Faiz Ahmed Faiz ki Yaad Mein - 13 Feb

Shikwa, Jawab e Shikwa

SHIKWA AND JAWAB-I SHIKWA
BY SIR MUHAMMAD IQBAL

Iqbal wrote the two poems, “Shikwa” and “Jawab-i Shikwa” (Complaint to God and its Response), in early twentieth century. It was the prime time of his poetic revelation, which is called his third period that began in 1908 and ended at his death in 1938. During that time Muslims in India had almost lost their entity as a nation. They had become the most oppressed community in British ruled India. A little before Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) had realised that the major cause of Indian Muslims’ misfortune was their illiteracy and the lack of knowledge.....
http://www.allamaiqbal.com/ias/shikwaandjawab.html

Hereunder I quote three stanzas from this part of “Shakwa”:

Ham jo jeetey thay to jangon ki museebat ke liye
Aur marte thay tirey naam ke azmat ke liye
Thi na kuch tegh zani apnee hukumat key liye
Sar bakaf phirte thay kiya dhar men daulat ke liye?
Qaum apni jo zaro-maal-i jahan par marti
But faroshi ke iwaz but shikani kiyum karti?

(If we lived we lived for the calamities of wars
If we died we died for the grandeur of Thy name
We did not wield the sword for our kingdoms
Did we roam about the world fearlessly for wealth?
If our nation had been greedy of worldly wealth
Why would we have been idol breakers instead of idol sellers?)

Mahfil-i kaun-o Makan men sahar-o sham phiray
Ma-i tauheed ko ley kar sifat-i jam phiray
Koh men’ dasht mey ley kar tira paigham phiray
Aur maaloom hay tujh ko kabhi nakaam phiray
Dasht to dasht hain darya bhi na chorey hamnay
Bahr-i zulmaat men daura diy-e ghorey hamnay

(We continuously wandered all over the world
We wandered like the wine cup with Tawhid’s[1] wine
We wandered with Thy message in the mountains, in the deserts
And doth Thou know whether we ever returned unsuccessful?
What of the deserts! we did not spare even oceans!
We galloped our horses in the dark ocean.?)

Safah-i dhar se batil ko mitaya hamney
Nau-i insan ko ghulami se churaya hamney
Terey kaabe ko jabeenon sey bassaya hamney
Terey Qur’an ko seeno sey lagaya hamney
Phir Bhi hamsey ye gila hai ke wafadar naheen
Ham wafadar naheen too bhi to dildar naheen

(We effaced falsehood from the earth’s surface
We freed the human race from bonds of slavery
We filled Thy Kaa’ba with our foreheads
We put Thy Qur’an to our hearts
Still Thou complaineth that we are lacking fealty
If we are lacking fealty Thou also art not generous.)

The second part shows the state of decline of Muslim nation. But Iqbal has projected this aspect so beautifully that instead of creating a sense of despair and destitute in the mind it inspires a new vigour and courage to stand up and deal with rival forces. Quoted hereunder are three stanzas of this part:

Ummaten aur bhi hain un men gunahgaar bhi hain
Ijz waley bhi hain mast-i ma-e pindar bhi hain
Inmey kahil bhi hain ghafil bhi hain hushyar bhi hain
Saikron hain ke tirey naam se bezaar bhi hain
Rahmaten hain teri aghyar ke kashanon par
Barq girti hai to becharey musalmanon par

(There are other nations, among them are sinners also
There are modest people and arrogant ones also
Among them are slothful, indolent as well as clever people
There are also hundreds who are disgused with Thy name
Thy graces descend on the other people’s abodes
Lightning strikes only the poor Muslims’ abodes.)

But sanam khanon men kahte hain musalmaan gai
Hai khushi unko ke Kaabey key nigehbaan gai
Manzil-i dhar se unton ke hudi khuwan gai
Apni baghlon men dabba-e huey Qur-an ghai
Khanda zan kufr hai ehsaas tujhe hai ke naheen
ApniTauhid ka kuch paas tujhe hai ke naheen

(The idols in temples say ‘The Muslims are gone’
They are glad that the Ka’bah’s sentinels are gone
From the world’s stage the hudi[2] singers are gone
They, with the Qur’an in their arm pits, are gone.
Infidelity is mocking , hast Thou some feeling or not?
Dost Thou have any regard for Thy own Tawhid or not?)

