For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
شیخ و برہمن ۔ انتخاب
مرزا غالب
نہیں کچھ سُبّحہ و زُنّار کے پھندے میں گیرائی
وفاداری میں شیخ و برہمن کی آزمایش ہے
وفا داری بشرطِ اُستواری اصلِ ایماں ہے
مرے بُت خانے میں تو کعبہ میں گاڑو برہمن کو
محمد رفیع سودا
برہمن بت کدے کے شیخ بیت اللہ کے صدقے
کہیں ہیں جس کو سوداؔ وہ دلِ آگاہ کے صدقے
کعبہ ڈہا تو غم نہ کر اے شیخِ بُت شِکن
دل برہمن کا ہے کہ بنایا نہ جائے گا
دیں شیخ و برہمن نے کیا یار فراموش
یہ سُبّحہ فراموش وہ زُنّار فراموش
محمّد اقبال
سچ کہہ دوں ائے برہمن گر تو بُرا نہ مانے
تیرے صنم کدوں کے بت ہو گئے پرانے
اپنوں سے بیر رکھنا تو نے بتوں سے سیکھا
واعظ کو بھی سکھایا جنگ و جدل خدا نے
تنگ آ کے میں نے آخر دیر ہو حرم کو چھوڑا
واعظ کا وعظ چھوڑا، چھوڑے تیرے فسانے
من کی دنیا میں نہ پایا میں نے افرنگی کا راج
من کی دنیا میں نہ دیکھے میں نے شیخ و برہمن
امیر مینائی
شیخ کہتا ہے برہمن کو، برہمن اُس کو سخت
کعبہ و بُت خانے میں پتھر ہے پتھر کا جواب
سارا پردہ ہے دوئی کا جو یہ پردہ اُٹھ جائے
گردنِ شیخ میں زُنّار برہمن ڈالے
برہمن دیر سے، کعبے سے پھر آئے حاجی
تیرے در سے نہ سرکنا تھا نہ سرکے عاشق
فیض احمد فیض
یہ برہمن کا کرم وہ عطائے شیخِ حرم
کبھی حیات کبھی مئے حرام ہوتی ہے
اکبر الہ آبادی
اگر مذہب خلل انداز ہے ملکی مقاصد میں
تو شیخ و برہمن پنہاں رہیں دیر و مساجد میں
اب تو ہے عشقِ بُتاں میں زندگانی کا مزہ
جب خدا کا سامنا ہوگا تو دیکھا جائے گا
بتاؤں آپ کو مرنے کے بعد کیا ہوگا
پلاؤ کھائیں گے احباب فاتحہ ہوگا
شیخ اپنی رگ کو کیا کریں ریشے کو کیا کریں
مذہب کے جھگڑے چھوڑیں تو پیشے کو کیا کریں
تیار تھے نماز پہ ہم سُن کے ذکرِ حور
جلوہ بتوں کا دیکھ کے نیت بدل گئی
سدھاریں شیخ کعبہ کو ہم اِنگلِستان دیکھیں گے
وہ دیکھیں گھر خدا کا ہم خدا کی شان دیکھیں گے
آنند نارائن مُلّا
برہمن آبِ گنگا شیخ کوثر لے اُڑا اُس سے
ترے ہونٹوں کو جب چھوتا ہوا ملاؔ کا جام آیا
دِواکر راہی
زمانہ شیخ و برہمن کا احترام کرے
ہم اُن کو رہزنِ راہِ خدا سمجھتے ہیں
باتیں تمہاری شیخ و برہمن خطا معاف
پہلے کی طرح غیر مدلل ہیں آج بھی
پنڈت لبھو رام جوش ملسیانی
شیخ سے کچھ ضد نہیں ہے برہمن سے کد نہیں
دیر و کعبہ دونوں کا جوہر مرے ساغر میں ہے
بالمکند عرش ملسیانی
دونوں ہیں تیری یاد میں آلودۂ غرض
جو عیب شیخ میں ہے وہی برہمن میں ہے
گوپال داس نیرج
وہ نہ گیانی نہ وہ دھیانی نہ برہمن نہ وہ شیخ
وہ کوئی اور تھے جو تیرے مکاں تک پہنچے
برج نارائین چکبست
کیا ہے فاش پردہ کفر و دیں کا اس قدر میں نے
کہ دشمن ہے برہمن اور عدو شیخ حرم میرا
حفیظ میرٹھی
ذہن سنجیدہ مسائل سے ہٹانے کے لئے
روز یہ شیخ و برہمن کا تماشا نہ کرو
اسرار الحق مجاز
نہ ناقوسِ برہمن ہے نہ آہنگِ ہُدیٰ خوانی
مگر میں اپنی منزل کی طرف بڑھتا ہی جاتا ہوں
