For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
پردہ اور عِصمت ۔ اسرار الحق مجازؔ
۱
جو ظاہر نہ ہو وہ لطافت نہیں ہے
جو پِنہاں رہے وہ صداقت نہیں ہے
یہ فِطرت نہیں ہے مشیت نہیں ہے
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
۲
صبا اور گلستاں سے دامن کشیدہ
نوائے فسوں خیز اور ناشنیدہ
تجلّیِ رخسار اور نا دمیدہ
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
۳
سرِ رہ گزر چھپ چھپا کر گزرنا
خود اپنے ہی جذبات کا خون کرنا
حجابوں میں جینا حجابوں میں مرنا
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
۴
خیالاتِ پیہم میں ہر وقت گُم سُم
دلِ نرم و نازک پہ ابر توہم
بُجھا سا تبسّم گُھٹا سا تکلم
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
۵
وہ اِک کاہشِ تلخ ہر آن دل میں
وہ شام و سحر ایک خلجان دل میں
امنڈتا ہوا ایک طوفان دل میں
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
۶
نگاہوں کی دعوت کو پامال کرنا
مذاق لطافت کو پامال کرنا
تقاضائے فطرت کو پامال کرنا
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
۷
قسم انجمِ شب کے ذوق سفر کی
قسم تازگیِ نسیمِ سحر کی
قسم آسمانوں کے شمس و قمر کی
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
۸
قسم شوخیِ عشقِ سنجوگتا کی
قسم جون کے عزمِ صبر آزما کی
قسم طاہرہ کی قسم خالدہ کی
کوئی اور شے ہے یہ عِصمت نہیں ہے
पर्दा और इस्मत – अस्रार-उल-हक़ मजाज़
१
जो ज़ाहेर न हो वो लताफ़त नहीं है
जो पिन्हाँ रहे वो सदाक़त नहीं है
ये फ़ितरत नहीं है मशिय्यत नहीं है
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
२
सबा और गुलिस्ताँ से दामन कशीदा
नवा-ए फ़ुसूँ-ख़ेज़ और ना-शुनीदा
तजल्ली-ए रुख़्सार और ना-दमीदा
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
३
सर-ए रहगुज़र छुप-छुपा कर गुज़रना
ख़ुद अपने ही जज़्बात का ख़ून करना
हिजाबों में जीना हिजाबों में मरना
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
४
ख़यालात-ए पैहम में हर वक़्त गुम-सुम
दिल-ए नर्म-ओ-नाज़ुक पे अब्र-ए तवह्हुम
बुझा सा तबस्सुम घुटा सा तकल्लुम
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
५
वो एक काहिश-ए तल्ख़ हर आन दिल में
वो शाम-ओ-सहर एक ख़लजान दिल में
उमँडता हुआ एक तूफ़ान दिल में
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
६
निगाहों की दावत को पामाल करना
मज़ाक़-ए लताफ़त को पामाल करना
तक़ाज़ा-ए फ़ितरत को पामाल करना
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
७
क़सम अंजुम-ए शब के ज़ौक़-ए सफ़र की
क़सम ताज़गी-ए नसीम-ए सहर की
क़सम आसमानों के शम्स-ओ-क़मर की
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
८
क़सम शोख़ी-ए इश्क़ संजोगता की
क़सम जून के अज़्म-ए सब्र-आज़्मा की
क़सम ताहेरा की क़सम ख़ालेदा की
कोई और शय है ये इस्मत नहीं है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This nazm appears to be a follow-on to ‘ek naujavaan Khaatoon se’ which is also posted on this site.
1
jo zaahir1 na ho vo lataafat2 nahiN hai
jo pinhaaN3 rahe vo sadaaqat4 nahiN hai
ye fitrat5 nahiN hai mashiyyat6 nahiN hai
koi aur shai7 hai ye ismat8 nahiN hai 1.visible 2.elegance 3.hidden 4.proof, credible 5.nature 6.god’s will 7.substance 8.dignity, honour
That which cannot be seen is not elegance
That which remains hidden is not credible
It is not intrinsic nature, it is not god’s will
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
2
saba1 aur gulistaaN se daaman-kashida2
nava3-e fusuuN-Khez4 aur na-shunida5
tajalli6-e ruKhsaar7 aur na-damida8
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai 1.breeze 2.pulling away the hem of the robe, staying away from 3.sound, voice 4.enchanting 5.unheard 6.brilliance 7.cheeks, face 8.not manifested, unseen
Staying away from the open garden and its breeze
Enchanting voice and remain unheard
Brilliance of visage and remain unseen
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
3
sar-e rahguzar1 chhup-chhupa kar guzarna2
Khud apne hi jazbaat3 ka Khuun karna
hijaaboN4 meN jiina hijaaboN meN marna
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai 1.street, road 2.pass through 3.emotions, feelings 4.veils
Passing unobtrusively through the public street
Suffocating and killing your own feelings
Living behind veils and dying behind veils
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
4
Khayaalaat1-e paiham2 meN har vaqt gum-sum
dil-e narm-o-naazuk pe abr3-e tavahhum4
bujha sa tabassum5 ghuTa6 sa takallum7
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai 1.thoughts 2.continuous 3.cloud 4.superstition 5.smile 6.suffocated 7.conversation
Lost in a constant stream of thoughts and imagination
The sensitive heart clouded with superstition
Suppressed smile and suffocated conversation
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
5
vo ek kaahish1-e talKh2 har aan dil meN
vo shaam-o-sahar3 ek Khaljaan4 dil meN
umaNDta5 hua ek toofaan dil meN
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai 1.suppress, decay, waste 2.bitter 3.day and night 4.anxiety 5.rising
Every moment that bitter feeling of being suppressed
Day and night burdened with anxiety
Facing rising storms of desire in the heart
It is something else, it not dignity, it is not honour
6
nigaahoN1 ki daavat2 ko paamaal3 karna
mazaaq4-e lataafat5 ko paamaal3 karna
taqaaza6-e fitrat7 ko paamaal3 karna
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai 1.eyes 2.feast 3.trample 4.taste, relish, ability 5.elegance 6.demands 7.nature
Trampling upon the feast of sights, with downcast eyes
Stamping down the desire of elegant display
Choking the demands of nature
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
7
qasam anjum1-e shab2 ke zauq3-e safar4 ki
qasam taazagi5-e nasim6-e sahar7 ki
qasam aasmaanoN ke shams8-o-qamar9 ki
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai 1.stars 2.night 3.taste 4.travel 5.freshness 6.breeze 7.dawn 8.sun 9.moon
Here the stars, breeze, moon and the sun are all symbols of freedom. The poet swears by them.
I swear by the stars of the sky in their nightly soujourn
I swear by the fragrant breeze that blows at dawn
I swear by the sun and moon in the sky
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
8
qasam shooKhi1-e ishq-e sanjogta2 ki
qasam june3 ke azm4-e sabr-aazma5 ki
qasam taahira6 ki qasam Khaalida7 ki
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai 1.playfulness 2.daughter of raja jaisingh who eloped with prithvi raj in defiance of her father’s wishes 3.Joan of Arc, who was determined in defying orthodoxy 6.an Iranian woman poet who adopted the bahaii faith and stood up to persecution 7.a Turkish woman poet of independent thought
Here the poet is swearing in the name of independent and powerful women and telling his interlocutor that what has been imposed on them is not ‘ismat’ but ‘something else’ – meaning oppression.
I swear by the defiant love of sanjogta
By the patience testing determination of Joan
By the defiant tahira and Khadija
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This nazm appears to be a follow-on to ‘ek naujavaan Khaatoon se’ which is also posted on this site.