Bani aghyar ki ab chahne wali dunya
Rahgai apne liye ek khayali dunya
Ham to rukhsat hue auron ney sanbhali dunya
Phir na kahna hui Tauheed se khali dunya
Ham to jeetey hain ke dunya men tera naam rahe
Kaheen mumkin hai ke saaqi na rahey jaam rahe?

(Now the world is the lover of others
For us it is only an imaginary world
We have departed, others have taken over the world
Do not complain now that the world has become devoid of Tawhid
We live with the object of spreading Thy fame in the world
Can the wine cup exist if the cup bearer does not live?)

The third part of Shakwa is a direct complaint to God. Three beautiful stanzas of this part are quoted as under:

Ye shikayat naheen hain unke khazane maamoor
Naheen mahfil men jinhen baat bhi karne ka shaoor
Qahr to ye hai ke kafir ko milen hoor-o qasoor
Aur becharey musalman ko faqat waida-i hoor
Ab wo altaaf naheen ham pe inaayaat naheen
Baat ye kiya hai ke pheli si madaraat naheen

(We do not complain that their treasures are full
Who are not in possession of even basic social graces
Outrageous that infidel are rewarded with Houries and palaces
And the poor Muslims are placated with only promise of Houries

We have been deprived of the former graces and favours
What is the matter, we are deprived of the former honours.)

Ishq ki khair wo pehli si ada bhi na sahi
Jada paimaiye tasleemo raza bhi na sahi
Muztarib dil sifat-i qiblanuma bhi na sahi
Aur paabandiye aaeen-i wafa bhi na sahi
Kabhi hamse kabhi ghairon se shanasai hai
Baat kahney ki naheen too bhi to harjai hai

(Granted that Love has not the former elegance also
We may have lost treading the path of Love also
We have lost the restless heart like the compass also
And we may have lost the observance of fidelity’s rules also
Thou art changing friendship between us and others
It is difficult to say but Thou art also unfaithful.)

Sarey faraan pey kiya deen ko kamil too ne
Ek isharey pe haszroon kay liye dil toone
Aathish andoz kiya ishq ka hasil toone
Phoonk di garmiye rukhsaar sey mahfil toone
Aaj kiyun seene hmare sharar aabaad naheen
Ham wohee sokhta saamaan hain tujhey yaad naheen?

(Thou perfected the Din on the peak of Faran[3]
Thou captivated the hearts of thousands in a moment
Thou consumed the produce of Love with the fire
Thou burned the congregation with Thy face’s fire
Why are not our breasts filled with love’s sparks now?
We are the same lovers, dost Thou not remember now?)

The fourth part of Shakwa is the ending of this poem. Here we find Iqbal singing as a nightingale in a garden praying and expressing his sentiments in the most beautiful and touching manner. Out of these we quote below four stanzas;

Wadiye najd men wo shor-i salasil na raha,
Qais deewana-i nazzarai mehmil na raha
Hausley wo na rahey ham na rahey dil na raha
Ghar ye ujra hai ke too raunaq-i mahfil na raha
Aye khush aan rooz ke aayee wa basad naaz aayee
Bay hijabana su-i mahfil-i maa baaz aayee

(The noise of lover’s chains in the Najd’s valley has disappeared
Qais has no more remained longing for the litter’s sight
Those old ambitions, we, as well as the heart have disappeared
The house is destroyed as Thou art not present in the house
O that happy day when Thou with elegance will come back
When Thou unveiled to our congregation will come back.)

Mushkilen ummat-i marhoom ki aasaan ka de
Moor-i bey maya ko hamdosh-i Sulaiman ka de
Jins-i nayab-i mohabbat ko phir arzaan karde
Hind key der nasheeno ko musalmaan karde
Joo-i khoon mi chakad az hasrat-i derina-i ma
Mee tapad nala ba nashtarkada-i seena-i ma

(Make easy the difficulties of the blessed Ummah
Place the poor ant shoulder to shoulder to Sulaiman[4]
Make the invaluable produce of Love accessible again
Change the idolatrous Muslims of India into Muslims again
A stream of blood drips from the frustrations mine
Wailing palpitates in the wounded breast of mine!)

