For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
شاعر کا مذہب ۔ سید عاشق حسین سیمابؔ اکبرآبادی
۱
مجھے کانٹوں سے دِلبستگی، پھولوں سے اُلفت ہے
عقیدت میں میرے کُل کائنات اِک بزمِ فطرت ہے
۲
نہیں محدود رسم و راہ تک ذہنِ رسا میرا
ہو گرد آلود کیوں اِن لعنتوں سے آئینہ میرا
۳
کلیسا میں بھی مجھ کو موقعِ تکمیلِ مستی ہے
مجھے محرابِ کعبہ میں بھی اِذنِ بُت پرستی ہے
۴
حدودِ میکشی ہیں خلوتیں پرہیز گاروں کی
پھرا کرتا ہوں سرخوش انجمن میں چاند تاروں کی
۵
سمجھتا ہوں کہ ہر اِنساں کے دِل کا آئینہ میں ہوں
نہیں نفرت کسی سے وہ نگاہِ آشنا میں ہوں
۶
خیالوں میں مرے وسعت بقدرِ ذوقِ بیحد ہے
یہ ساری بزمِ عالم وقتِ سجدہ میرا معبَد ہے
۷
قیودِ سبّحہ و زُنّار سے بھی ماورا ہوں میں
تعیّن کی حدیں ٹھکرا کے آگے بڑھ گیا ہوں میں
۸
مجھے مطلب نہیں دیر و حرم کی تنگ راہی سے
براہِ راست ہے اِک واسطہ عرشِ اِلٰہی سے
۹
خدا کا نام لے کر توڑتی ہیں میری تکبیریں
یہ کس نے ڈال دیں ہیں پاؤں میں اِنساں کی زنجیریں
۱۰
کرو اعلان، ہے فطرت ہی اک مذہب ہر اِنساں کا
مری مِلّت میں جھگڑا ہی نہیں کفر اور ایماں کا
۱۱
پھر اِس اعلان میں گنجائشِ چون و چراں کب ہے
کہ جو فطرت کا مذہب ہے وہی شاعر کا مذہب ہے
शा’एर का मज़्हब – सय्यद आशेक़ हुसैन सीमाब अकबराबादी
१
मुझे कांटौं से दिलबस्तगी, फूलौं से उल्फ़त है
अक़ीदत में मेरे कुल का’एनात एक बज़्म-ए फ़ित्रत है
२
नहीं महदूद रस्म ओ राह तक ज़हन-ए रसा मेरा
हो गर्द आलूद क्यूं इन ला’नतौं से आइना मेरा
३
कलीसा में भी मुझ को मौक़ा-ए तक्मील-ए मस्ती है
मुझे मेहराब-ए काबा में भी इज़्न-ए बुत-परस्ती है
४
हुदूद-ए मैकशी हैं ख़ल्वतें परहेज़-गारौं कि
फिरा करता हूं सरख़ुश अंजुमन में चांद तारौं कि
५
समझता हूं के हर इन्सां के दिल का आइना मैं हूं
नहीं नफ़्रत किसी से वो निगाह-ए आश्ना मैं हूं
६
ख़यालौं में मेरे वुस’अत ब-क़द्र-ए ज़ौक़-ए बे-हद्द है
ये सारी बज़्म-ए आलम वक़्त-ए सिज्दा मेरा म’आबद है
७
क़ुयूद-ए सुब्बह ओ ज़ुन्नार से भी मावरा हूं मैं
त’अय्युन कि हदें ठुकरा के आगे बढ़ गया हूं मैं
८
मुझे मत्लब नहीं दैर ओ हरम कि तंग राही से
ब-राह-ए रास्त है एक वास्ता अर्श-ए इलाही से
९
ख़ुदा का नाम ले कर तोढती हैं मेरी तक्बीरें
ये किस ने डाल दीं हैं पाऊं में इन्सां कि ज़ंजीरें
१०
करो ए’लान है फ़ित्रत ही एक मज़्हब हर इन्सां का
मेरी मिल्लत में झगढा ही नहीं कुफ़्र और ईमां का
११
फिर इस ए’लान में गुन्जाएश-ए चून ओ चरां कब है
के जो फ़ित्रत का मज़्हब है, वही शा’एर का मज़्हब है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed aashiq husain seemab akbarabadi (1880-1951) was a scholar of farsi and arabi in addition to urdu. A progressive poet of secular outlook who wrote nazm of socialist themes as well odes to krishn and buddh. He also did a poetic urdu translation of the whole qur’aan. His secular credentials are impeccable. He along with his contemporary hasrat mohani, participated in the freedom struggle and composed a collection of devotional poems to krishn, which was published as a book called ‘krishn geet’.
