual, amazing 2.condition 3.beginning 4.elation, joy 5.condition, world 6.horizon 7.full/bright
The poet/lover probably in the later despondent stages of love is recalling the beginning stage. The beginning of the joy of love was amazing. It was like the full moon rising gradually above the horizon.
3
hijaab1-e zabt2, taar3-e na-umiidi4, zaKhma5-e hasrat6
Khamoshi ban gayii Khud hi rabaab7 aahista aahista
1.hiding, putting a curtain/veil on 2.self-control 3.string, continuity 4.hopelessness, disappointments 5.wound 6.longing, yearning 7.sarod/harp
The poet/lover has been hiding his pain, exercising self control in the face of continuous disappointments and bearing the pain of unfulfilled yearning. Now his silence itself has begun to be like a harp i.e. it is playing out all his feelings in the open.
4
sarishk1-e Gham2 kabhi sham’a-e judaaii3 ko bujhaa deNge
yahi taare baneNge aaftaab4 aahista aahista
1.river/rivulet of tears 2.sorrow 3.separation 4.sun
The poet/lover has been crying rivers of pain. This water flow is likely to extinguish the “lamp of separation” i.e. even in separation there has been some hope (lamp), but now even that is in danger. His tears are like stars and gradually they will become like the sun … the logic is that when the sun rises, lamps are put out or they become so weak compared to the brightness of the sun that they will not be seen.
5
bil-aaKhir1 kaif2-e Gham ne manzar3-e hasti4 badal Daala
sar-e maiKhaana pahuNcha hai sahaab5 aahista aahista
1.ultimately, finally 2.pleasure 3.scene 4.life 5.cloud (of benevolence)
‘kaif-e Gham’ is pleasure of pain. This seems self-contradictory but conventions of poetry and love value the pain of suffering in love. This value is considered a pleasure. Also ‘sahaab’, meaning cloud has two significant implications. Cloud is associated with rain which is a blessing. Sustenance depends on it. Also, clouds gather bringing good news of coming rain and there is celebration. It is a time to gather in the ‘maiKhaana’. Thus, finally, the pleasure of suffering seems to be bearing fruit. It has changed the scene/conditions of life. The blessed cloud has reached over the tavern and it is time to celebrate.
6
abhi mahsoos1 kya hogi havaadis2 ki subuk-gaami3
ruke ga kaarvaan-e inqelaab aahista aahista
1.feel 2.events, occurances 3.soft/light tread
‘kaarvaan-e inqelaab’ will stop only when it has reached its goal. We will not feel the effects of all that is happening because of the soft-tread of the movement.
7
Kharaab1-e nargis2-e mastaana3 aaKhir ho gaya zaahid4
rasaa5 hoti hai taasir6-e sharaab aahista aahista
1.drunk 2.eye 3.intoxicating 4.orthodox, preacher 5.reaching, effective 6.effect
Finally, the preacher is drunk by the intoxicating eyes of the beloved. The effect of wine reaches/attains its effect gradually.
8
nishaat1-e aarzu2, Khwaab-e tamanna3, dard-e mahruumi4
mohabbat ne uThaaye sab hijaab5 aahista aahista
1.pleasure 2.desire, longing 3.yearning 4.deprivation (of the beloved’s company) 5.veil
Love has gradually lifted the veil from, revealed/subjected the poet/lover to all these sentiments – the pleaure of longing, dreams of yearning (for the love of the beloved), deprivation (of the beloved’s company).
9
ba-har-unvaaN1 musalsal2 chheR hai ab un ke jalvoN3 se
bahak4 nikli nigaah5-e baaryaab6 aahista aahista
1.with every excuse 2.constantly, continuously 3.manifestations, appearances 4.becoming incoherent/daring/reckless 5.glance 6.reaching, succeeding.
Normally the glance of the poet/lover is controlled. He does not look directly at the beloved. But now, his glance has become reckless and fearless because it has become successful once. So, now it uses every excuse to constantly play with looking at her.
10
ravish1 raaz2-e mohabbat aaj bhi hai raaz-e laa-yanhal3
Ghalat saabit4 hue saare javaab aahista aahista
1.pen-name of the poet 2.mystery 3.without solution/answer 4.proven
The mystery of love is still unsolved, O, ravish. Every solution/answer that was given turned out to be wrong, over time.
Key Search Words:
