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Recitation
رباعیات۔طنز۔جوش ملیح آبادی
۱
طوفان کے عفریت کو بے بس کر دے
اِس برقِ جہاں سوز کو پھر خس کر دے
ہنگامہ بپا ہے علم سے اے معبود
معصوم جہالتوں کو واپس کر دے
۲
کرتے ہی نہیں معاف مشرک کا قصور
اور جذبۂ اِنتقام کا بھی ہے وفور
افکار کو جانتے ہیں کارِ اِبلیس
اچھا اِس مرتبہ پہ فائز نہیں حضور
۳
تقلید کو آنکھوں پہ لیا، خوب کیا
تحقیق کا ساغر نہ پیا، خوب کیا
اقوال و اساطیر کے پٹّے رکھ کر
افکار کا سر مونڈ دیا، خوب کیا
۴
ایمان کو لذّات کی خواہش ہے شدید
ہر خیر ہے اسبابِ طرب کی تمہید
حورانِ بہشت و دخترانِ کُفّار
باقی نہ اگر رہیں تو غازی نہ شہید
۵
اللہ ہے سرچشمۂ الطافِ عمیم
اور بندہ رہینِ جملہ آفاتِ عظیم
کم بخت اِنسان ہے وہ تنہا بیٹا
جو باپ کی زندگی میں ہوتا ہے یتیم
۶
ذوقِ اِبلاغ کا اِدھر ہے طوفان
کتمانِ حقائق کا اُدھر ہے میلان
ہم لب پر اُٹھائے ہوئے ہیں کلام
تم دِل میں دبائے ہوئے بیٹھے ہو زبان
۷
محرابِ فقیہاں میں بہ سوز و گداز
اے جوش بجا رہے ہو کیوں فکر کا ساز
بیٹھی ہوئی آنکھوں میں نہ ٹھوںسو انوار
پھوٹے ہوئے کانوں میں نہ ٹھوںکو آواز
۸
اِدراک کا آیا نہ سلیقہ اب تک
تقلید کا ہے دردِ شقیقہ اب تک
مونچھوں کے بڑی دھوم سے کونڈے تو ہوئے
اور عقل کا باقی ہے عقیقہ اب تک
۹
جِس کا ہو سُنی سُنائی باتوں پہ مدار
کِس طرح اُٹھا سکے حقائق کا وہ بار
کیونکر وہ بڑھے شہرِ معارف کی طرف
جِس قوم کی کھوپڑی میں ہوں کان سوار
۱۰
کیا کیا نوعِ بشر کو رسیاتا ہے
دھمکی دیتا ہے گاہ پھسلاتا ہے
پھر بھی اُس کے شکور بندے ہیں قلیل
اللہ تعلیٰ پہ ترس آتا ہے
۱۱
گرد ہے؟ دامن سے جھٹک دوں بولو
یا وہم کے سوپ میں پھٹک دوں بولو
ائے خلدِ بریں کے ابلہانِ اعظم
اِس عقل کو کِس کھڈ میں پٹک دوں بولو
۱۲
شمشیرِ فساد کو روانی سے نہ روک
اِنسان کو بغض و سرگرانی سے نہ روک
غُسلِ صحت کا ہے یہ ساز و ساماں
اقوام کو خوں نابہ فشانی سے نہ روک
रुबाईयात-तंज़-जोश मलीहाबादी
१
तूफ़ान के इफ़्रीत को बे-बस कर दे
इस बर्क़-ए जहां-सोज़ को फिर ख़स कर दे
हंगामा बपा है इल्म से माबूद
मासूम जिहालातौं को वापिस कर दे
२
करते ही नहीं मु’आफ़ मुश्रिक का क़ुसूर
और जज़्बा-ए इंतेक़ाम का भी है वुफ़ूर
अफ़्कार को जानते हैं कार-ए इब्लीस
अच्छा इस मर्तबे पे फ़ा’एज़ नहीं हुज़ूर
३
तक़्लीद को आंखौं पे लिया, ख़ूब किया
तहक़ीक़ का साग़र न पिया, ख़ूब किया
अक़्वाल ओ असातीर के पट्टे रख कर
अफ़्कार का सर मूंड दिया, ख़ूब किया
४
ईमान को लज़्ज़ात कि ख़्वाहिश है शदीद
हर ख़ैर है अस्बाब-ए तरब कि तम्हीद
हूरान-ए बेहिश्त ओ दुख़्तरान-ए कुफ़्फ़ार
बाक़ी न अगर रहें तो ग़ाज़ी न शहीद
