For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
قُربانی ۔ سید محمّد شاہد
۱
کہتے ہیں کہ خوابوں میں بشارت جو ملی تھی
اللہ کی بندے کو ہدایت یہ ملی تھی
۲
بیٹا تیرا بے لوث چہیتا جہان میں
قربان کر دے اِس کو تُو اب میری شان میں
۳
کہتے ہیں گلا کاٹنے راضی ہوئے فوری
سُنتے ہیں بشارت کی صداقت بھی نہ پوچھی
۴
یہ کیوں نہیں پوچھا کہ بھلا اِس کی خطا کیا
معصوم کا کاٹوں میں گلا مجھ کو ہے حق کیا
۵
یہ بھی ہے تیرا حکم کہ جائز نہیں ہے قتل
ملتا نہ جب جواز تو ہو حیران کیوں نہ عقل
۶
کیسے میں سمجھ لوں کہ خدا بھی یہ حکم کرتا
بیٹے کا خون باپ کے ہاتھوں میں ہے بھرتا
۷
کہتے ہیں کہ اللہ کی مرضی یہ نہیں تھی
مقصد تھا امتحان، قربانی نہیں تھی
۸
کیوں میں نہیں پوچھوں کہ یہ کیسا خدا ہے
یہ اِمتحاں تو قاتل و مقتول، دونوں پہ جفا ہے
۹
جذبِ پدر سے خوب ہے واقف، علیم ہے
کیسے میں سمجھ لوں کہ وہ پھر بھی رحیم ہے
۱۰
کہتے ہیں کہ دنیا میں مِثالی یہ اِطاعت
تکرار نہ سوال، ذہن کی ہو چاہے اِضاعت
۱۱
جاری ہیں وقتِ کُن سے جو بے پایہ و بے سود
من چاہے یہ فرمان تو تکرار میں شیطاں ہوا مردوُد
۱۲
افسانہ ہو شیطان کا یا ذبح کا دستور
ہے درس کہ ہو اندھی اِطاعت تیرا منشور
۱۳
دریائے اِمتحان کے وہی پار اُترتا
بے پایہ ہو فرمان تو اِنکار جو کرتا
۱۴
خوش ہوتا پھر اللہ کہ عاقِل خلیل ہے
اِنکار کی جُرأت میں تو حق کی دلیل ہے
۱۵
تو یہ نہ سمجھ لے کہ ہے فرسودہ اور قدیم
پٹّی بندھی جو آنکھ پہ، اب تک وہ ہے سلیم
۱۶
سازش ہے مقتدر کی، یہ کام وہ کر جائیں
“کہ جب جوان ہوں بچے تو قتل ہو جائیں”
۱۷
حوروں کے خواب دیکھ کے خودکُش کوئی بنا
قوم و وطن کے زعم سے صف میں کوئی بندھا
۱۸
ناحق بھی حکم ہو تو وہ تعمیل یوں کرے
پٹّی بندھی ہو آنکھ پہ، تآمل نہ کچھ کرے
۱۹
ہر حاکمِ مطلق نے یہی دستور چلایا
نا دیدہ ہر اِک قوم نے طاعت کو ہی اپنایا
۲۰
پٹّی بندھی ہے آنکھ پہ تیرے جو ہم عصر
کہتے یقین اُس کو ہیںِ روکے ہے حق کا در
۲۱
تحمُّل نہیں جہاں میں تُو منسور کو پکار
لببیک کہہ کہ کر دے انالحق کی تُو یلغار
क़ुर्बानी – सय्यद मोहम्मद शाहेद
१
कहते हैं के ख़्वाबौं में बशारत जो मिली थी
अल्लाह कि बन्दे को हिदायत ये मिली थी
२
बेटा तेरा बे-लौस चहीता जहान में
क़ुरबान कर दे इस को तू अब मेरी शान में
३
कहते हैं गला काटने राज़ी हुए फ़ौरी
सुनते हैं बशारत कि सदाक़त भी न पूछी
४
ये क्यूं नहीं पूछा के भला इस कि ख़ता क्या
मासूम का काटूं मैं गला, मुझ को है हक़ क्या
५
ये भी है तेरा हुक्म के जाएज़ नहीं है क़त्ल
मिलता न जब ज्वाज़ तो हो हैरान क्यूं न अक़्ल
६
कैसे मैं समझ लूँ के ख़ुदा भी ये हुकुम करता
बेटे का ख़ून बाप के हाथौं में है भरता
७
कहते हैं के अल्लाह कि मर्ज़ी ये नहीं थी
मक़्सद था इम्तेहान, क़ुरबानी नहीं थी
८
क्यूं मैं नहीं पूछूं के ये कैसा ख़ुदा है
ये इम्तेहां तो क़ातिल ओ मक़्तूल दोनों पे जफ़ा है
९
जज़्ब-ए पिदर से ख़ूब है वाक़िफ़, अलीम है
कैसे मैं समझ लूँ के वो फिर भी रहीम है
१०
कहते हैं के दुनिया में मिसाली ये इता’अत
तकरार न सवाल, ज़हन कि हो चाहे इज़ा’अत
११
जारी हैं वक़्त-ए कुन से जो बे-पाया ओ बे-सूद
मन चाहे ये फ़रमान तो तकरार में शैतां हुआ मरदूद
१२
अफ़्साना हो शैतान का या ज़िबह का दस्तूर
है दरस के हो अंधी इता’अत तेरा मन्शूर
१३
दर्या-ए इम्तेहान के वो पार उतरता
बे-पाया हो फ़रमान तो इन्कार जो करता
१४
ख़ुश होता फिर अल्लाह के आक़िल ख़लील है
इन्कार कि जुर’अत में तो हक़ कि दलील है
१५
तू ये न समझ ले के है फ़रसूदा और क़दीम
पट्टी बंधी जो आँख पे, अब तक वो है सलीम
१६
साज़िश है मुक़्तदर कि ये काम वो कर जाएँ
“के जब जवान हों बच्चे तो क़त्ल हो जाएँ”
१७
हूरौं के ख़्वाब देख के ख़ुद-कुश कोई बना
क़ौम ओ वतन के ज़ो’म से सफ़ में कोई बंधा
१८
नाहक़ भी हुक्म हो तो वो ता’मील यूँ करे
पट्टी बंधी हो आँख पे, ता’अम्मुल न कुछ करे
१९
हर हाकेम-ए मुत्लक़ ने यही दस्तूर चलाया
ना-दीदा हर एक क़ौम ने ता’अत हि को अपनाया
२०
पट्टी बंधी जो आँख पे तेरे जो हम असर
कहते यक़ीन उस को हैं, रोके है हक़ का दर
२१
तहम्मुल नहीं जहां में तू मन्सूर को पुकार
लब-बैक कह के कर दे अन-अल-हक़ कि तू यल्ग़ार
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed mohammed shahed (1944-living), hyderabad, India. shahed is a retired old engineer who started and runs this site as a means to learn urdu. He came to urdu late in life and started learning seriously after retiring from nearly 40 years of engineering research. He occasionally ventures into composing himself and is an irreverent ‘thinker not believer’. hafiz jalandhari composed a nazm called ‘qurbaani’ in devotional praise of the attempted murder/sacrifice of his son by ibrahim. This is a less than devotional, more rational and critically questioning view of the same event but expanding the questioning to the full range of faith.
1
kahte haiN ke KhwaabauN meN bashaarat1 jo mili thi
allaah ki bande2 ko hidaayat3 ye mili thi 1.intuition/inspiration short of a direct message such as ‘vahi’ 2.servant, creature 3.instruction
They say that the intuition/inspiration that he (ibrahim) received in a dream was an instruction from god to his servant/creature.
2
beTa tera be-laus1 chaheeta2 jahaan meN
qurbaan3 kar de is ko tu ab meri shaan meN 1.unmixed, pure 2.beloved 3.sacrifice, make an offering
Your son is the most beloved to you in all this world. Sacrifice him now and make an offering to my glory.
