rubaaiyaat-yakjahti-josh

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.

رباعیات-یکجہتی-جوش ملیح آبادی
۱
ہندو ہوں نہ ائے جوش مسلمان ہوں میں
صد شکر نہ ظلمت ہوں نہ طوفان ہوں میں
آب و گِلِ ہند سے ہوں اور ہندی ہوں میں
نسلِ آدم سے ہوں اور انسان ہوں میں
۲
ہر سانس میں گردوں سے  پیام آتے ہیں
ہر آن چھلکتے ہوئے جام آتے ہیں
بندوں کو جو اِک بار لگاتا ہوں گلے
اللہ كے سو بار سلام آتے ہیں
۳
خنجر ہے کوئی ، تو تیغِ عریاں کوئی
سَر سَر ہے کوئی ، تو بادِ طوفاں کوئی
انسان کہاں ہے ، کس کُرے میں گم ہے
یاں تو کوئی ہندو ہے، مسلمان کوئی
۴
سینے میں محبت کا اُجالا کر لے
آفاق كا دِل میں درد پیدا کر لے
اِس بستۂِ انا کو اِذنِ وسعت دے کر

اُٹھ عرصۂِ گیتی کا اِحاطہ کر لے

۵
حیوان کو آ بشر بنا دے ساقی
ذرّات کو اُٹھ گہر بنا دے ساقی
ہر جام میں بادۂ اُخوّت بھر کر
انسان کو شریف تر بنا دے ساقی
۶
ائے طالبِ امرِ خیر و جویائے نجات
سُن غور سے اربابِ نظر كے کلمات
پیشِ وابستگانِ زُلفِ حکمت
جھک جا كہ یہ ہیں عقدہ کشایانِ حیات

۷
جی بھر كے درختِ کج روی کو جھوڑا
اوہام پر آپس میں جھگڑنا چھوڑا
جب توڑ دیا دِل نے خدا سے رشتہ
انسان سے ٹوٹا ہوا ناطہ جوڑا
۸
اِنسان کی توحید کا مشتاق ہوں میں
شمع حبِّ عمیم کا طاق ہوں میں
مشرق کا نہ پابند نہ مغرب کا اسیر
انسان ہوں باشندۂ آفاق ہوں میں

۹
جب نوعِ بشر ہے میرا ایمان
ہر چہرۂِ زشت و خوب میرا قرآن
اللہ کو آغوش میں پایا میں نے
جیسے ہی میری گود میں آیا اِنسان

۱۰
ہر سانس میں کوثر كے  پیام آتے ہیں
ہر گام پہ حوروں كے خیام آتے ہیں
بندوں سے جو اِک بار ملتا ہوں گلے
اللہ كے سو بار سلام آتے ہیں
۱۱
اقوام كے لفظ میں کوئی جان نہیں
اک نوع میں ہو دوئی ، یہ اِمکان نہیں
جو مُشرِکِ یزداں ہے، وہ ناداں ہے فقط
جو مُشرِکِ انساں ہے وہ انسان نہیں

 