५
अल्लाह है सरचश्मा-ए अल्ताफ़-ए अमीम
और बन्दा रहीन-ए जुम्ला आफ़ात-ए अज़ीम
कमबख़्त इन्सान है वो तनहा बेटा
जो बाप कि ज़िन्दगी में होता है यतीम
६
ज़ौक़-ए इब्लाग़ का इधर है तूफ़ान
कित्मान-ए हक़ाएक़ का उधर है मैलान
हम, लब पर उठाए हुए आए हैं कलाम
तुम दिल में दबाये हुए बैठे हो ज़बान
७
मेहराब-ए फ़क़ीहां में ब-सोज़ ओ गुदाज़
अए जोश बजा रहे हो क्यूं फ़िक्र का साज़
बैठी हुई आंखौं में न ठोंसो अनवार
फूटे हुए कानों में न ठोंको आवाज़
८
इद्राक का आया न सलीक़ा अब तक
तक़्लीद का है दर्द-ए शक़ीक़ा अब तक
मूंछौं के बड़ी धूम से कूंडे तो हुए
और अक़्ल का बाक़ी है अक़ीक़ा अब तक
९
जिस का हो सुनी सुनाई बातों पे मदार
किस तरह उठा सके हक़ाएक़ का वो बार
क्यूंकर वो बढे शहर-ए मा’रेफ़ कि तरफ़
जिस क़ौम कि खोपड़ी पे हों कान सवार
१०
क्या क्या नौ-ए बशर को रस्याता है
धमकी देता है गाह फुस्लाता है
फिर भी उस के शुकूर बन्दे हैं क़लील
अल्लाह ता’ला पे तरस आता है
११
गर्द है? दामन से झटक दूँ बोलो
या वहम के सूप में फटक दूँ बोलो
अए ख़ुल्द-ए बरीं के अब्लाहान-ए आज़म
इस अक़्ल को किस खड में पटक दूँ बोलो
१२
शमशीर-ए फ़साद को रवानी से न रोक
इन्सान को बुग़्ज़ ओ सरगरानी से न रोक
ग़ुस्ल-ए सेहत का है ये साज़ ओ सामां
अक़्वाम को ख़ूं-नाबा फ़शानी से न रोक
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi is well known for his fiery nazm. He also wrote many romantic as well as cerebral nazm and Ghazal. His marsia are a celebration of dignified death rather than bowing to injustice even at the cost of life. He also wrote numerous rubaaii. This series is a collection of nearly 300 rubaaiyaat from various books organized by subject. This selection is one where josh makes heavy use of sarcasm to make his point about narrow mindedness, orthodoxy and blind belief.
1
toofan ke ifreet1 ko be-bas2 kar de
is barq3-e jahaaN-soz4 ko phir Khas5 kar de
haNgaama6 bapa7 hai ilm se aye ma’bood8
ma’soom9 jihaalatauN10 ko vaapis kar de 1.demon 2.helpless, harmless 3.lightning 4.world burning 5.hay 6.tumult, disturbance 7.under way 8.lord 9.innocent, simple 10.ignorance
Humans are beginning to think for themselves. This is causing a storm and lightning that is setting the world on fire. O god, once again, tame this storm and render it harmless. Change this lightning itself into hay (role reversal). Return our old simple/innocent thoughts to us – ignorance is bliss.