शैख़ ओ बरहमन – इन्तेख़ाब
मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब
नहीं कुछ सुब्बह ओ ज़ुन्नार के फंदे में गीराई
वफ़ादारी में शैख़ ओ बरहमन की आज़माइश है
वफ़ादारी ब शर्त-ए उस्तवारी अस्ल-ए ईमां है
मरे बुत-ख़ाने में तो काबे में गाड़ो बरहमन को
मोहम्मद रफ़ी सौदा
बरहमन बुत-कदे के शैख़ बैत-उल-लाह के सदक़े
कहें हैं जिस को सौदा वो दिल-ए आगाह के सदक़े
काबा डहा तो ग़म न कर अए शैख़-ए बुत-शिकन
दिल बरहमन का है के बनाया न जाएगा
दीं शैख़ ओ बरहमन ने किया यार फ़रामोश
वो सुब्बह फ़रामोश वो ज़ुन्नार फ़रामोश
मोहम्मद इक़्बाल
सच कह दूं अए बरहमन गर तू बुरा न माने
तेरे सनम कदौं के बुत हो गए पुराने
अपनौं से बैर रखना तू ने बुतों से सीखा
जंग ओ जदल सिखाया वा’एज़ को भी ख़ुदा ने
तंग आ के मैं ने आख़िर दैर ओ हरम को छोड़ा
वा’एज़ का वा’ज़ छोड़ा, छोड़े तेरे फ़साने
मन की दुनिया में न पाया मैं ने अफ़रंगी का राज
मन की दुनिया में न देखे मैं ने शैख़ ओ बरहमन
अमीर मीनाई
शैख़ कहता है बरहमन को और बरहमन उस को सख़्त
काबा ओ बुत-ख़ाने में पत्थर है पत्थर का जवाब
सारा परदा है दोई का जो ये परदा उठ जाए
गर्दन-ए शैख़ में ज़ुन्नार बरहमन डाले
बरहमन दैर से काबे से फिर आये हाजी
तेरे दर से न सरकना था न सरके आशिक़
फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़
ये बरहमन का करम वो अता-ए शैख़-ए हरम
कभी हयात कभी मै हराम होती है
अकबर अल्लाहबादी
अगर मज़हब ख़लल-अन्दाज़ है मुल्की मसा’एल में
तो शैख़ ओ बरहमन पिन्हां रहें दैर ओ मसाजिद में
अब तो है इश्क़-ए-बुताँ में ज़िंदगानी का मज़ा
जब ख़ुदा का सामना होगा तो देखा जाएगा
बताऊँ आप को मरने के बाद क्या होगा
पुलाऊ खाएँगे अहबाब फ़ातिहा होगा
शैख़ अपनी रग को क्या करें रेशे को क्या करें
मज़हब के झगड़े छोड़ें तो पेशे को क्या करें
तय्यार थे नमाज़ पे हम सुन के ज़िक्र-ए-हूर
जल्वा बुतों का देख के नीयत बदल गई
सिधारें शैख़ काबा को हम इंग्लिस्तान देखेंगे
वो देखें घर ख़ुदा का हम ख़ुदा की शान देखेंगे
आनंद नारायन मुल्ला
बरहमन आब-ए गंगा, शैख़ कौसर ले उड़ा उस से
तेरे होंटों को जब छूता हुआ मुल्ला का जाम आया
दिवाकर राही
ज़माना शैख़-ए बरहमन का एहतेराम करे
हम इनको रहज़न-ए राह-ए ख़ुदा समझते हैं
बातें तुम्हारी शैख़ ओ बरहमन ख़ता मो’आफ़
पहले की तरह ग़ैर मुदल्लल हैं आज भी
पंडित लभु राम मल्सियानी
शैख़ से कुछ ज़िद्द नहीं बरहमन से कद नहीं
दैर ओ काबा दोनों का जौहर मेरे साग़र में है
बालमुकन्द अर्श मल्सियानी
दोनों हैं तेरी याद में आलूदा-ए ग़रज़
जो ऐब शैख़ में है वही बरहमन में है
गोपाल दास नीरज
वो न ग्यानी न वो ध्यानी वो बरहमन न वो शैख़
वो कोई और थे जो तेरे मकां तक पहुंचे
ब्रिज नारायन चकबस्त
किया है फ़ाश परदा कुफ़्र ओ दीं का कुछ इस क़दर मैं ने
के दुश्मन है बरहमन और उदू शैख़-ए हरम मेरा
हफ़ीज़ मीरठी
ज़हन संजीदा मसा’एल से हटाने के लिए