1
mujhe kaaNTauN se dilbastagi1, phoolauN se ulfat2 hai
aqeedat3 meN mere, kul4 kaa’enaat5 ek bazm-e-fitrat6 hai 1.association/relationship of heart 2.love 3.faith, belief 4.total, all 5.creation, universe 6.gathering of nature
I have an amorous relationship with thorns, I love flowers. I believe that the whole universe is a harmonious arrangement of nature.
2
nahiN mahdood1 rasm-o-raah2 tak zahn3-e rasaa4 mera
ho gard-aalood5 kyuN in la’anatauN6 se aa’ina7 mera 1.limited 2.rituals and traditions 3.mind 4.far reaching 5.dust covered 6.curses 7.mirror/heart/conscience
My far reaching mind is not confined by rituals and traditions. Why should my clear conscience be sullied by such curses.
3
kaleesa1 meN bhi mujh ko mauqa2-e takmeel3-e masti4 hai
mujhe mehraab5-e kaaba meN bhi izn6-e but-parasti7 hai 1.church 2.opportunity, chance 3.completion 4.intoxication (with love), sufi trance, union with god 5.central arch 6.permission 7.idol worship
I have the opportunity to achieve union with god in a church and I have permission to perform idol worship in the central arch of a mosque/kaaba.
4
hudood1-e maikashi2 haiN KhalvateN3 parhez-gaarauN4 ki
phira karta huN sarKhush5 anjuman6 meN chaand taarauN ki 1.limits 2.wine drinking 3.private domains, privacy 4.those who observe dietary restriction/no alcohol 5.elated 6.gathering
‘maikashi’ – wine drinking is used both literally and as a metaphor for liberal thinking. This stops at the door of those who prefer to keep to their belief-practices in their privacy. The poet/sufi is respectful of such limits. He goes around with much joy and elation in public gatherings.
5
samajhta huN keh har insaaN ke dil ka aa’ina1 maiN huN
nahiN nafrat2 kisi se vo nigaah-e-aashna3 maiN huN 1.mirror reflection 2.hatred 3.discerning eye
In the sufi tradition every other human being is reflected in him (all seek union with god). He is the discerning eye that carries no hatred for anyone.
6
KhayaalauN meN mere vus’at1 ba-qadr2-e zauq3-e be-hadd4 hai
ye saari bazm-e-aalam5 vaqt-e sijda6 mera m’aabad7 hai 1.expanse 2.in proportion to, by the same measure as 3.taste, desire, love 4.limitless 5.gathering of the universe 6.prostration, kneeling in prayer 7.object of worship (usually god)
My thoughts are as expansive as my love is unlimited. When I bow/kneel in prayer, the whole universe is the object of my worship.
7
quyood1-e subbah2 o zunnar3 se bhi maavara4 huN maiN
t’ayyun5 ki hadeN6 Thukra ke aage baRh gaya huN maiN 1.rules, traditions 2.tasbeeh, rosary, Islamic 3.Hindu ceremonial thread 4.beyond 5.pre-determined 6.limits
I am well beyond the rules and rituals of religion (Islamic or Hindu). I break through pre-set limits of tradition and go far beyond.
8
mujhe matlab1 nahiN dair2 o haram3 ki taNg-raahi4 se
ba-raah-e-raast5 hi ek vaasta6 arsh-e-ilaahi7 se 1.concern 2.temple 3.mosque 4.narrow/restricted path 5.by direct pathway 6.relationship 7.god’s heaven
I am not concerned with the restrictive path of temple and mosque. I have a direct pathway to a relationship with god in his heaven.
9
mujhe matlab1 nahiN dair2 o haram3 ki taNg-raahi4 se
ba-raah-e-raast5 hi ek vaasta6 arsh-e-ilaahi7 se 1.concern 2.temple 3.mosque 4.narrow/restricted path 5.by direct pathway 6.relationship 7.god’s heaven
I am not concerned with the restrictive path of temple and mosque. I have a direct pathway to a relationship with god in his heaven.
10
karo e’laan1, hai fitrat2 hi ek mazhab, har insaaN ka
meri millat3 meN jhagRa hi nahiN kufr4 aur eemaaN5 ka 1.proclamation 2.nature 3.community, culture 4.non-faith, other faith 5.belief, faith
Make a proclamation that natural order itself is the religion of man. In this (my) faith/culture there is no conflict beween faith and non-faith (other faith).
11
phir is e’laan1 meN gunjaa’esh2-e choon-o-charaaN3 kab hai
ke jo fitrat4 ka mazhab hai, vahi shaa’er ka mazhab hai .proclamation 2.room, place 3.trivial disputation 4.nature
In this proclamation, there is no room for dispute because whatever the faith of nature is, is the faith of the poet.
syed aashiq husain seemab akbarabadi (1880-1951) was a scholar of farsi and arabi in addition to urdu. A progressive poet of secular outlook who wrote nazm of socialist themes as well odes to krishn and buddh. He also did a poetic urdu translation of the whole qur’aan. His secular credentials are impeccable. He along with his contemporary hasrat mohani, participated in the freedom struggle and composed a collection of devotional poems to krishn, which was published as a book called ‘krishn geet’.