2
karte hi nahiN mu’aaf mushrik1 ka qusoor2
aur jazba-e-inteqaam3 ka bhi hai vufoor4
afkaar5 ko jaante haiN kaar-e-iblees6
achchha is martabey7 pe faa’ez8 nahiN huzoor9 1.polytheist 2.blame, transgression 3.feelings of revenge 4.abundance 5.thought, reason 6.work of satan 7.status 8.installed 9.your honor
josh is sarcastically addressing the mulla/shaiKh. You do not forgive the transgression of the polytheist. You are brimming with feelings of revenge/anger. You consider reason/inquiry to be the work of satan. And now, you honour seems to deny that you occupy this high status.
3
taqleed1 ko aaNkhauN pe liya, Khoob-kiya2
tahqeeq3 ka saaGhar4 na piya, Khoob kiya
aqvaal5 o asateer6 ke paTTe rakh kar
afkaar7 ka sar moonD8 diya, Khoob kiya 1.(blindly) follow, imitate 2.done well 3.inquiry, investigation 4.cup 5.sayings, maxims 6.(ancient) books 7.thought, reason 8.shave
josh is being sarcastic and is using the imagery of a shaved head vs well combine hair. “aaNkhauN pe liya” colloquially means to hold something in great regard. Thus, you have held blind imitation in great regard, you have done well. You did not drink from the cup of inquiry, you did well. You have neatly combed the side of ancient books and maxims but you have shaved off the head of thought and reason, you have done well.
4
eemaan1 ko lazzaat2 ki Khwaahish3 hai shadeed4
har Khair5 hai asbaab-e-tarab6 ki tamheed7
hooraan-e-behisht8 o duKhtaraan-e-kuffaar9
baaqi10 na agar raheN to Ghaazi11 na shaheed12 1.faith 2.pleasures – plural of lazzat 3.desire 4.much 5.virtuous act 6.means of pleasure/lust 7.foreword, foretelling 8.angels of heaven 9.daughters of the enemy 10.remain 11.conquerer/hero 12.martyr
josh is satirically commenting on the Islamic concept that those that die in battle (martyr/shaheed) go to heaven and get hoor/angels and those who are conquerers/heroes get to keep the daughters of the vanquished enemy as their concubines. Thus, he says, faith has a strong desire for (lustful) luxuries. Every virtue (voluteering to fight in a war) is a foreword of rewards of lustful luxuries. Without angels in heaven or daughters of the enemy there would remain neither heroes nor martyrs.
5
allaah hai sarchashma1-e altaaf-e-ameem2
aur banda3 raheen4-e jumla5 aafaat-e-azeem6
kambaKht7 insaan hai vo tanha8 beTa
jo baap ki zindagi meN hota hai yateem9 1.source 2.common good, well being of all 3.slave, creature 4.used in the sense of prisoner 5.total, all 6.great calamities 7.ill fated 8.alone 9.orphaned
josh uses satire/sarcasm again. God is supposed to provide sustenance and take care of all creatures. Yet, man/human is a prisoner of all calamities. Ill-fated man/human is the only child/son who is orphaned even during the life of the father/parent.
6
zauq1-e iblaaGh2 ka idhar hai toofaan
kitmaan3-e haqaa’eq4 ka udhar hai mailaan5
hum, lab par uThaaye hue aaye haiN kalaam6
tum dil meN dabaaye hue baiThe ho zabaan 1.taste/desire of 2.preaching 3.hiding 4.facts 5.tendency 6.words
On the one hand you have a taste for stormy preaching. On the other you have a tendency to hide facts/truth. We come openly with our thoughts/words on our lips. You are hiding your tongue in your heart i.e. you are not open/honest but hypocritical.