रोज़ ये शैख़ ओ बरहमन का तमाशा न करो
अस्रार-उल-हक़ मजाज़
न नाक़ूस-ए बरहमन है न आहंग-ए हुदी-ख़्वानी
मगर मैं अपनी मंज़िल की तरफ़ बढ़ता ही जाता हूं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. A collection of delightful ash’aar poking fun at orthodoxy
mirza Ghalib
nahiN kuchh subbah1-o-zunnaar2 ke phande3 meN giiraaii4
vafaadaari5 meN shaiKh o barhaman ki aazmaaesh6 hai 1.tasbeeh, rosary 2.hindu ceremonial thread 3.snare, net, noose 4.same root as ‘giraft’ – catch/hold 5.keeping faith/truth 6.trial
There is no way that the tasbeeh and zunnar (symbols of ritualistic religious observation) can hold on to truth/faith. Their real trial/evaluation is in being faithful/sincere/honest.
vafadaari1 ba-shart2-e ustawaari3 asl4-e imaaN5 hai
marey but-Khaane6 meN to kaabe meN gaaRo barhaman ko1.faithfulness, sincerity 2.by condition of, bound by 3.steadfastness 4.real 5.faith 6.house of idols, temple
There is a violation of several traditions … hindu tradition cremates bodies, does not bury them, islamic tradition does not permit burials in the kaaba. But both these traditions are not important to Ghalib compared to steadfastness of faith. Thus if the brahman has been sincere in his faith and dies in the temple, Ghalib calls for him to be buried in the kaaba.
mohammed rafi sauda
barhaman but-kaday1 ke shaiKh bait-ul-laah2 ke sadqe3
kaheN4 haiN jis ko sauda, vo dil-e aagaah5 ke sadqe1.house of idols, temple 2.house of allah 3.sacrifical offering 4.to be called 5.knowing, aware (of sufi love)
The brahmin and the shaiKh may be so devoted to their respective houses (faiths) that they offer themselves up as a (ritual) sacrifice in service of them. But he who they call ‘sauda’ (the poet) is devoted to the loving heart (love in the sufi tradition).
kaaba Dahaa1 to Gham na kar aye shaiKh-e but-shikan2
dil barhaman ka hai ke banaaya na jaayega1.broken, destroyed 2.used here in the sense of one who does not worship idols
If the kaaba is destroyed, it can be re-built. Thus o shaiKh (who does not worship idols) do not be sorrowful if the kaaba is destroyed, but if the heart of the brahmin is broken it cannot be repaired.
deeN1 shaiKh o barhaman ne kiya yaar2 faraamosh3
ye subbah4 faraamosh, vo zunnaar5 faraamosh1.faith 2.friend 3.forgotten 4.tasbeeh, rosary 5.hindu ritual thread
The shaiKh and brahman have left god out of (forgotten) their faith. One has forgotten the tasbeeh and the other the zunnaar.
mohammed iqbal
such kah duN aye barahman, gar tu buraa na maane
tere sanam-kadauN1 ke but ho gaye puraane2
apnauN se bair3 rakhna tu ne butauN se seekha
vaa’ez4 ko bhi sikhaaya juNg-o-jadal5 Khuda ne
tuNg6 aa ke maiN ne aaKhir, dair-o-haram7 ko chhoRa
vaa’ez ka va’az8 chhoRa, chhoRe tere fasaane9 1.house of idols, temples 2.old, irrelevant 3.animosity, hatred 4.preacher 5.war and strife 6.disgusted 7.temple and mosque 8.sermon 9.fables
I will speak what is my heart, O brahman, if you don’t take offence. The idols in your temples have become irrelevant. You have learnt to hate your own people from them (caste system) and the muslim preacher has the learnt the ways of strife from god. Disgusted with both, I leave temple and mosque, I leave the sermon of the vaa’ez and your fables, O brahman.
man1 ki duniya meN na paaya maiN ne afraNgi2 ka raaj
man ki duniya meN na dekhe maiN ne shaiKh o barhaman1.heart, soul 2.European, used here to mean worldly display of wealth and power
In a Ghazal … “phir chiraaGh-e laala se raushan hue koh o daman”, iqbal dwells on the inner world of the soul. He says, I did not find either material display or ritualistic faith of the shaiKh and brahmin in the inner world of soul.
amir minaaii
shaiKh kahta hai barahman ko, barahman us ko saKht1
kaaba o but-Khaane meN patthar ka patthar hai javaab1.hard, hard hearted, could also mean close minded
The shaiKh calls the brahman closed minded and the brahman returns the compliment. Both throw rocks at each other.
saara parda hai doii1 ka jo ye parda uTh jaaye
gardan-e shaiKh meN zunnaar2 barahman Daale1.duality, difference 2.hindu ritual thread
This curtain to duality that separates us, were it lifted, the shaiKh and brahman would see that they are one and the same. The brahman would put the hindu ritual thread around the neck of the shaiKh (and the shaiKh would gladly accept it).
barhaman dair1 se, kaabe se phir2 aaye haaji3
tere dar4 se na sarakna5 tha, na sarke aashiq6 1.temple 2.turned back, returned 3.pilgrims 4.door 5.move 6.lovers
“tere” – “your” can mean the beloved, but in the sufi tradition god is the beloved. Thus the brahman and the shaiKh did their ritual pilgrimages and came back, but the true lovers at your door, would never move away.
faiz ahmed faiz
ye barahman ka karam1, vo ataa2-e shaiKh-e haram3
kabhi hayaat4, kabhi mai haraam5 hoti hai1.kindness 2.grant, gift 3.kaaba/mosque 4.life 5.forbidden
Sometimes the kindness of the brahman, at other times the gift of the shaiKh. Sometimes life is made impossible, sometimes wine is forbidden.
akbar allahabadi
agar mazhab1 qalal-andaaz2 hai mulki3 masaa’el4 meN
to shaiKh o barahman pinhaaN5 raheN dair6 o masaajid7 meN1.religion 2.interfering 3.of the country/nation 4.problems 5.hidden 6.temple 7.plural of masjid
If religion interferes with (the solution of) national problems, then it is best to confine the shaiKh and brahman to the temple and mosque.
ab to hai ishq-e-butaaN1 meN zindagaani ka maza
jab Khuda ka saamna2 hoga to dekha jaayega1.love of idols/beauties 2.face to face
The poet/lover is not quite prepared to give up pleasures of this life of stories of having to face god later. Right now the pleasure of life is in the love of damsels. We will see when we have to face god.
bataauN aap ko marne ke baad kya hoga
pulaau khaayeNge ahbaab1 faatiha2 hoga1.friends 2.prayer/offering for the salvation of the dead
There is a lot of talk about what will happen after death. The poet/rebel is tired of all those stories and says … all that is going to happen is that in the name of praying and making an offering (to god) for the salvation of the dead, friends will eat a feast of pulaau.
shaiKh apni rag1 ko kyaa kareN reshe2 ko kyaa kareN
mazhab ke jhagRe chhoReN to peshe3 ko kyaa kareN1.vein, used here in the sense of nature/characteristic 2.fibre/muscle also used to mean nature 3.profession
‘rag o resha’ is used to mean inborn characteristics (like DNA). Thus, the shaiKh cannot help what he is doing. It is his inborn characteristic to be involved in the machinations of religion. That is his profession. If he stops doing it, what else can he do!
tayyaar1 the namaaz pe ham sun ke zikr-e-hoor2
jalva3 butauN4 ka dekh ke niyyat5 badal gaii1.ready 2.stories of hoor in heaven 3.face, beauty 4.idols, damsels 5.intention
The poet/rebel has been hearing stories of how if he stayed away from illegitimate temptations and offered namaaz/prayers, he would be rewarded in heaven with hoories. He was ready to do that until he saw beautiful maidens and changed his mind. There is not much credibility in the stories of future reward.
sidhaareN1 shaiKh kaabe ko hum inglistaan2 dekheNge
vo dekheN ghar Khuda ka hum Khuda ki shaan3 dekheNge1.depart 2.England 3.glory
The stories of the time of akbar allhabadi were about the glory of England and that is what he wants to see and calls it the glory of god. The shaiKh can depart for the kaaba if he wants to and can see the house of god. I want to go and see the glory of god that is England.
anand narain mulla
barhaman aab1-e gaNga, shaiKh kauser2 le uRa3 us se
tere hoNTauN ko jab chhoota hua mulla4 ka jaam5 aaya1.water of 2.river in paradise 3.snatched 4.pen name of the poet 5.cup/goblet of wine
The saaqi has touched the cup of wine to her lips before serving it to the poet/lover, mulla. This serving is like snatching the ‘holy’ water of Ganges or the ‘holy’ water of kauser.
divaakar raahi
zamana1 shaiKh2 o barhman3 ka ehteram4 karey
hum in ko rahzan5-e raah6-e Khuda samajhte haiN1.the times, world 2.preacher (muslim) 3.preacher (hindu) 4.respect 5.highway robber 6.pathway
The world may respect the shaiKh and the brahman but we think that they are robbers of people who walk the path of god. And who is the ‘we’. It is the poets/rebels.
baateN tumhaari shaiKh o barahman Khata1 muaaf2
pahle ki tarah Ghair-mudallal3 haiN aaj bhi1.mistake, error 2.forgive 3.without logic
Pardon me, o shaiKh and brahman, your lecture/sermon, just like it always was, is illogical.
panDit labhu ram josh malsiyani
shaiKh se kuchh zidd1 nahiN hai, barhaman se kad2 nahiN
dair3 o kaaba, donoN ka jauhar4 mere saaGhar5 meN hai1.opposition 2.conflict 3.temple 4.qualities 5.flask
I have no differences with the shaiKh and no conflict with the brahman. The qualities of both are in my flask (of wine of love).
baal mukand arsh malsiyani
donoN haiN teri yaad meN aaluuda1-e-Gharaz2
jo ayb3 shaiKh meN hai vahii barhaman meN hai1.immersed in 2.(hidden/selfish) purpose 3.defect
Both the shaiKh and brahman profess to remember (serve) you, o god. But in reality both are immersed in their own hidden agenda. The problem with the shaiKh is the same as the one with the brahman.
gopal das neeraj
na vo gyaani1, na vo dhyaani2, na barhaman na vo shaiKh
vo koii aur the jo tere makaaN3 tak pahuNche1.learned 2.thinker, philosopher 3.house
It is not book learning or philosophizing that will get you to god. They are a different kind of people who reach the house of god. It is left for us to imagine what kind of people they are … perhaps those that love god/humanity.
brij narain chakbast
kiya hai faash1 parda kufr-o-deeN2 ka is qadar3 maiN ne
ke dushman hai barhaman aur udoo4 shaiKh-e haram5 mera1.expose, lift the veil/curtain 2.truth and falsehood, vice and virtue 3.so much 4.enemy 5.masjid
I have lifted the veil from truth and falsehood so much that both the brahman and the shaiKh are now my enemies.