Boo-i gul lay gai bairoon-i chaman raaz-i chaman
Kiya qayaamat hai ke khud phool hain ghammaz-i chaman
Ahd-i gul khatm hua toot gaya saz-i chaman
Ur gai daliyon se zamzama pardaz-i chaman
Ek bulbul hai ke hai mahv-i tarannum abtak
Uske seeney men hai naghmoon ka talatum abtak

(The rose’ fragrance took garden’s secret outside the garden
Outrageous that flowers themselves are informers against the garden
The spring is over, broken is the orchestra of the garden
Flown away from branches are the songsters of the garden
Only nightingale is left which is singing still
In its breast overflows the flood of songs still.[5])

Lutf marney men hai baqi na maza jeeney men
Kuch maza hai to yihee khoon-i jigar peeney men
Kitney betaab hain johar mirey aaeeney men
Kis Qadar jalway taraptey hain mirey seeney men
Is Gulistaan men magar dekhnay waley hi naheen
Daagh jo seene men rakhte hoon wo lalay hi naheen

(There is no pleasure in dying and no taste in living is
If there is any pleasure, it in bearing this affliction is
Many a virtue is restless in my mirror!
Many an effulgence is fluttering in my breast!
But there is none in this garden to see them
There is no poppies[6] with love’s stains in their breasts).

After one year of reciting Shakwa Iqbal presented Jawab-i Shakwa in a huge gathering in 1913 at a famous public place Outside Mochi Gate of Lahore City. Jawab-I Shakwa contains 36 stanzas of six lines or verses each.

http://www.allamaiqbal.com/ias/shikwaandjawab.html

Sheeshon ka Maseeha Koyee Nahin - Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Recent recital of Faiz's beautiful nazm by Tina Sani:


Please wait for a few seconds for the player to load. Then click play above to listen.
It is part of the new CD entitled Bahar Aayi. Please buy it before it goes out of stock
(it is not a sufiana kalam of course)

Moti ho ki sheesha jaam ke dur
jo toot gaya so toot gaya
Kab ashkon se jurd sakta hai
jo toot gaya, so chhoot gaya

Tum nahak sheeshay chun chun kar
daaman mein chhupaye baithey ho
Sheeshon ka maseeha koyee nahiin
kya aas lagaye baithey ho

Shayad ki inhii tukrdon mein kahiin
wo sagar-e-dil hai, jis mein kabhi
Sad naaz se utra karti thi
Sahba-e-gham-e-jaanaan ki pari

Phir duniya walon ne tum se
Ye sagar le kar phod diya
Jo maye thi baha di mitti mein
Mehmaan ka shah par tod diya

Ye rangiin reze hain shayed
un shokh biloori sapnon ke
Tum mast jawani mein jin se
Khilwat (akailapan) ko sajaya kartey the

naadaari , dafter, bhookh aur gham
un sapnon se takratey rahe
be-reham tha chau-mukh pathraav
yeh kanch ke dhanchey kya kartey?

Ya shayad in zarron mein kahin
moti hai tumhari izzat ka
woh jiss se tumharey ijz ke bhi
shamshad qadon nein rashk kiya

iss maal ki dhun mein phirtey the
tajer bhi bohat rehzun bhi kayee
ai chor-nagar ya muflis ki
gar jaan bachi to aan gayee

ye sagar sheeshe, laal-o-guhar
saalim hon to qeemat paate hain
yun tukrde tukrde hon to faqat
chubhte hain, lahoo rulwaate hain

yaadon ke girebaanon ke rafoo
par dil ko guzar kab hoti hai ?
ik bakhiya udheyrda, ek siya
yun umr basar kab hoti hai ?

iss kargahey hasti mein jahan
ye sagar sheeshay dhaltey hein
har shae ka badal mil sakta hai
sab daaman pur ho saktey hein

Jo haath bardhey yawar hai yehan
jo aankh uthhey woh bakhtawar
yaan dhan daulat ka ant nahin
honn ghaat mein daaku lakh magar

kab loot jhapat se hasti ki
dukaanein khaali hoti hein
yaan parbat parbat heerey hein
yaan saaghar saghar moti hein

Kuchh log hein jo iss daulat par
Pardey latkaatey phirte hein
Har parbet ko, har saghar ko
Neelam chardhaatey phirtey hein

Kuchh woh bhi hein jo ladh bhird kar
ye pardey noch giraate hein
Hasti ke uttthai giron ki
har chal uljhaaye jatey hein

In donon mein ran pardta hai
Nit basti basti, nagar nagar
Har basti ghar ke seene mein
Har chalti rah ke maathe par