7
mehraab1-e faqeehaaN2 meN ba soz-o-gudaaz3
aye josh baja rahe ho kyuN fikr4 ka saaz5
baiThi-hui6 aaNkhauN meN na ThoNso7 anvaar8
phooTe hue kaanauN meN na ThoNko9 aavaaz 1.alcove 2.reglious jurists 3.warmth/enthusiasm and pleasure 4.thought/reason 5.lute/harp 6.spent, finished 7.stuff, fill 8.rays of light 9.hammer into
O josh why do you play the music of reason in the chamber of the mullahs. Why are you trying to stuff light into blind eyes, or hammer words into deaf ears.
8
idraak1 ka aaya na saleeqa2 ab tak
taqleed3 ka hai dard-e-shaqeeqa4 ab tak
mooNchauN ki baRi dhoom se koonDe5 to hue
aur aql ka baaqi6 hai aqeeqa7 ab tak 1.rational knowledge 2.sophistication, finesse 3.(blind) followership, imitation 4.migraine headache 5.handle bar (moustache) 6.remains, has not been done 7.first haircut of infant
They have not developed the sophistication/finesse of rationality yet. They are still suffering from migraines of blind followership. They sport macho handlebar moustaches of faith, but they have not yet received the first ceremonial haircut, i.e. the mind is still infantile.
9
jis ka ho suni sunaaii baatauN pe madaar1
kis tarah uTha sakey haqaa’eq2 ka vo baar3
kyuNkar vo baRhe shahr-e-maa’rif4 ki taraf5
jis qaum6 ki khopRi pe hoN kaan savaar 1.basis, foundation 2.facts 3.burden 4.domain of mystic knowledge (used here to mean rationality) 5.towards 6.community
josh derides the observation that the community only depends on hearsay and uses it as the basis of belief. How can they bear the burden of facts/truth. How can they progress towards the domain of reason.
10
kya kya nau-e-bashar1 ko rasyaata2 hai
dhamki deta hai gaah3 phuslaata4 hai
phir bhi uske shukoor5 bande6 haiN qaleel7
allah-ta’la8 pe taras9 aata hai 1.human species 2.squeeze juice out of 3.this minute 4.coax, cajole 5.thankful, grateful 6.slaves, creatures 7.few 8.almighty god 9.pity
What does he not do to squeeze the juice out of humans. Threatens them one moment and cajoles them another. Even then, there are very few who are grateful to him. I have pity on god almighty.
11
gard hai? daaman1 se jhaTak duN bolo
ya vahm2 ke soop meN phaTak3 duN bolo
aye Khuld-e-bariN4 ke ablahaan-e-aa’zam5
is aql ko kis khaD meN paTak duN bolo 1.hem of the robe 2.superstition 3.sift 4.high heavens 5.great fools
What shall I do with this mind/intellect. Is it dirt that I dust off the hem of my robe or sift it on the sifter of superstition. O great fools of high heaven, where is the pit in which I throw this mind, tell me.
12
shamshir-e-fasaad1 ko ravaani2 se na rok
insaan ko buGhz3 o sargaraani4 se na rok
Ghusl-e-sehat5 ka hai ye saaz-o-saamaaN6
aqwaam7 ko KhooN-naaba-fashaani8 se na rok 1.sword of feud (communal) 2.flow, flying 3.enmity 4.hubris 5.get-well/cleansing bath/shower 6.means and provisions. 7.communities 8.blood letting
This may be addressed sarcastically either to the shaiKh or to god himself. Do not stop the sword of communal feud from flying/striking. Do not stop man from enmity and hubris. This (blood) is the means of a cleansing bath. Do not stop communities from their blood-letting.
josh malihabadi is well known for his fiery nazm. He also wrote many romantic as well as cerebral nazm and Ghazal. His marsia are a celebration of dignified death rather than bowing to injustice even at the cost of life. He also wrote numerous rubaaii. This series is a collection of nearly 300 rubaaiyaat from various books organized by subject. This selection is one where josh makes heavy use of sarcasm to make his point about narrow mindedness, orthodoxy and blind belief.
