For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
تخلّص سخنوری ۔ مومن خاں مومنؔ
۱
وہ مشق رہی اور نہ وہ شوق ہے مومنؔ
کیا شعر کہیں گے اگر اِلہام نہ ہوگا
۲
اِنصاف کے خواہاں ہیں نہیں طالبِ زر ہم
تحسینِ سخن فہم ہے مومنؔ صلہ اپنا
۳
مومنؔ اُسی نے مجھ سے دی برتری کسی کو
جو پست فہم میرے اشعار تک نہ پہنچا
۴
مومنؔ سے اچھی ہو غزل تھا اِسلئے یہ زور شور
کیا کیا مضامین لاۓ ہم کِس کِس ہنر سے باندھ کر
۵
مومنؔ یہ شاعروں کا مرے آگے رنگ ہے
جوں پیشِ آفتاب ہو بے نور ہر چراغ
۶
عبث ترقّیِ فن کی ہوس ہے مومنؔ کو
زیادہ ہوے گا کیا اِس سے بے مثال تو ہے
۷
مُدّت سے نام سنتے تھے مومنؔ کا بارے آج
دیکھا بھی ہم نے اس شعرا کے امام کو
۸
مومنؔ بخدا سحر بیانی کا جبھی تک
ہر ایک کو دعویٰ ہے کہ میں کچھ نہیں کہتا
۹
مومنؔ وہی غزل پڑھو شب جس سے بزم میں
آتی تھی لب پہ جان زہ و حبّذا کے ساتھ
۱۰
سُن رکھو سیکھ رکھو اِس کو غزل کہتے ہیں
مومنؔ اے اہلِ فن، اظہارِ ہنر کرتا ہے
۱۱
اپنے انداز کی بھی ایک غزل پڑھ مومنؔ
آخر اِس بزم میں کوئی تو سخنداں ہوگا
۱۲
اگر چہ مومنؔ بھی نہایت خوب کہتا ہے
کہاں ہے لیک معنی بند مضموں یاب اپنا سا
۱۳
حق تو یہ ہے کیا غزل اِک اور مومنؔ نے پڑھی
آج باطل سارے اُستادوں کا دعویٰ ہو گیا
۱۴
ایسی غزل کہی یہ کہ جھکتا ہے سب کا سر
مومنؔ نے اِس زمیں کو بھی مسجد بنا دیا
۱۵
اِک اور پڑھ دو مومنؔ شعلہ زباں غزل
جل جائیں جِس کے رشک سے حاسد بسانِ شمع
۱۶
غزل سرائی کی مومنؔ نے کیا کہ رشک سے آج
چمن میں سینے عنادِل کے ٹکڑے ٹکڑے ہیں
۱۷
شعر نر وہ ہیں مرے مومنؔ کہ ہنگامِ جواب
خوف سے مُنھ اور زبانِ ہر سُخنور خشک ہو
۱۸
کیونکر نہ غم ہو خلق کو مومنؔ کے مرگ کا
تھا سب کو اُس کی ذاتِ سراپا ہنر سے فیض
तख़ल्लुस-सुख़नवरी – मोमिन ख़ां मोमिन
१
वो मश्क़ रही और ना वो शौक़ है मोमिन
क्या शेर कहेंगे अगर इल्हाम ना होगा
२
इंसाफ़ के ख़्वाहां हैं नहीं तालिब-ए ज़र हम
तहसीन-ए सुख़न-फ़हम है मोमिन सिला अपना
३
मोमिन उसी ने मुझ से दी बरतरी किसी को
जो पस्त फ़हम मेरे अश’आर तक ना पहुंचा
४
मोमिन से अच्छी हो गज़ल, था इस लिए ये ज़ोर शोर
क्या क्या मज़ामीन लाए हम, किस किस हुनर से बाँध कर
५
मोमिन ये शा’एरों का मेरे आगे रंग है
जूं पेश-ए आफ़्ताब हो बे-नूर हर चिराग़
६
अबस तरक़्क़ी-ए फ़न की हवस है मोमिन को
ज़ियादा होयगा क्या इस से बे-मिसाल है तू
७
मुद्दत से नाम सुनते थे मोमिन का बारे आज
देखा भी हम ने उस शो’अरा के इमाम को
८
मोमिन बा-ख़ुदा सहर-बयानी का जब-ही तक
हर एक को दावा है के मैं कुच्छ नहीं कहता
९
मोमिन वही ग़ज़ल पढ़ो शब जिस से बज़्म में
आती थी लब पे जान ज़ह-ओ-हब्बज़ा के साथ
१०
सुन रखो, सीख रखो इस को ग़ज़ल कहते हैं
मोमिन अए अहल-ए फ़न, इज़हार-ए हुनर करता है
११
अपने अंदाज़ की भी एक ग़ज़ल पढ़ मोमिन
आख़िर इस बज़्म में कोइ तो सुख़न-दां होगा
१२
अगरचे मोमिन भी नेहाएत ख़ूब कहता है
कहां है लैक मा’नी-बंद मज़मूं-याब अपना सा
१३
हक़ तो ये है क्या ग़ज़ल एक और मोमिन ने पढ़ी
आज बातिल सारे उस्तादों का दा’वा हो गया
१४
ऐसी गज़ल कही ये के झुकता है सब का सर
मोमिन ने इस ज़मीं को भी मस्जिद बना दिया
१५
एक और पढ़ दो मोमिन शो’ला ज़बां गज़ल
जल जाएं जिस के रश्क से हासिद बसान-ए शमा
१६
गज़ल सराई की मोमिन ने क्या, के रश्क से आज
चमन में सीने अनादिल के टुकड़े टुकड़े हैं