Ye kalak bhartey phirte hein
Woh jot jagate rehte hein
Ye aag lagatey phirtey hein
Woh aag bujhate rehtey hein

Sab saaghar sheeshay laal o guhar
iss baazi mein bid jaate hein
Uttho sab khaali haathon ko
is rung se bulawe aate hein

---------------
Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Dil e man Musafir e man - Faiz Ahmed Faiz - میرے دل میرے مسافر

Dil e man Musafir e man

Meray dil meray musafir
hua phir sey hukm sadir
k watan badar hon hum tum

dein gali gali sadain
karein rukh nagar nagar ka
ke suraagh koi paein
kisi yar e nama bar ka

har ik ajnabi sey poochein
jo pata tha apney ghar ka
sar e kooey nashenayan
hamein din sey raat karna

kabhi iss sey baat karna
kabhi us sey baat karna
tumhein kya kahoon key kya hey
shab e gham buri balaa hey

hamein yeh bhi tha ghaneemat
jo koi shumaar hota
hamein kya bura tha marna
agar eik baar hota!

Mere dil mere musafir…!

میرے دل میرے مسافر
ہوا پھر سے حکم صادر
کہ وطن بدر ہوں ہم تم

دیں گلی گلی صدائیں
کریں رخ نگر نگر کا
کہ سراغ کوئی پائیں
کسی یارِ نامہ بر کا

ہر ایک اجنبی سے پوچھیں
جو پتہ تھا اپنے گھر کا
سرِ کوئے نا آشیاں
ہمیں دن سے رات کرنا

کبھی اِس سے بات کرنا
کبھی اُس سے بات کرنا
تمہیں کیا کہوں کہ کیا ہے
شبِ غم بری بلا ہے

ہمیں یہ بھی تھا غنیمت
جو کوئی شمار ہوتا
ہمیں کیا برا تھا مرنا
اگر اِک بار ہوتا !!!!!!!
__________________
فیض

English translation:

My heart, my fellow traveler
It has been decreed again
That you and I be exiled,
go calling out in every street,
turn to every town.
To search for a clue
of a messenger from our Beloved.
To ask every stranger
the way back to our home.

In this town of unfamiliar folk
we drudge the day into the night
Talk to this stranger at times,
to that one at others.

How can I convey to you, my friend
how horrible is a night of lonliness *
It would suffice to me
if there were just some count
I would gladly welcome death
if it were to come but once.

Translation by Hamid Rahim Sheikh www.ece.utexas.edu/~sheikh/poetry/faiz

Mori Araj Suno

Recital: Tina Sani
Poetry: Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Prodiction: Coke Studio, Pakistan

mori araj sunno
Dastgeer Peer, mori araj sunno
mori araj sunno

O my Lord, pay heed to my appeal
I am a faithful follower of my Creator
O my Lord, pay heed to my appeal

Rabba sacheya, tu te akheya see
chal bandeya, jag da shah en tun

My true Lord, you had said
Go man, you are the master of the world

sadeeyan naimatan tereeyan daulatan naen
sada naeb te aalee-jah ae tun

My bounties on earth are your treasure
You are the viseroy of your Creator

aes larey te dor kede poocheya te?
ki aise nimaane te beeteeyan nein
kadey sanu bi layio Rab sayeyan
kithae dhoans police sarkar dee ae
kithae dhaandli maal batwar dee ae.......


After baiting me with these promises
Countless years have passed by
My Lord, did you ever enquire what transpired with your man
What your man has suffered in this world?
Somewhere, those in power and with the means to intimidate, harass and terrorize
Elsewhere, draft and bribery are rampant

My soul is shaken down to my bone
Just like a bird flutters when caught in a trap

You made a fine king indeed, my sweet Lord
All I have gotten are endless beatings

I don't want kingship, my Lord
All I need is a morsel of respect

I have no desire to live in palaces
I just want a small nook to live my life

If you agree with me, I will agree with you
I wont decline anything no matter how unreasonable

If you don't look out for me God
Then I should go and seek for myself another god

O my Lord, pay heed to my appeal
With this grimace, pleading

Sharing the pain, rowing the boat
Asking for His blessing, waiting expectantly

Countless centuries have passed by
Only now has it been revealed

The one who you had appealed to
The one who held your hand and guided you

Where your boat had docked
From whom you had asked for a panacea for your pain

The one who did not visit your temple
It was you only
------

Another version:

Recital: Ustad Nafis Khan