रुबाईयात – यकजहती – जोश मलीहाबादी

हिन्दू हूं न अए जोश मुसलमान हूं मैं

सद शुक्र न ज़ुल्मत हूं न तूफ़ान हूं मैं

आब-ओ-गिल-ए हिन्द से हूं और हिन्दी हूं मैं

नस्ल-ए आदम से हूं और इन्सान हूं मैं

हर सांस में गर्दूं से पयाम आते हैं

हर आं छलकते हुए जाम आते हैं

बन्दौं को जो एक बार लगाता हूं गले

अल्लाह के सौ बार सलाम आते हैं

ख़न्जर है कोई तो तेग़-ए उर्यां कोई

सर सर है कोई, तो बाद-ए तूफ़ां कोई

इन्सान कहां है, किस कुरे में गुम है

यां तो कोई हिन्दू है, मुसलमां कोई

सीने में मोहब्बत का उजाला कर ले

आफ़ाक़ का दिल में दर्द पैदा कर ले

इस बस्ता-ए अना को इज़्न-ए वुस’अत दे कर

उठ अरसा-ए गेती का एहाता कर ले

हैवान को आ बशर बना दे साक़ी

ज़र्रात को उठ गुहर बना दे साक़ी

हर जाम में बादा-ए उख़ुव्वत भर कर

इन्सान को शरीफ़-तर बना दे साक़ी

अए तालिब-ए अम्र-ए खै़र ओ जूया-ए नजात

सुन ग़ौर से अरबाब-ए नज़र के कलमात

पेश-ए वाबस्तगान-ए ज़ुल्फ़-ए हिक्मत

झुक जा के हैं उक़्दा कुशायान-ए हयात

जी भर के दरख़्त-ए कज-रवि को झोड़ा

औहाम पर आपस में झगड़ना छोड़ा

जब तोड़ दिया दिल ने ख़ुदा से रिश्ता

इन्सान से टूटा हुआ नाता जोड़ा

इन्सान कि तौहीद का मुश्ताक़ हूं मैं

शमा’-ए हुब्ब-ए अमीम का ताक़ हूं मैं

मश्रिक़ का न पाबन्द न मग़्रिब का असीर

इन्सान हूं बाशिन्दा-ए आफ़ाक़ हूं मैं

जब नौ-ए बशर है मेरा ईमान

हर चेहरा-ए ज़िश्त ओ ख़ूब है मेरा क़ुर’आन

अल्लाह को आग़ोश में पाया मैं ने

जैसे ही मेरी गोद में आया इन्सान

१०

हर सांस में कौसर के पयाम आते हैं

हर गाम पे हूरों के ख़याम आते हैं

बन्दौं से जो एक बार मिलता हूं गले

अल्लाह के सौ बार सलाम आते हैं

११

अक़्वाम के लफ़्ज़ में कोई जान नहीं

एक नौ में हो दुई, ये इमकान नहीं

जो मुश्रिक-ए यज़्दां है वो नादाँ है फ़क़त

जो मुश्रिक-ए इन्सां है वो इन्सान नहीं

 

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 that illustrates josh’s thoughts about humanism – the power of universal human values vs faith.
1
hindu huN na aye josh musalmaan huN maiN
sad-shukr1 na zulmat2 huN na toofaan3 huN maiN
aab-o-gil4-e hind se huN aur hindi huN maiN
nasl5-e aadam se huN aur insaan huN maiN 
1.a hundred thanks 2.darkness, evil 3.storm, destruction 4.water and clay 5.progeny, species
O, josh, I am neither Muslim nor am I Hindu. I do not have any major evil characteristics, nor do I destroy things around me. I am of the water and clay of India and am Indian. I am of human species, I am human.

2
har saaNs meN garduN1 se payaam2 aate haiN
har aan3 chhalakte4 hue jaam5 aate haiN
bandauN6 ko jo ek baar lagaata huN gale
allah ke sau baar salaam aate haiN
1.skies, heavens 2.messages 3.moment 4.spilling, overflowing 5.cups (of wine) 6.fellow creatures/humans
With every breath I get messages/blessings from heaven. Every moment I receive overflowing goblets of wine. Whenever I embrace fellow humans, I get a hundred greetings from god.

3
Khanjar hai koi, to teGh1-e uriyaaN2 koii
sar-sar3 hai koi, to baad-e-toofaaN4 koii
insaaN kahaaN hai, kis kure5 meN gum6 hai
yaaN to koi hindu hai, musalmaaN koii 
1.sword 2.naked, unsheathed, ready 3.wind 4.storm 5.pile, heap 6.lost, hidden
Some are like a dagger, others like an unsheathed sword (those who are narrow-minded and communal). Some blow like the wind, others blow like a storm. Where is (universal, broad-minded) human, under which pile is he/she hiding. Everyone here seems to be either Hindu or Muslim (not human).

4
seene meN mohabbat ka ujaala kar le
aafaq1 ka dil meN dard2 paida kar le
is basta3-e ana4 ko izn5-e vus’at6 de kar
uTh arsa7-e geti8 ka ehaata9 kar le 
1.horizons, skies, everyone under the sky 2.pain, love 3.confines 4.ego, self 5.permission 6.expanse, vastness 7.region 8.world, earth 9.surround, embrace
Create the light of love in your bosom. Develop love for everything/everyone under the sky. Allow yourself to get out of the confines of ego and embrace the whole earth.

5
haivaan1 ko aa bashar2 banaa de saaqi
zarraat3 ko uTh guhar4 banaa de saaqi
har jaam5 meN baada6-e uKhuwwat7 bhar kar
insaan ko sharif-tar8 bana de saaqi
1.animal, wild, uncivilized 2.human, civilized 3.particles, dust 4.pearls, gems 5.cup 6.wine 7.brotherhood 8.more noble
O saaqi, civilize the world and make it human. Make gems out of rocks. Fill every cup with the wine of love. Make human more noble.

6
aye taalib1-e amr-e-Khair2 o jooya3-e najaat4
sun Ghaur5 se arbaab-e-nazar6 ke kalamaat7
pesh8-e vaabastagaan9-e zulf10-e hikmat11
jhuk ja ke ye haiN uqda12 kushaayaan13-e hayaat14 
1.student, seeker 2.good deed,virtue 3.searcher, seeker 4.deliverance 5.carefully 6.people of vision 7.sayings 8.in front of, before 9.associated with 10.hair – used here to mean beauty 11.wisdom 12.knot, mystery 13.unravel, solve 14.life
O you who seek virtue and deliverance. Listen carefully to the sayings of people of vision. Bow down to those who are associated with the beauty of wisdom, for they unravel the mysteries of life.