1
jo zaahir1 na ho vo lataafat2 nahiN hai
jo pinhaaN3 rahe vo sadaaqat4 nahiN hai
ye fitrat5 nahiN hai mashiyyat6 nahiN hai
koi aur shai7 hai ye ismat8 nahiN hai
1.visible 2.elegance 3.hidden 4.proof, credible 5.nature 6.god’s will 7.substance 8.dignity, honour
That which cannot be seen is not elegance
That which remains hidden is not credible
It is not intrinsic nature, it is not god’s will
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
2
saba1 aur gulistaaN se daaman-kashida2
nava3-e fusuuN-Khez4 aur na-shunida5
tajalli6-e ruKhsaar7 aur na-damida8
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai
1.breeze 2.pulling away the hem of the robe, staying away from 3.sound, voice 4.enchanting 5.unheard 6.brilliance 7.cheeks, face 8.not manifested, unseen
Staying away from the open garden and its breeze
Enchanting voice and remain unheard
Brilliance of visage and remain unseen
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
3
sar-e rahguzar1 chhup-chhupa kar guzarna2
Khud apne hi jazbaat3 ka Khuun karna
hijaaboN4 meN jiina hijaaboN meN marna
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai
1.street, road 2.pass through 3.emotions, feelings 4.veils
Passing unobtrusively through the public street
Suffocating and killing your own feelings
Living behind veils and dying behind veils
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
4
Khayaalaat1-e paiham2 meN har vaqt gum-sum
dil-e narm-o-naazuk pe abr3-e tavahhum4
bujha sa tabassum5 ghuTa6 sa takallum7
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai
1.thoughts 2.continuous 3.cloud 4.superstition 5.smile 6.suffocated 7.conversation
Lost in a constant stream of thoughts and imagination
The sensitive heart clouded with superstition
Suppressed smile and suffocated conversation
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
5
vo ek kaahish1-e talKh2 har aan dil meN
vo shaam-o-sahar3 ek Khaljaan4 dil meN
umaNDta5 hua ek toofaan dil meN
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai
1.suppress, decay, waste 2.bitter 3.day and night 4.anxiety 5.rising
Every moment that bitter feeling of being suppressed
Day and night burdened with anxiety
Facing rising storms of desire in the heart
It is something else, it not dignity, it is not honour
6
nigaahoN1 ki daavat2 ko paamaal3 karna
mazaaq4-e lataafat5 ko paamaal3 karna
taqaaza6-e fitrat7 ko paamaal3 karna
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai
1.eyes 2.feast 3.trample 4.taste, relish, ability 5.elegance 6.demands 7.nature
Trampling upon the feast of sights, with downcast eyes
Stamping down the desire of elegant display
Choking the demands of nature
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
7
qasam anjum1-e shab2 ke zauq3-e safar4 ki
qasam taazagi5-e nasim6-e sahar7 ki
qasam aasmaanoN ke shams8-o-qamar9 ki
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai
1.stars 2.night 3.taste 4.travel 5.freshness 6.breeze 7.dawn 8.sun 9.moon
Here the stars, breeze, moon and the sun are all symbols of freedom. The poet swears by them.
I swear by the stars of the sky in their nightly soujourn
I swear by the fragrant breeze that blows at dawn
I swear by the sun and moon in the sky
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
8
qasam shooKhi1-e ishq-e sanjogta2 ki
qasam june3 ke azm4-e sabr-aazma5 ki
qasam taahira6 ki qasam Khaalida7 ki
koi aur shai hai ye ismat nahiN hai
1.playfulness 2.daughter of raja jaisingh who eloped with prithvi raj in defiance of her father’s wishes 3.Joan of Arc, who was determined in defying orthodoxy 6.an Iranian woman poet who adopted the bahaii faith and stood up to persecution 7.a Turkish woman poet of independent thought
Here is swearing in the name of independent and powerful women and telling his interlocutor that what has been imposed on them is not ‘ismat’ but ‘something else’ – meaning oppression.
I swear by the defiant love of sanjogta
By the patience testing determination of Joan
By the defiant tahira and Khadija
It is something else, it is not dignity, it is not honour