१७
शेर नर वो हैं मेरे मोमिन के हंगाम-ए जवाब
ख़ौफ़ से मुहं और ज़बान-ए हर सुख़नवर ख़ुश्क हो
१८
क्यूंकर ना ग़म हो ख़ल्क़ को मोमिन की मर्ग का
था सब को उस की ज़ात-ए सरापा-हुनर से फ़ैज़
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. momin KhaaN momin (1800-1852) descended from a line of ‘hakim/healers’. Died very young in a fall from the roof of his house. Contemporary of Ghalib. He wrote predominantly of love, lust, cruelty of the beloved and the like. He also made very witty use of his taKhallus and a series of posts under muntaKhab ash’aar shows this. This post is a part of a series on “suKhanvar o suKhanvari” on the theme of what various shu’ara say about themselves, their verse, their mission and their place in history. It is also linked to taKhallus ka khel on the Theme Index page because these are selected ash’aar using his taKhallus.
1
vo mashq1 rahi aur na vo shauq2 hai momin
kya she’r kaheNge agar ilhaam3 na hoga 1.practice, exercise 2.desire, passion 3.divine inspiration just short of vahi-revelation
The poet no longer works hard or has the passion to write verse. How can I write any sh’er if I do not get divine inspiration. Said Ghalib (in farsi translated in urdu by shahed) …
she’r-e Ghalib na vahi ho maiN samajhta huN magar
lillaah bata de nahiN lagta hai ye ilhaam tujhe
2
insaaf1 ke KhwaahaaN2 haiN nahiN taalib3-e zar4 hum
tahseen5-e suKhan-fahm6 hai momin sila7 apna 1.justice, aapropriate recompense 2.desirous 3.demand 4.gold, wealth 5.appreciation, applause 6.one who understands/appreciates verse/poetry 7.reward, recompense
We (poets) don’t demand wealth/gold. Our reward is applause by those who understand/appreciate verse. Ghalib claimed that he did not even care for such appreciation. If you cannot understand my asha’ar, so be it, he said.
na sitaa’esh ki tamanna na sile ki parvaah
gar nahiN haiN mere ash’aar meN m’aani na sahi
3
momin usi ne mujh se di bartari1 kisi ko
jo past-fahm2 mere asha’ar3 tak na pahuNcha 1.superiority, preference 2.lowly wisdom/understanding 3.couplets
Only people of low/poor understanding/taste in poetry give preference to other’s asha’ar over mine.
4
momin se achhii ho Ghazal, tha is liye ye zor-shor1
kya kya mazaamiN2 laa’e hum kis kis hunar3 se baandh kar 1.enthusiasm, eagerness 2.subjects, themes 3.art, talent
There was much enthusiasm (at the mushaa’era) because all poets wanted to outdo momin. That is why they selected and brought with them this wide range of themes clothed in such art. What is left unsaid is that they did not succeed.
5
momin ye shaa’erauN ka mere aage raNg hai
juN pesh1-e aaftaab2 ho be-noor3 har chiraaGh 1.before, in front of 2.sun 3.without light
Every lamp appears as if it has no light, if it is placed before the sun. That is exactly how other poets are when placed before momin.
6
abas1 taraqqi2-e fun3 ki havas4 hai momin ko
ziyada hoyega kya is se be-misaal5 hai tu 1.useless, unnecessary 2.improvement, increase 3.art, artistry 4.lust, greed 5.without equal, unexampled
momin has an unnecessary greed for more artistic ability. What more can he be, he is already without equal.
7
muddat1 se naam sunte the momin ka baare2 aaj
dekha bhi hum ne us shu’ara3 ke imaam4 ko 1.long time 2.but 3.poets 4.leader, also orthodox leader
For a long time now we have been hearing about momin but today we got to see that leader of poets – the poet is making a statement on behalf of the audience, praising himself.
8
momin ba-Khuda1 sahr-bayaani2 ka jabhi tak
har ek ko daa’va3 hai keh maiN kuchh nahiN kahta 1.by god 2.enchanting speech/poetry 3.claim
By god, everyone/anyone can lay claim to enchanting poetry, until I begin to say something/recite poetry (after which all other claims are proven false).
9
momin vahi Ghazal paRho shab1 jis se bazm2 meN
aati thi lab3 pe jaan zah-o-habbaza4 ke saath 1.night, evening 2.assembly, gathering 3.lips, mouth, voice 4.congratulations and praise
The poet is calling upon himself to recite a powerful Ghazal (which really means that he is claiming that he is reciting a powerful Ghazal). This Ghazal will elicit profuse praise and congratulations from the assembly and give even more life to his voice/tongue.
10
sun rakho, seekh1 rakho is ko Ghazal kahte haiN
momin aye ahl-e-fun2, izhaar3-e hunar4 karta hai 1.learn, understand 2.people of talent/refined taste 3.exposition, display 4.talent
Listen and understand, this is what is called a fine Ghazal. (Listen) O, people of refined taste, momin is displaying his talent.
11
apne andaaz1 ki bhi ek Ghazal paRh momin
aaKhir is bazm2 meN koii to suKhan-daaN3 hoga 1.style, standard 2.assembly, gathering 3.shaa’er
O momin, recite a Ghazal that befits your standards/capabilities. After all there must be someone in this assembly who knows/understands shaa’eri. The implication is that only another “suKhan-daaN” or shaa’er will be able to appreciate it.
12
agarche1 momin bhi nehaa’et2 Khoob3 kahta hai
kahaaN hai laik4 ma’ani-band5 mazmooN-yaab6 apna sa 1.even though 2.very 3.good 4.laikin, but 5.meaning capturing 6.subject/topic expert
It seems like the poet has set himself up as a separate person from ‘momin’. Even though momin, the pious man speaks very well, but where can you find (deep) meaning-capturing, selected subjects like mine i.e. I can write better than him. But of course it is momin against momin.
13
haq1 to ye hai kya Ghazal ek aur2 momin ne paRhi
aaj baatil3 saare ustaadauN ka da’ava4 ho gaya 1.truth 2.used in the same spirit as “Ghalib ka hai andaaz-e bayaaN aur” 3.false 4.claim
The ustaads-experts have laid claim to superiority of poetic ability, but momin has recited such a (ek aur) Ghazal that all their claims have been proven false.
14
aisi Ghazal kahi ye ke jhukta hai sub ka sar
momin ne is zamiN1 ko bhi masjid bana diya 1.the combination of radeef, qaafiya and harmony bahr is called the zamiin
People do namaaz in masjid. During namaz they do sijda – prostration, bowing down. momin has recited such a Ghazal that they bow down in reverence – as if in namaaz. Thus, momin has converted the ground into a masjid. Of course, zamiN can also mean the structure of the Ghazal.
15
ek aur paRh do momin sho’la-zabaaN1 Ghazal
jal jaayeN jis ke rashk2 se haasid3 basaan4-e sham’a 1.fiery tongue, passionate 2.envy 3.jealous 4.like, similar to
Recite one more Ghazal of fiery passion O momin. All the jealous (poets) will burn with envy like the lamp.
16
Ghazal-saraaii1 kii2 momin ne kya ke rashk3 se aaj
chaman meN seene anaadil4 ke TukRe TukRe haiN 1.Ghazal recitation 2.did 3.envy 4.plural of andaleeb, bulbul
The bulbul/andaleeb is supposed to be an unsurpassed sweet songster of the garden. None can better it. But momin recited such a beautiful Ghazal that the hearts of the anaadil shattered with envy.