1
toofan ke ifreet1 ko be-bas2 kar de
is barq3-e jahaaN-soz4 ko phir Khas5 kar de
haNgaama6 bapa7 hai ilm se aye ma’bood8
ma’soom9 jihaalatauN10 ko vaapis kar de
1.demon 2.helpless, harmless 3.lightning 4.world burning 5.hay 6.tumult, disturbance 7.under way 8.lord 9.innocent, simple 10.ignorance
Humans are beginning to think for themselves. This is causing a storm and lightning that is setting the world on fire. O god, once again, tame this storm and render it harmless. Change this lightning itself into hay (role reversal). Return our old simple/innocent thoughts to us – ignorance is bliss.
2
karte hi nahiN mu’aaf mushrik1 ka qusoor2
aur jazba-e-inteqaam3 ka bhi hai vufoor4
afkaar5 ko jaante haiN kaar-e-iblees6
achchha is martabey7 pe faa’ez8 nahiN huzoor9
1.polytheist 2.blame, transgression 3.feelings of revenge 4.abundance 5.thought, reason 6.work of satan 7.status 8.installed 9.your honor
josh is sarcastically addressing the mulla/shaiKh. You do not forgive the transgression of the polytheist. You are brimming with feelings of revenge/anger. You consider reason/inquiry to be the work of satan. And now, you honour seems to deny that you occupy this high status.
3
taqleed1 ko aaNkhauN pe liya, Khoob-kiya2
tahqeeq3 ka saaGhar4 na piya, Khoob kiya
aqvaal5 o asateer6 ke paTTe rakh kar
afkaar7 ka sar moonD8 diya, Khoob kiya
1.(blindly) follow, imitate 2.done well 3.inquiry, investigation 4.cup 5.sayings, maxims 6.(ancient) books 7.thought, reason 8.shave
josh is being sarcastic and is using the imagery of a shaved head vs well combine hair. “aaNkhauN pe liya” colloquially means to hold something in great regard. Thus, you have held blind imitation in great regard, you have done well. You did not drink from the cup of inquiry, you did well. You have neatly combed the side of ancient books and maxims but you have shaved off the head of thought and reason, you have done well.
4
eemaan1 ko lazzaat2 ki Khwaahish3 hai shadeed4
har Khair5 hai asbaab-e-tarab6 ki tamheed7
hooraan-e-behisht8 o duKhtaraan-e-kuffaar9
baaqi10 na agar raheN to Ghaazi11 na shaheed12
1.faith 2.pleasures – plural of lazzat 3.desire 4.much 5.virtuous act 6.means of pleasure/lust 7.foreword, foretelling 8.angels of heaven 9.daughters of the enemy 10.remain 11.conquerer/hero 12.martyr
josh is satirically commenting on the Islamic concept that those that die in battle (martyr/shaheed) go to heaven and get hoor/angels and those who are conquerers/heroes get to keep the daughters of the vanquished enemy as their concubines. Thus, he says, faith has a strong desire for (lustful) luxuries. Every virtue (voluteering to fight in a war) is a foreword of rewards of lustful luxuries. Without angels in heaven or daughters of the enemy there would remain neither heroes nor martyrs.
5
allaah hai sarchashma1-e altaaf-e-ameem2
aur banda3 raheen4-e jumla5 aafaat-e-azeem6
kambaKht7 insaan hai vo tanha8 beTa
jo baap ki zindagi meN hota hai yateem9
1.source 2.common good, well being of all 3.slave, creature 4.used in the sense of prisoner 5.total, all 6.great calamities 7.ill fated 8.alone 9.orphaned
josh uses satire/sarcasm again. God is supposed to provide sustenance and take care of all creatures. Yet, man/human is a prisoner of all calamities. Ill-fated man/human is the only child/son who is orphaned even during the life of the father/parent.
6
zauq1-e iblaaGh2 ka idhar hai toofaan
kitmaan3-e haqaa’eq4 ka udhar hai mailaan5
hum, lab par uThaaye hue aaye haiN kalaam6
tum dil meN dabaaye hue baiThe ho zabaan
1.taste/desire of 2.preaching 3.hiding 4.facts 5.tendency 6.words
On the one hand you have a taste for stormy preaching. On the other you have a tendency to hide facts/truth. We come openly with our thoughts/words on our lips. You are hiding your tongue in your heart i.e. you are not open/honest but hypocritical.