hafeez meeraThi
zahn1 sanjeeda2 masaa’el3 se haTaane ke liye
roz4 ye shaiKh o barahman ka tamaasha5 na karo1.mind 2.serious 3.problems 4.daily 5.drama, theatrical display
To take our minds off serious problems that face us, do not create this daily hindu-muslim drama.
asraar-ul haq majaaz
na naaqoos1-e barahman hai na aahaNg2-e hudi-Khwaani3
magar maiN apni manzil4 ki taraf baRhta hi jaata huN1.sea shell, shaNkh 2.melody, song 3.song of the camel caravan as it approaches kaaba (for hajj) 4.destination
The poet/rebel does not need orthodox rituals such as blowing of the shaNkh or the song of the hudi-Khwaan (on the way to hajj) to reach his destination.
A collection of delightful ash’aar poking fun at orthodoxy.
mirza Ghalib
nahiN kuchh subbah1-o-zunnaar2 ke phande3 meN giiraaii4
vafaadaari5 meN shaiKh o barhaman ki aazmaaesh6 hai
1.tasbeeh, rosary 2.hindu ceremonial thread 3.snare, net, noose 4.same root as ‘giraft’ – catch/hold 5.keeping faith/truth 6.trial
There is no way that the tasbeeh and zunnar (symbols of ritualistic religious observation) can hold on to truth/faith. Their real trial/evaluation is in being faithful/sincere/honest.
vafadaari1 ba-shart2-e ustawaari3 asl4-e imaaN5 hai
marey but-Khaane6 meN to kaabe meN gaaRo barhaman ko
1.faithfulness, sincerity 2.by condition of, bound by 3.steadfastness 4.real 5.faith 6.house of idols, temple
There is a violation of several traditions … hindu tradition cremates bodies, does not bury them, islamic tradition does not permit burials in the kaaba. But both these traditions are not important to Ghalib compared to steadfastness of faith. Thus if the brahman has been sincere in his faith and dies in the temple, Ghalib calls for him to be buried in the kaaba.
mohammed rafi sauda
barhaman but-kaday1 ke shaiKh bait-ul-laah2 ke sadqe3
kaheN4 haiN jis ko sauda, vo dil-e aagaah5 ke sadqe
1.house of idols, temple 2.house of allah 3.sacrifical offering 4.to be called 5.knowing, aware (of sufi love)
The brahmin and the shaiKh may be so devoted to their respective houses (faiths) that they offer themselves up as a (ritual) sacrifice in service of them. But he who they call ‘sauda’ (the poet) is devoted to the loving heart (love in the sufi tradition).
kaaba Dahaa1 to Gham na kar aye shaiKh-e but-shikan2
dil barhaman ka hai ke banaaya na jaayega
1.broken, destroyed 2.used here in the sense of one who does not worship idols
If the kaaba is destroyed, it can be re-built. Thus o shaiKh (who does not worship idols) do not be sorrowful if the kaaba is destroyed, but if the heart of the brahmin is broken it cannot be repaired.
deeN1 shaiKh o barhaman ne kiya yaar2 faraamosh3
ye subbah4 faraamosh, vo zunnaar5 faraamosh
1.faith 2.friend 3.forgotten 4.tasbeeh, rosary 5.hindu ritual thread
The shaiKh and brahman have left god out of (forgotten) their faith. One has forgotten the tasbeeh and the other the zunnaar.
mohammed iqbal
such kah duN aye barahman, gar tu buraa na maane
tere sanam-kadauN1 ke but ho gaye puraane2
apnauN se bair3 rakhna tu ne butauN se seekha
vaa’ez4 ko bhi sikhaaya juNg-o-jadal5 Khuda ne
tuNg6 aa ke maiN ne aaKhir, dair-o-haram7 ko chhoRa
vaa’ez ka va’az8 chhoRa, chhoRe tere fasaane9
1.house of idols, temples 2.old, irrelevant 3.animosity, hatred 4.preacher 5.war and strife 6.disgusted 7.temple and mosque 8.sermon 9.fables
I will speak what is my heart, O brahman, if you don’t take offence. The idols in your temples have become irrelevant. You have learnt to hate your own people from them (caste system) and the muslim preacher has the learnt the ways of strife from god. Disgusted with both, I leave temple and mosque, I leave the sermon of the vaa’ez and your fables, O brahman.