3
kahte haiN galaa kaaTne raazi1 hue fauri2
sunte haiN bashaarat3 ki sadaaqat4 bhi na poochhi 1.agree 2.instantly 3.intuition 4.veracity, authenticity
They say he immediately agreed to slit (his son’s) throat. We hear that he did not even stop to ask about the authenticity of his dream/intuition.
4
ye kyuN nahiN poochha ke bhala is ki Khata1 kya
maasoom2 ka kaaTuN maiN gala mujh ko hai haq3 kya 1.fault 2.innocent 3.right
Why did he not ask what his (son’s) fault was. What right did he have to slit the throat of an innocent.
5
ye bhi hai tera hukm keh jaa’ez1 nahiN hai qatl2
milta na jab juvaaz3 to ho hairaan4 kyuN na aql 1.allowed 2.killing, murder 3.justification, explanation 4.puzzled
It is also your order/law that murder/killing (of innocents) is not allowed. If I don’t get an explanation/justification for this act, why should my mind not be puzzled.
6
kaise maiN samajh luN ke Khuda bhi ye hukum karta
beTe ka Khoon baap ke haathauN meN hai bharta How am I to understand/accept that even god can issue such orders. That he can fill the hands of a father with the blood of his son.
7
kahte haiN keh allah ki marzi1 ye nahiN thi
maqsad2 tha imtehaan3, qurbaani4 nahiN thi 1.will 2.intention 3.test 4.sacrifice
They say that sacrifice was not allah’s intention. His will was to test (the loyalty/obedience of ibrahim).
8
kyuN maiN nahiN poochhuN keh ye kaisa Khuda hai
ye imtehaaN to qaatil2 o maqtool3, donoN pe jafa4 hai 1.killer 2.victim 3.cruelty, torture
Why should I not ask what kind of god this is. This “test” is a torture for both the killer and victim.
9
jazb1-e pidar2 se Khoob3 hai vaaqif4, aleem5 hai
kaise maiN samjh luN ke vo phir bhi raheem6 hai 1.sentiment of (love for his son) 2.father 3.well 4.aware 5.all knowing 6.kind
He (god) was well aware of the sentiments of love of the father towards his son. After all he is all knowing. How can I then understand that he is also kind (because it is torture for the father to even think about slaughtering his son).
10
kahte haiN keh duniya meN misaali1 ye itaa’at2
takraar3 na savaal, zahn4 ki ho chaahe izaa’at5 1.exemplary 2.obedience 3.dispute, argument 4.mind 5.waste
They say that this (blind) obedience is exemplary. There should be no dispute, not questioning, even if the mind goes to waste.
11
jaari1 haiN vaqt2-e kun3 se jo be-paaya4 o be-sood5
man-chaahe6 ye farmaan7 to takraar8 meN shaitaaN hua mardood9 1.prevalent, in force 2.time of 3.creation 4.baseless 5.useless, meaningless 6.arbitrary, heart’s wish 7.decrees 8.dispute 9.rejected, banished
The story is that when god created Adam out of clay, he commanded all the angels (Satan among them, considered an angel at that time) to prostrate before Adam. No reason or justification is given. There is no apparent logic to or utility of this decree. Satan questioned/refused this command and was banished from god’s presence. Thus, baseless and meaningless orders have been in force from the moment of creation, disputing which, Satan has been banished.
12
afsaana1 ho shaitan ka ya zibah2 ka dastoor3
hai dars4 keh ho andhi itaa’at5 tera manshoor6 1.fable, fairy tale 2.sacrificial slitting of throat 3.tradition 4.lesson 5.blind obedience 6.manifesto, declaration
Be it the fable of Satan (his banishment) or the tradition of sacrifice by slitting the throat, it is but a lesson that blind obedience (to divine pronouncements) be your declaration/manifesto/faith.
13
darya1-e imtehaaN2 ke vohi paar3 utarta
be-paaya4 ho farmaan5 to inkaar6 jo karta 1.river 2.test 3.across 4.without basis/foundation 5.order 6.refuse
Only he would get across the river of trial/test, who would refuse to obey a baseless order.