17
she’r nar1 vo haiN mere momin ke haNgaam2-e javaab3
Khauf4 se muNh aur zabaan-e har5 suKhanwar6 Khushk7 ho 1.male – used here to mean powerful 2.at the time of 3.response 4.response 5.every 6.poet 7.dry
O momin, my couplets are so powerful that when called upon to respond (present a better she’r) the tongues and mouths of all poets go dry.
18
kyuNkar1 na Gham ho Khalq2 ko momin ki marg3 ka
tha sub ko us ki zaat4-e saraapa5-hunar6 se faiz7 1.why 2.creation, humanity 3.death 4.person 5.head to toe, embodiment 6.art, talent 7.gift
momin is writing of his own death. Humanity has been receiving a gift because his (momin’s) person is an embodiment of talent. Why should they not be sorry at his death.
momin KhaaN momin (1800-1852) descended from a line of ‘hakim/healers’. Died very young in a fall from the roof of his house. Contemporary of Ghalib. He wrote predominantly of love, lust, cruelty of the beloved and the like. He also made very witty use of his taKhallus and a series of posts under muntaKhab ash’aar shows this. This post is a part of a series on “suKhanvar o suKhanvari” on the theme of what various shu’ara say about themselves, their verse, their mission and their place in history. It is also linked to taKhallus ka khel on the Theme Index page because these are selected ash’aar using his taKhallus.
1
vo mashq1 rahi aur na vo shauq2 hai momin
kya she’r kaheNge agar ilhaam3 na hoga
1.practice, exercise 2.desire, passion 3.divine inspiration just short of vahi-revelation
The poet no longer works hard or has the passion to write verse. How can I write any sh’er if I do not get divine inspiration. Said Ghalib (in farsi translated in urdu by shahed) …
she’r-e Ghalib na vahi ho maiN samajhta huN magar
lillaah bata de nahiN lagta hai ye ilhaam tujhe
2
insaaf1 ke KhwaahaaN2 haiN nahiN taalib3-e zar4 hum
tahseen5-e suKhan-fahm6 hai momin sila7 apna
1.justice, aapropriate recompense 2.desirous 3.demand 4.gold, wealth 5.appreciation, applause 6.one who understands/appreciates verse/poetry 7.reward, recompense
We (poets) don’t demand wealth/gold. Our reward is applause by those who understand/appreciate verse. Ghalib claimed that he did not even care for such appreciation. If you cannot understand my asha’ar, so be it, he said.
na sitaa’esh ki tamanna na sile ki parvaah
gar nahiN haiN mere ash’aar meN m’aani na sahi
3
momin usi ne mujh se di bartari1 kisi ko
jo past-fahm2 mere asha’ar3 tak na pahuNcha
1.superiority, preference 2.lowly wisdom/understanding 3.couplets
Only people of low/poor understanding/taste in poetry give preference to other’s asha’ar over mine.
4
momin se achhii ho Ghazal, tha is liye ye zor-shor1
kya kya mazaamiN2 laa’e hum kis kis hunar3 se baandh kar
1.enthusiasm, eagerness 2.subjects, themes 3.art, talent
There was much enthusiasm (at the mushaa’era) because all poets wanted to outdo momin. That is why they selected and brought with them this wide range of themes clothed in such art. What is left unsaid is that they did not succeed.
5
momin ye shaa’erauN ka mere aage raNg hai
juN pesh1-e aaftaab2 ho be-noor3 har chiraaGh
1.before, in front of 2.sun 3.without light
Every lamp appears as if it has no light, if it is placed before the sun. That is exactly how other poets are when placed before momin.
6
abas1 taraqqi2-e fun3 ki havas4 hai momin ko
ziyada hoyega kya is se be-misaal5 hai tu
1.useless, unnecessary 2.improvement, increase 3.art, artistry 4.lust, greed 5.without equal, unexampled
momin has an unnecessary greed for more artistic ability. What more can he be, he is already without equal.
7
muddat1 se naam sunte the momin ka baare2 aaj
dekha bhi hum ne us shu’ara3 ke imaam4 ko
1.long time 2.but 3.poets 4.leader, also orthodox leader
For a long time now we have been hearing about momin but today we got to see that leader of poets – the poet is making a statement on behalf of the audience, praising himself.