man1 ki duniya meN na paaya maiN ne afraNgi2 ka raaj
man ki duniya meN na dekhe maiN ne shaiKh o barhaman
1.heart, soul 2.European, used here to mean worldly display of wealth and power
In a Ghazal … “phir chiraaGh-e laala se raushan hue koh o daman”, iqbal dwells on the inner world of the soul. He says, I did not find either material display or ritualistic faith of the shaiKh and brahmin in the inner world of soul.
amir minaaii
shaiKh kahta hai barahman ko, barahman us ko saKht1
kaaba o but-Khaane meN patthar ka patthar hai javaab
1.hard, hard hearted, could also mean close minded
The shaiKh calls the brahman closed minded and the brahman returns the compliment. Both throw rocks at each other.
saara parda hai doii1 ka jo ye parda uTh jaaye
gardan-e shaiKh meN zunnaar2 barahman Daale
1.duality, difference 2.hindu ritual thread
This curtain to duality that separates us, were it lifted, the shaiKh and brahman would see that they are one and the same. The brahman would put the hindu ritual thread around the neck of the shaiKh (and the shaiKh would gladly accept it).
barhaman dair1 se, kaabe se phir2 aaye haaji3
tere dar4 se na sarakna5 tha, na sarke aashiq6
1.temple 2.turned back, returned 3.pilgrims 4.door 5.move 6.lovers
“tere” – “your” can mean the beloved, but in the sufi tradition god is the beloved. Thus the brahman and the shaiKh did their ritual pilgrimages and came back, but the true lovers at your door, would never move away.
faiz ahmed faiz
ye barahman ka karam1, vo ataa2-e shaiKh-e haram3
kabhi hayaat4, kabhi mai haraam5 hoti hai
1.kindness 2.grant, gift 3.kaaba/mosque 4.life 5.forbidden
Sometimes the kindness of the brahman, at other times the gift of the shaiKh. Sometimes life is made impossible, sometimes wine is forbidden.
akbar allahabadi
agar mazhab1 qalal-andaaz2 hai mulki3 masaa’el4 meN
to shaiKh o barahman pinhaaN5 raheN dair6 o masaajid7 meN
1.religion 2.interfering 3.of the country/nation 4.problems 5.hidden 6.temple 7.plural of masjid
If religion interferes with (the solution of) national problems, then it is best to confine the shaiKh and brahman to the temple and mosque.
ab to hai ishq-e-butaaN1 meN zindagaani ka maza
jab Khuda ka saamna2 hoga to dekha jaayega
1.love of idols/beauties 2.face to face
The poet/lover is not quite prepared to give up pleasures of this life of stories of having to face god later. Right now the pleasure of life is in the love of damsels. We will see when we have to face god.
bataauN aap ko marne ke baad kya hoga
pulaau khaayeNge ahbaab1 faatiha2 hoga
1.friends 2.prayer/offering for the salvation of the dead
There is a lot of talk about what will happen after death. The poet/rebel is tired of all those stories and says … all that is going to happen is that in the name of praying and making an offering (to god) for the salvation of the dead, friends will eat a feast of pulaau.
shaiKh apni rag1 ko kyaa kareN reshe2 ko kyaa kareN
mazhab ke jhagRe chhoReN to peshe3 ko kyaa kareN
1.vein, used here in the sense of nature/characteristic 2.fibre/muscle also used to mean nature 3.profession
‘rag o resha’ is used to mean inborn characteristics. Thus, the shaiKh cannot help what he is doing. It is his inborn characteristic to be involved in the machinations of religion. That is his profession. If he stops doing it, what else can he do!
tayyaar1 the namaaz pe ham sun ke zikr-e-hoor2
jalva3 butauN4 ka dekh ke niyyat5 badal gaii
1.ready 2.stories of hoor in heaven 3.face, beauty 4.idols, damsels 5.intention
The poet/rebel has been hearing stories of how if he stayed away from illegitimate temptations and offered namaaz/prayers, he would be rewarded in heaven with hoories. He was ready to do that until he saw beautiful maidens and changed his mind. There is not much credibility in the stories of future reward.