7
ji bhar ke daraKht1-e kaj-ravi2 ko jhoRa3
auhaam4 par aapas meN jhagaRna chhoRa
jab toR diya dil ne Khuda se rishta5
insaan se TooTa hua naata joRa 
1.tree of 2.crooked behaviour 3.shake violently 4.superstition 5.relationship
When they violently shook the tree of crooked behaviour; when they stopped fighting with each other over superstitions; when they broke off their relationship to god, only then did they repair the broken connection with each other.

8
insaan ki tauheed1 ka mushtaaq2 huN maiN
shama’3-e hubb4-e ameem5 ka taaq6 huN maiN
mashriq7 ka na paaband8 na maGhrib9 ka aseer10
insaan huN baashinda11-e aafaaq12 huN maiN
1.one-ness 2.desirous 3.lamp 4.love 5.everyone, universal 6.alcove 7.East 8.confined to 9.West 10.prisoner 11.resident of 12.horizons, skies, everything under the skies
josh is writing about the sufi concept of universal love. I desire the ‘one-ness’ of humans. I am the alcove of the lamp of universal love. I am not a prisoner of the West, nor am I bound by the East. I live under the skies (and I claim the whole earth as mine).

9
jab nau1-e bashar2 hai mera eemaan
har chehra3-e zisht4 o Khoob5 mera qur’aan
allah ko aaGhosh6 meN paaya maiN ne
jaise hi meri goad meN aaya insaan 
1.species 2.human 3.face 4.ugly 5.beautiful 6.lap
When I believe in (the one-ness of) humanity, then every face, be it ugly of beautiful is like the qur’aan for me. As soon as I embraced humans, I found god.

10
har saaNs meN kausar1 ke payaam2 aate haiN
har gaam3 pe hoorauN ke Khayaam4 aate haiN
bandauN5 se jo ek baar milta huN gale
allaah ke sau baar salaam aate haiN 
1.river in heaven 2.messages 3.step 4.residences 5.fellow humans
With every breath I get (welcoming/blessed) messages from heaven. At every step I encounter angels. Everytime I embrace fellow humans, I get a hundred greetings from god.

11
aqvaam1 ke lafz2 meN koii jaan nahiN
ek nau3 meN ho doii4, ye imkaan5 nahiN
jo mushrik6-e yazdaaN7 hai, vo naadaaN8 hai faqat9
jo mushrik-e insaaN hai vo insaan nahiN 
1.community (separate) 2.word 3.species 4.duality 5.possibility 6.partnering – this is a loaded word and is usually used to mean one who believes there is more than one god 7.god 8.ignorant, fool 9.only
There is no power/meaning in the word ‘community’ (as in communalism). That there be duality in a single species is not possible. One who believes in multiplicitly of gods is merely mistaken, but one who believes in a multiplicity of human species (communities) is not even human.

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 that illustrates josh’s thoughts about humanism – the power of universal human values vs faith.
1
hindu huN na aye josh musalmaan huN maiN
sad-shukr1 na zulmat2 huN na toofaan3 huN maiN
aab-o-gil4-e hind se huN aur hindi huN maiN
nasl5-e aadam se huN aur insaan huN maiN

1.a hundred thanks 2.darkness, evil 3.storm, destruction 4.water and clay 5.progeny, species

O, josh, I am neither Muslim nor am I Hindu.  I do not have any major evil characteristics, nor do I destroy things around me.  I am of the water and clay of India and am Indian.  I am of human species, I am human.
2
har saaNs meN garduN1 se payaam2 aate haiN
har aan3 chhalakte4 hue jaam5 aate haiN
bandauN6 ko jo ek baar lagaata huN gale
allah ke sau baar salaam aate haiN

1.skies, heavens 2.messages 3.moment 4.spilling, overflowing 5.cups (of wine) 6.fellow creatures/humans

With every breath I get messages/blessings from heaven.  Every moment I receive overflowing goblets of wine.  Whenever I embrace fellow humans, I get a hundred greetings from god.
3
Khanjar hai koi, to teGh1-e uriyaaN2 koii
sar-sar3 hai koi, to baad-e-toofaaN4 koii
insaaN kahaaN hai, kis kure5 meN gum6 hai
yaaN to koi hindu hai, musalmaaN koii

1.sword 2.naked, unsheathed, ready 3.wind 4.storm 5.pile, heap 6.lost, hidden

Some are like a dagger, others like an unsheathed sword (those who are narrow-minded and communal).  Some blow like the wind, others blow like a storm.  Where is (universal, broad-minded) human, under which pile is he/she hiding.  Everyone here seems to be either Hindu or Muslim (not human).
4
seene meN mohabbat ka ujaala kar le
aafaq1 ka dil meN dard2 paida kar le
is basta3-e ana4 ko izn5-e vus’at6 de kar
uTh arsa7-e geti8 ka ehaata9 kar le