14
Khush hota phir allaah ke aaqil1 Khaleel2 hai
inkaar3 ki jur’at4 meN to haq5 ki daleel6 hai 1.wise 2.another name of ibrahim 3.refusal 4.daring 5.truth, righteousness, virtue 6.proof
Allah would be pleased that ibrahim is/was wise. After all the courage to refuse (a baseless order) is proof of virtue/rectitude.
15
tu ye na samajh le, keh hai farsooda1 aur qadeem2
paTTi bandhi jo aaNkh pe, ab tak vo hai saleem3 1.obsolete 2.ancient 3.complete, well, intact
Do not think that it is now obsolete and ancient. The blindfold that was tied then, is still intact today.
16
saazish1 hai muqtadar2 ki, ye kaam vo kar jaa’eN
“ke jab javaan hoN bachche to qatl3 ho jaa’eN” 1.conspiracy 2.those in power 3.killed, sacrificed
It is a conspiracy of the powerful that they accomplish this task – that as soon as children come of age, they be sacrificed. The second misra of this she’r is borrowed from ‘parchhaaiyaaN’ and is a tribute to sahir ludhianavi.
17
hoorauN ke Khwaab dekh ke Khudkush1 koii banaa
qaum2 o vatan3 ke zo’m4 se saf5 meN koii bandha 1.suicide (bomber) 2.community 3.country 4.false pride, hubris 5.formation, line, file (as in military formation)
One dreams of hoor (in heaven) and becomes a suicide (bomber). Another joins the ranks of the military in false pride of his country.
18
naa-haq1 bhi hukm ho to vo taa’meel2 yuN kare
paTTi bandhi ho aaNkh pe, ta’amul3 na kuchh kare 1.unjustified, baseless 2.execute, follow orders 3.think, hesitate
It is commonly believed that ibrahim put a blindfold on his eyes before attempting to slit his son’s throat, for fear that his love would overcome him and he might not be able to go through with the act. Putting a blindfold on the eyes is also a common expression that means refusing to see what is before you, refusing to face the truth. That he should follow orders even if they are unjust/baseless. That he should have his blinders on and not hesitate or think.
19
har haakim-e mutlaq1 ne yahi dastoor2 chalaaya
na-deeda3 har ek qaum4 ne taa’at5 hi ko apnaaya 1.absolute power 2.rules, laws 3.unseeing, blind 4.community, nation 5.(blind) obedience
Every dictator has also promulgated such laws. Every unthinking nation/society/community has also adopted blind obedience.
20
paTTi bandhi hai aaNkh pe tere jo hum-asar1
kahte yaqeen2 us ko haiN, roke hai haq3 ka dar4 1.contemporary 2.certainty, faith 3.truth 4.door
This blindfold on the eyes my contemporaries is otherwise known as (certain/blind) faith that shuts the door to truth.
21
tahammul1 nahiN jahaaN meN tu mansoor2 ko pukaar
lab-baik3 kah ke kar de an-al-haq4 ki tu yalGhaar5 1.toleration, acceptance 2.mansoor-al-hallaj 3.answering the call (of mansoor) 4.I am the Truth 5.ambush, attack
mansoor-al-hallaj was a sufi scholar who also traveled to India and studied vedic philosophy. Upon returning to Iran he taught sufi philosophy. He declared “I am the Truth”, was declared a heretic and tried, asked to recant and upon refusing, was put to death. He is used in urdu poetry as a symbol of resistance to intolerance. Thus, there is no tolerance in this world, call back mansoor. Answer his call, declare “I am the Truth” and lead an attack/onslaught on intolerance.
syed mohammed shahed (1944-living), hyderabad, India. shahed is a retired old engineer who started and runs this site as a means to learn urdu. He came to urdu late in life and started learning seriously after retiring from nearly 40 years of engineering research. He occasionally ventures into composing himself and is an irreverent ‘thinker not believer’. hafiz jalandhari composed a nazm called ‘qurbaani’ in devotional praise of the attempted murder/sacrifice of his son by ibrahim. This is a less than devotional, more rational and critically questioning view of the same event but expanding the questioning to the full range of faith.