8
momin ba-Khuda1 sahr-bayaani2 ka jabhi tak
har ek ko daa’va3 hai keh maiN kuchh nahiN kahta
1.by god 2.enchanting speech/poetry 3.claim
By god, everyone/anyone can lay claim to enchanting poetry, until I begin to say something/recite poetry (after which all other claims are proven false).
9
momin vahi Ghazal paRho shab1 jis se bazm2 meN
aati thi lab3 pe jaan zah-o-habbaza4 ke saath
1.night, evening 2.assembly, gathering 3.lips, mouth, voice 4.congratulations and praise
The poet is calling upon himself to recite a powerful Ghazal (which really means that he is claiming that he is reciting a powerful Ghazal). This Ghazal will elicit profuse praise and congratulations from the assembly and give even more life to his voice/tongue.
10
sun rakho, seekh1 rakho is ko Ghazal kahte haiN
momin aye ahl-e-fun2, izhaar3-e hunar4 karta hai
1.learn, understand 2.people of talent/refined taste 3.exposition, display 4.talent
Listen and understand, this is what is called a fine Ghazal. (Listen) O, people of refined taste, momin is displaying his talent.
11
apne andaaz1 ki bhi ek Ghazal paRh momin
aaKhir is bazm2 meN koii to suKhan-daaN3 hoga
1.style, standard 2.assembly, gathering 3.shaa’er
O momin, recite a Ghazal that befits your standards/capabilities. After all there must be someone in this assembly who knows/understands shaa’eri. The implication is that only another “suKhan-daaN” or shaa’er will be able to appreciate it.
12
agarche1 momin bhi nehaa’et2 Khoob3 kahta hai
kahaaN hai laik4 ma’ani-band5 mazmooN-yaab6 apna sa
1.even though 2.very 3.good 4.laikin, but 5.meaning capturing 6.subject/topic expert
It seems like the poet has set himself up as a separate person from ‘momin’. Even though momin, the pious man speaks very well, but where can you find (deep) meaning-capturing, selected subjects like mine i.e. I can write better than him. But of course it is momin against momin.
13
haq1 to ye hai kya Ghazal ek aur2 momin ne paRhi
aaj baatil3 saare ustaadauN ka da’ava4 ho gaya
1.truth 2.used in the same spirit as “Ghalib ka hai andaaz-e bayaaN aur” 3.false 4.claim
The ustaads-experts have laid claim to superiority of poetic ability, but momin has recited such a (ek aur) Ghazal that all their claims have been proven false.
14
aisi Ghazal kahi ye ke jhukta hai sub ka sar
momin ne is zamiN1 ko bhi masjid bana diya
1.the combination of radeef, qaafiya and harmony bahr is called the zamiin
People do namaaz in masjid. During namaz they do sijda – prostration, bowing down. momin has recited such a Ghazal that they bow down in reverence – as if in namaaz. Thus, momin has converted the ground into a masjid. Of course, zamiN can also mean the structure of the Ghazal.
15
ek aur paRh do momin sho’la-zabaaN1 Ghazal
jal jaayeN jis ke rashk2 se haasid3 basaan4-e sham’a
1.fiery tongue, passionate 2.envy 3.jealous 4.like, similar to
Recite one more Ghazal of fiery passion O momin. All the jealous (poets) will burn with envy like the lamp.
16
Ghazal-saraaii1 kii2 momin ne kya ke rashk3 se aaj
chaman meN seene anaadil4 ke TukRe TukRe haiN
1.Ghazal recitation 2.did 3.envy 4.plural of andaleeb, bulbul
The bulbul/andaleeb is supposed to be an unsurpassed sweet songster of the garden. None can better it. But momin recited such a beautiful Ghazal that the hearts of the anaadil shattered with envy.
17
she’r nar1 vo haiN mere momin ke haNgaam2-e javaab3
Khauf4 se muNh aur zabaan-e har5 suKhanwar6 Khushk7 ho
1.male – used here to mean powerful 2.at the time of 3.response 4.response 5.every 6.poet 7.dry
O momin, my couplets are so powerful that when called upon to respond (present a better she’r) the tongues and mouths of all poets go dry.
18
kyuNkar1 na Gham ho Khalq2 ko momin ki marg3 ka
tha sub ko us ki zaat4-e saraapa5-hunar6 se faiz7
1.why 2.creation, humanity 3.death 4.person 5.head to toe, embodiment 6.art, talent 7.gift
momin is writing of his own death. Humanity has been receiving a gift because his (momin’s) person is an embodiment of talent. Why should they not be sorry at his death.