1
mujhe kaaNTauN se dilbastagi1, phoolauN se ulfat2 hai
aqeedat3 meN mere, kul4 kaa’enaat5 ek bazm-e-fitrat6 hai
1.association/relationship of heart 2.love 3.faith, belief 4.total, all 5.creation, universe 6.gathering of nature
I have an amorous relationship with thorns, I love flowers. I believe that the whole universe is a harmonious arrangement of nature.
2
nahiN mahdood1 rasm-o-raah2 tak zahn3-e rasaa4 mera
ho gard-aalood5 kyuN in la’anatauN6 se aa’ina7 mera
1.limited 2.rituals and traditions 3.mind 4.far reaching 5.dust covered 6.curses 7.mirror/heart/conscience
My far reaching mind is not confined by rituals and traditions. Why should my clear conscience be sullied by such curses.
3
kaleesa1 meN bhi mujh ko mauqa2-e takmeel3-e masti4 hai
mujhe mehraab5-e kaaba meN bhi izn6-e but-parasti7 hai
1.church 2.opportunity, chance 3.completion 4.intoxication (with love), sufi trance, union with god 5.central arch 6.permission 7.idol worship
I have the opportunity to achieve union with god in a church and I have permission to perform idol worship in the central arch of a mosque/kaaba.
4
hudood1-e maikashi2 haiN KhalvateN3 parhez-gaarauN4 ki
phira karta huN sarKhush5 anjuman6 meN chaand taarauN ki
1.limits 2.wine drinking 3.private domains, privacy 4.those who observe dietary restriction/no alcohol 5.elated 6.gathering
‘maikashi’ – wine drinking is used both literally and as a metaphor for liberal thinking. This stops at the door of those who prefer to keep to their belief-practices in their privacy. The poet/sufi is respectful of such limits. He goes around with much joy and elation in public gatherings.
5
samajhta huN keh har insaaN ke dil ka aa’ina1 maiN huN
nahiN nafrat2 kisi se vo nigaah-e-aashna3 maiN huN
1.mirror reflection 2.hatred 3.discerning eye
In the sufi tradition every other human being is reflected in him (all seek union with god). He is the discerning eye that carries no hatred for anyone.
6
KhayaalauN meN mere vus’at1 ba-qadr2-e zauq3-e be-hadd4 hai
ye saari bazm-e-aalam5 vaqt-e sijda6 mera m’aabad7 hai
1.expanse 2.in proportion to, by the same measure as 3.taste, desire, love 4.limitless 5.gathering of the universe 6.prostration, kneeling in prayer 7.object of worship (usually god)
My thoughts are as expansive as my love is unlimited. When I bow/kneel in prayer, the whole universe is the object of my worship.
7
quyood1-e subbah2 o zunnar3 se bhi maavara4 huN maiN
t’ayyun5 ki hadeN6 Thukra ke aage baRh gaya huN maiN
1.rules, traditions 2.tasbeeh, rosary, Islamic 3.Hindu ceremonial thread 4.beyond 5.pre-determined 6.limits
I am well beyond the rules and rituals of religion (Islamic or Hindu). I break through pre-set limits of tradition and go far beyond.
8
mujhe matlab1 nahiN dair2 o haram3 ki taNg-raahi4 se
ba-raah-e-raast5 hi ek vaasta6 arsh-e-ilaahi7 se
1.concern 2.temple 3.mosque 4.narrow/restricted path 5.by direct pathway 6.relationship 7.god’s heaven
I am not concerned with the restrictive path of temple and mosque. I have a direct pathway to a relationship with god in his heaven.
9
Khuda ka naam le kar toRti haiN meri takbeereN1
ye kis ne Daal deeN haiN paauN meN insaaN ki zanjeereN
1.the cry of ‘allaahu akbar’
In the name of god/praising god, I break the chains that have been placed around the feet of human beings, freeing them from narrow traditions.
10
karo e’laan1, hai fitrat2 hi ek mazhab, har insaaN ka
meri millat3 meN jhagRa hi nahiN kufr4 aur eemaaN5 ka
1.proclamation 2.nature 3.community, culture 4.non-faith, other faith 5.belief, faith
Make a proclamation that natural order itself is the religion of man. In this (my) faith/culture there is no conflict beween faith and non-faith (other faith).
11
phir is e’laan1 meN gunjaa’esh2-e choon-o-charaaN3 kab hai
ke jo fitrat4 ka mazhab hai, vahi shaa’er ka mazhab hai
1.proclamation 2.room, place 3.trivial disputation 4.nature
In this proclamation, there is no room for dispute because whatever the faith of nature is, is the faith of the poet.