1
kahte haiN ke KhwaabauN meN bashaarat1 jo mili thi
allaah ki bande2 ko hidaayat3 ye mili thi
1.intuition/inspiration short of a direct message such as ‘vahi’ 2.servant, creature 3.instruction
They say that the intuition/inspiration that he (ibrahim) received in a dream was an instruction from god to his servant/creature.
2
beTa tera be-laus1 chaheeta2 jahaan meN
qurbaan3 kar de is ko tu ab meri shaan meN
1.unmixed, pure 2.beloved 3.sacrifice, make an offering
Your son is the most beloved to you in all this world. Sacrifice him now and make an offering to my glory.
3
kahte haiN galaa kaaTne raazi1 hue fauri2
sunte haiN bashaarat3 ki sadaaqat4 bhi na poochhi
1.agree 2.instantly 3.intuition 4.veracity, authenticity
They say he immediately agreed to slit (his son’s) throat. We hear that he did not even stop to ask about the authenticity of his dream/intuition.
4
ye kyuN nahiN poochha ke bhala is ki Khata1 kya
maasoom2 ka kaaTuN maiN gala mujh ko hai haq3 kya
1.fault 2.innocent 3.right
Why did he not ask what his (son’s) fault was. What right did he have to slit the throat of an innocent.
5
ye bhi hai tera hukm keh jaa’ez1 nahiN hai qatl2
milta na jab juvaaz3 to ho hairaan4 kyuN na aql
1.allowed 2.killing, murder 3.justification, explanation 4.puzzled
It is also your order/law that murder/killing (of innocents) is not allowed. If I don’t get an explanation/justification for this act, why should my mind not be puzzled.
6
kaise maiN samajh luN ke Khuda bhi ye hukum karta
beTe ka Khoon baap ke haathauN meN hai bharta
How am I to understand/accept that even god can issue such orders. That he can fill the hands of a father with the blood of his son.
7
kahte haiN keh allah ki marzi1 ye nahiN thi
maqsad2 tha imtehaan3, qurbaani4 nahiN thi
1.will 2.intention 3.test 4.sacrifice
They say that sacrifice was not allah’s intention. His will was to test (the loyalty/obedience of ibrahim).
8
kyuN maiN nahiN poochhuN keh ye kaisa Khuda hai
ye imtehaaN to qaatil2 o maqtool3, donoN pe jafa4 hai
1.killer 2.victim 3.cruelty, torture
Why should I not ask what kind of god this is. This “test” is a torture for both the killer and victim.
9
jazb1-e pidar2 se Khoob3 hai vaaqif4, aleem5 hai
kaise maiN samjh luN ke vo phir bhi raheem6 hai
1.sentiment of (love for his son) 2.father 3.well 4.aware 5.all knowing 6.kind
He (god) was well aware of the sentiments of love of the father towards his son. After all he is all knowing. How can I then understand that he is also kind (because it is torture for the father to even think about slaughtering his son).
10
kahte haiN keh duniya meN misaali1 ye itaa’at2
takraar3 na savaal, zahn4 ki ho chaahe izaa’at5
1.exemplary 2.obedience 3.dispute, argument 4.mind 5.waste
They say that this (blind) obedience is exemplary. There should be no dispute, not questioning, even if the mind goes to waste.
11
jaari1 haiN vaqt2-e kun3 se jo be-paaya4 o be-sood5
man-chaahe6 ye farmaan7 to takraar8 meN shaitaaN hua mardood9
1.prevalent, in force 2.time of 3.creation 4.baseless 5.useless, meaningless 6.arbitrary, heart’s wish 7.decrees 8.dispute 9.rejected, banished
The story is that when god created Adam out of clay, he commanded all the angels (Satan among them, considered an angel at that time) to prostrate before Adam. No reason or justification is given. There is no apparent logic to or utility of this decree. Satan questioned/refused this command and was banished from god’s presence. Thus, baseless and meaningless orders have been in force from the moment of creation, disputing which, Satan has been banished.
12
afsaana1 ho shaitan ka ya zibah2 ka dastoor3
hai dars4 keh ho andhi itaa’at5 tera manshoor6
1.fable, fairy tale 2.sacrificial slitting of throat 3.tradition 4.lesson 5.blind obedience 6.manifesto, declaration
Be it the fable of Satan (his banishment) or the tradition of sacrifice by slitting the throat, it is but a lesson that blind obedience (to divine pronouncements) be your declaration/manifesto/faith.