sidhaareN1 shaiKh kaabe ko hum inglistaan2 dekheNge
vo dekheN ghar Khuda ka hum Khuda ki shaan3 dekheNge
1.depart 2.England 3.glory
The stories of the time of akbar allhabadi were about the glory of England and that is what he wants to see and calls it the glory of god. The shaiKh can depart for the kaaba if he wants to and can see the house of god. I want to go and see the glory of god that is England.
anand narain mulla
barhaman aab1-e gaNga, shaiKh kauser2 le uRa3 us se
tere hoNTauN ko jab chhoota hua mulla4 ka jaam5 aaya
1.water of 2.river in paradise 3.snatched 4.pen name of the poet 5.cup/goblet of wine
The saaqi has touched the cup of wine to her lips before serving it to the poet/lover, mulla. This serving is like snatching the ‘holy’ water of Ganges or the ‘holy’ water of kauser.
divaakar raahi
zamana1 shaiKh2 o barhman3 ka ehteram4 karey
hum in ko rahzan5-e raah6-e Khuda samajhte haiN
1.the times, world 2.preacher (muslim) 3.preacher (hindu) 4.respect 5.highway robber 6.pathway
The world may respect the shaiKh and the brahman but we think that they are robbers of people who walk the path of god. And who is the ‘we’. It is the poets/rebels.
baateN tumhaari shaiKh o barahman Khata1 muaaf2
pahle ki tarah Ghair-mudallal3 haiN aaj bhi
1.mistake, error 2.forgive 3.without logic
Pardon me, o shaiKh and brahman, your lecture/sermon, just like it always was, is illogical.
panDit labhu ram josh malsiyani
shaiKh se kuchh zidd1 nahiN hai, barhaman se kad2 nahiN
dair3 o kaaba, donoN ka jauhar4 mere saaGhar5 meN hai
1.opposition 2.conflict 3.temple 4.qualities 5.flask
I have no differences with the shaiKh and no conflict with the brahman. The qualities of both are in my flask (of wine of love).
baal mukand arsh malsiyani
donoN haiN teri yaad meN aaluuda1-e-Gharaz2
jo ayb3 shaiKh meN hai vahii barhaman meN hai
1.immersed in 2.(hidden/selfish) purpose 3.defect
Both the shaiKh and brahman profess to remember (serve) you, o god. But in reality both are immersed in their own hidden agenda. The problem with the shaiKh is the same as the one with the brahman.
gopal das neeraj
na vo gyaani1, na vo dhyaani2, na barhaman na vo shaiKh
vo koii aur the jo tere makaaN3 tak pahuNche
1.learned 2.thinker, philosopher 3.house
It is not book learning or philosophizing that will get you to god. They are a different kind of people who reach the house of god. It is left for us to imagine what kind of people they are … perhaps those that love god/humanity.
brij narain chakbast
kiya hai faash1 parda kufr-o-deeN2 ka is qadar3 maiN ne
ke dushman hai barhaman aur udoo4 shaiKh-e haram5 mera
1.expose, lift the veil/curtain 2.truth and falsehood, vice and virtue 3.so much 4.enemy 5.masjid
I have lifted the veil from truth and falsehood so much that both the brahman and the shaiKh are now my enemies.
hafeez meeraThi
zahn1 sanjeeda2 masaa’el3 se haTaane ke liye
roz4 ye shaiKh o barahman ka tamaasha5 na karo
1.mind 2.serious 3.problems 4.daily 5.drama, theatrical display
To take our minds off serious problems that face us, do not create this daily hindu-muslim drama.
asraar-ul haq majaaz
na naaqoos1-e barahman hai na aahaNg2-e hudi-Khwaani3
magar maiN apni manzil4 ki taraf baRhta hi jaata huN
1.sea shell, shaNkh 2.melody, song 3.song of the camel caravan as it approaches kaaba (for hajj) 4.destination
The poet/rebel does not need orthodox rituals such as blowing of the shaNkh or the song of the hudi-Khwaan (on the way to hajj) to reach his destination.