7
mehraab1-e faqeehaaN2 meN ba soz-o-gudaaz3
aye josh baja rahe ho kyuN fikr4 ka saaz5
baiThi-hui6 aaNkhauN meN na ThoNso7 anvaar8
phooTe hue kaanauN meN na ThoNko9 aavaaz
1.alcove 2.reglious jurists 3.warmth/enthusiasm and pleasure 4.thought/reason 5.lute/harp 6.spent, finished 7.stuff, fill 8.rays of light 9.hammer into
O josh why do you play the music of reason in the chamber of the mullahs. Why are you trying to stuff light into blind eyes, or hammer words into deaf ears.
8
idraak1 ka aaya na saleeqa2 ab tak
taqleed3 ka hai dard-e-shaqeeqa4 ab tak
mooNchauN ki baRi dhoom se koonDe5 to hue
aur aql ka baaqi6 hai aqeeqa7 ab tak
1.rational knowledge 2.sophistication, finesse 3.(blind) followership, imitation 4.migraine headache 5.handle bar (moustache) 6.remains, has not been done 7.first haircut of infant
They have not developed the sophistication/finesse of rationality yet. They are still suffering from migraines of blind followership. They sport macho handlebar moustaches of faith, but they have not yet received the first ceremonial haircut, i.e. the mind is still infantile.
9
jis ka ho suni sunaaii baatauN pe madaar1
kis tarah uTha sakey haqaa’eq2 ka vo baar3
kyuNkar vo baRhe shahr-e-maa’rif4 ki taraf5
jis qaum6 ki khopRi pe hoN kaan savaar
1.basis, foundation 2.facts 3.burden 4.domain of mystic knowledge (used here to mean rationality) 5.towards 6.community
josh derides the observation that the community only depends on hearsay and uses it as the basis of belief. How can they bear the burden of facts/truth. How can they progress towards the domain of reason.
10
kya kya nau-e-bashar1 ko rasyaata2 hai
dhamki deta hai gaah3 phuslaata4 hai
phir bhi uske shukoor5 bande6 haiN qaleel7
allah-ta’la8 pe taras9 aata hai
1.human species 2.squeeze juice out of 3.this minute 4.coax, cajole 5.thankful, grateful 6.slaves, creatures 7.few 8.almighty god 9.pity
What does he not do to squeeze the juice out of humans. Threatens them one moment and cajoles them another. Even then, there are very few who are grateful to him. I have pity on god almighty.
11
gard hai? daaman1 se jhaTak duN bolo
ya vahm2 ke soop meN phaTak3 duN bolo
aye Khuld-e-bariN4 ke ablahaan-e-aa’zam5
is aql ko kis khaD meN paTak duN bolo
1.hem of the robe 2.superstition 3.sift 4.high heavens 5.great fools
What shall I do with this mind/intellect. Is it dirt that I dust off the hem of my robe or sift it on the sifter of superstition. O great fools of high heaven, where is the pit in which I throw this mind, tell me.
12
shamshir-e-fasaad1 ko ravaani2 se na rok
insaan ko buGhz3 o sargaraani4 se na rok
Ghusl-e-sehat5 ka hai ye saaz-o-saamaaN6
aqwaam7 ko KhooN-naaba-fashaani8 se na rok
1.sword of feud (communal) 2.flow, flying 3.enmity 4.hubris 5.get-well/cleansing bath/shower 6.means and provisions. 7.communities 8.blood letting
This may be addressed sarcastically either to the shaiKh or to god himself. Do not stop the sword of communal feud from flying/striking. Do not stop man from enmity and hubris. This (blood) is the means of a cleansing bath. Do not stop communities from their blood-letting.
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