13
darya1-e imtehaaN2 ke vohi paar3 utarta
be-paaya4 ho farmaan5 to inkaar6 jo karta
1.river 2.test 3.across 4.without basis/foundation 5.order 6.refuse
Only he would get across the river of trial/test, who would refuse to obey a baseless order.
14
Khush hota phir allaah ke aaqil1 Khaleel2 hai
inkaar3 ki jur’at4 meN to haq5 ki daleel6 hai
1.wise 2.another name of ibrahim 3.refusal 4.daring 5.truth, righteousness, virtue 6.proof
Allah would be pleased that ibrahim is/was wise. After all the courage to refuse (a baseless order) is proof of virtue/rectitude.
15
tu ye na samajh le, keh hai farsooda1 aur qadeem2
paTTi bandhi jo aaNkh pe, ab tak vo hai saleem3
1.obsolete 2.ancient 3.complete, well, intact
Do not think that it is now obsolete and ancient. The blindfold that was tied then, is still intact today.
16
saazish1 hai muqtadar2 ki, ye kaam vo kar jaa’eN
“ke jab javaan hoN bachche to qatl3 ho jaa’eN”
1.conspiracy 2.those in power 3.killed, sacrificed
It is a conspiracy of the powerful that they accomplish this task – that as soon as children come of age, they be sacrificed. The second misra of this she’r is borrowed from ‘parchhaaiyaaN’ and is a tribute to sahir ludhianavi.
17
hoorauN ke Khwaab dekh ke Khudkush1 koii banaa
qaum2 o vatan3 ke zo’m4 se saf5 meN koii bandha
1.suicide (bomber) 2.community 3.country 4.false pride, hubris 5.formation, line, file (as in military formation)
One dreams of hoor (in heaven) and becomes a suicide (bomber). Another joins the ranks of the military in false pride of his country.
18
naa-haq1 bhi hukm ho to vo taa’meel2 yuN kare
paTTi bandhi ho aaNkh pe, ta’amul3 na kuchh kare
1.unjustified, baseless 2.execute, follow orders 3.think, hesitate
It is commonly believed that ibrahim put a blindfold on his eyes before attempting to slit his son’s throat, for fear that his love would overcome him and he might not be able to go through with the act. Putting a blindfold on the eyes is also a common expression that means refusing to see what is before you, refusing to face the truth. That he should follow orders even if they are unjust/baseless. That he should have his blinders on and not hesitate or think.
19
har haakim-e mutlaq1 ne yahi dastoor2 chalaaya
na-deeda3 har ek qaum4 ne taa’at5 hi ko apnaaya
1.absolute power 2.rules, laws 3.unseeing, blind 4.community, nation 5.(blind) obedience
Every dictator has also promulgated such laws. Every unthinking nation/society/community has also adopted blind obedience
20
paTTi bandhi hai aaNkh pe tere jo hum-asar1
kahte yaqeen2 us ko haiN, roke hai haq3 ka dar4
1.contemporary 2.certainty, faith 3.truth 4.door
This blindfold on the eyes my contemporaries is otherwise known as (certain/blind) faith that shuts the door to truth.
21
tahammul1 nahiN jahaaN meN tu mansoor2 ko pukaar
lab-baik3 kah ke kar de an-al-haq4 ki tu yalGhaar5
1.toleration, acceptance 2.mansoor-al-hallaj 3.answering the call (of mansoor) 4.I am the Truth 5.ambush, attack
mansoor-al-hallaj was a sufi scholar who also traveled to India and studied vedic philosophy. Upon returning to Iran he taught sufi philosophy. He declared “I am the Truth”, was declared a heretic and tried, asked to recant and upon refusing, was put to death. He is used in urdu poetry as a symbol of resistance to intolerance. Thus, there is no tolerance in this world, call back mansoor. Answer his call, declare “I am the Truth” and lead an attack/onslaught on intolerance.