1.horizons, skies, everyone under the sky 2.pain, love 3.confines 4.ego, self 5.permission 6.expanse, vastness 7.region 8.world, earth 9.surround, embrace

Create the light of love in your bosom.  Develop love for everything/everyone under the sky.  Allow yourself to get out of the confines of ego and embrace the whole earth.
5
haivaan1 ko aa bashar2 banaa de saaqi
zarraat3 ko uTh guhar4 banaa de saaqi
har jaam5 meN baada6-e uKhuwwat7 bhar kar
insaan ko sharif-tar8 bana de saaqi

1.animal, wild, uncivilized 2.human, civilized 3.particles, dust 4.pearls, gems 5.cup 6.wine 7.brotherhood 8.more noble

O saaqi, civilize the world and make it human.  Make gems out of rocks.  Fill every cup with the wine of love.  Make human more noble.
6
aye taalib1-e amr-e-Khair2 o jooya3-e najaat4
sun Ghaur5 se arbaab-e-nazar6 ke kalamaat7
pesh8-e vaabastagaan9-e zulf10-e hikmat11
jhuk ja ke ye haiN uqda12 kushaayaan13-e hayaat14

1.student, seeker 2.good deed,virtue 3.searcher, seeker 4.deliverance 5.carefully 6.people of vision 7.sayings 8.in front of, before 9.associated with 10.hair – used here to mean beauty 11.wisdom 12.knot, mystery 13.unravel, solve 14.life

O you who seek virtue and deliverance.  Listen carefully to the sayings of people of vision.  Bow down to those who are associated with the beauty of wisdom, for they unravel the mysteries of life.
7
ji bhar ke daraKht1-e kaj-ravi2 ko jhoRa3
auhaam4 par aapas meN jhagaRna chhoRa
jab toR diya dil ne Khuda se rishta5
insaan se TooTa hua naata joRa

1.tree of 2.crooked behaviour 3.shake violently 4.superstition 5.relationship

When they violently shook the tree of crooked behaviour; when they stopped fighting with each other over superstitions; when they broke off their relationship to god, only then did they repair the broken connection with each other.
8
insaan ki tauheed1 ka mushtaaq2 huN maiN
shama’3-e hubb4-e ameem5 ka taaq6 huN maiN
mashriq7 ka na paaband8 na maGhrib9 ka aseer10
insaan huN baashinda11-e aafaaq12 huN maiN

1.one-ness 2.desirous 3.lamp 4.love 5.everyone, universal 6.alcove 7.East 8.confined to 9.West 10.prisoner 11.resident of 12.horizons, skies, everything under the skies

josh is writing about the sufi concept of universal love.  I desire the ‘one-ness’ of humans.  I am the alcove of the lamp of universal love.  I am not a prisoner of the West, nor am I bound by the East.  I live under the skies (and I claim the whole earth as mine).
9
jab nau1-e bashar2 hai mera eemaan
har chehra3-e zisht4 o Khoob5 mera qur’aan
allah ko aaGhosh6 meN paaya maiN ne
jaise hi meri goad meN aaya insaan

1.species 2.human 3.face 4.ugly 5.beautiful 6.lap

When I believe in (the one-ness of) humanity, then every face, be it ugly of beautiful is like the qur’aan for me.  As soon as I embraced humans, I found god.
10
har saaNs meN kausar1 ke payaam2 aate haiN
har gaam3 pe hoorauN ke Khayaam4 aate haiN
bandauN5 se jo ek baar milta huN gale
allaah ke sau baar salaam aate haiN

1.river in heaven 2.messages 3.step 4.residences 5.fellow humans

With every breath I get (welcoming/blessed) messages from heaven.  At every step I encounter angels.  Everytime I embrace fellow humans, I get a hundred greetings from god.
11
aqvaam1 ke lafz2 meN koii jaan nahiN
ek nau3 meN ho doii4, ye imkaan5 nahiN
jo mushrik6-e yazdaaN7 hai, vo naadaaN8 hai faqat9
jo mushrik-e insaaN hai vo insaan nahiN

1.community (separate) 2.word 3.species 4.duality 5.possibility 6.partnering – this is a loaded word and is usually used to mean one who believes there is more than one god 7.god 8.ignorant, fool 9.only

There is no power/meaning in the word ‘community’ (as in communalism).  That there be duality in a single species is not possible.  One who believes in multiplicitly of gods is merely mistaken, but one who believes in a multiplicity of human species (communities) is not even human.

Key Search Words: universalism, sufism, communalism