poetry – Hamza Shad

Lyrics & Translation of “Tum Ik Gorakh Dhanda Ho”

Naz Khialvi (1947-2010, real name: Muhammad Siddique) was a Pakistani poet and radio broadcaster from near the city of Faisalabad, most famous for his poem “Tum Ik Gorakh Dhanda Ho”. This philosophically and spiritually rich text explores the paradoxes of religion like the prevalence of evil and injustice, selective divine intervention, and other indecipherable aspects of God. The poem also points toward the unity of human religious experiences. At the end, after listing his grievances, the bewildered poet ultimately accepts divine incomprehensibility.

In the sense that “Tum Ik Gorakh Dhanda Ho” is a complaint to God, it is thematically similar to Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s famous “Shikwa”. Like Iqbal, Naz expresses a sense of frustration and wonder towards God. At the same time, this poem would still be considered a hamd, or praise of God. It is worth mentioning that “Tum Ik Gorakh Dhanda Ho” is full of references to prophets, Sufi saints, and Punjabi folk heros. For example, Naz references Mansoor al-Hallaj, a Persian mystic who was executed in the tenth century for saying “I am the truth!” Naz also includes the story of Joseph – referring to him with a rare title, “Maah-e-Kanaan”, meaning “The Moon of Canaan”. Another reference is to the story of Laila and Majnoon, in which Qais becomes a madman (“Majnoon”) for the rest of his life after Laila’s father refuses to let them marry.

See below for videos of Naz Khialvi reciting the poem and of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (1948-1997) performing it. In my translation below, I have used the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan version. Because NFAK inserts extra lines of poetry into the qawwali, I have tried to delineate which parts are from Naz’s original work and which are asides.

Naz Khialvi
کبھی یہاں تمہیں ڈھونڈا کبھی وہاں پہنچا
kabhi yahaan tumhein dhoonda kabhi wahaan pohancha
At times I searched for you here, at times I traveled there
تمہاری دید کی خاطر کہاں کہاں پہنچا
tumhaari deed ki khaatir kahaan kahaan pohancha
For the sake of seeing You, how far I have come!
غریب مٹ گئے پامال ہو گئے لیکن
ghareeb mit gaye paamaal ho gaye lekin
Similar wanderers wiped away and ruined, but
کسی تلک نہ ترا آج تک نشاں پہنچا
kisi talak na tera aaj tak nishaan pohancha
Your sign has still not reached anyone

ہو بھی نہیں اور ہر جا ہو
ho bhi naheen aur har ja ho
You are not, yet You are everywhere
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

ہر ذرّے میں کس شان سے تو جلوہ نما ہے
har zarre mein kis shaan se tu jalwa-numa hai
With what majesty You manifest Yourself in each atom!
حیراں ہے مگر عقل کہ کیسا ہے تو کیا ہے
hairaan hai magar aqal ke kaise hai tu kya hai
But my mind is astonished by how you are, what you are
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

تجھے دیر و حرم میں میں نے ڈھونڈا تو نہیں ملتا
tujhe dair-o-haram mein maine dhoonda tu naheen milta
I looked for you in the temple and mosque, but you cannot be found
مگر تشریف فرما تجھ کو اپنے دل میں دیکھا ہے
magar tashreef farma tujhe apne dil mein dekha hai
But I have seen You gracing my heart with Your presence
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

ڈھونڈے نہیں ملے ہو نہ ڈھونڈے سے کہیں تم
dhoonde naheen mile ho na dhoonde se kaheen tum
You are not found through searching; nor through searching are You anywhere
اور پھر یہ تماشہ ہے جہاں ہم ہیں وہیں تم
aur phir ye tamaasha hai jahaan ham hain waheen tum
But then there is this spectacle that You are wherever we are
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

جب بجز تیرے کوئی دوسرا موجود نہیں
jab bajuz tere koi doosra maujood naheen
When besides you, there is no second in existence
پھر سمجھ میں نہیں آتا تیرا پردہ کرنا
phir samajh mein naheen aata tera parda karna
I do not understand why you seclude yourself
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Aside
حرم و دیر میں ہے جلوۂ پرفن تیرا
haram-o-dair mein hai jalwa-e-pur-fan tera
In the mosque and temple your artful manifestation is present
دو گھروں کا ہے چراغ اک رخِ روشن تیرا
do gharon ka hai charaagh ik rukh-e-raushan tera
Your one face is the light of two homes [mosque and temple]
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Naz Khialvi
جو الفت میں تمہاری کھو گیا ہے
jo ulfat mein tumhaari kho gaya hai
The individual who has lost himself in your affection
اسی کھوئے ہوئے کو کچھ ملا ہے
usi khoye hue ko kuchh mila hai
It is that lost one who has actually found something
نہ بت خانے نہ کعبے میں ملا ہے
na but-khane na kaabe mein mila hai
He found You in neither the idol house nor in the Kaaba
مگر ٹوٹے ہوئے دل میں ملا ہے
magar toote hue dil mein mila hai
Rather he found You in a broken heart
عدم بن کر کہیں تو چھپ گیا ہے
adam ban kar kaheen tu chhup gaya hai
You have hidden somewhere as nothingness
کہیں تو ہست بن کر آ گیا ہے
kaheen tu hast ban kar aa gaya hai
While elsewhere You have come as existence
نہیں ہے تو تو پھر انکار کیسا
naheen hai tu to phir inkaar kaisa
If You are not, then why deny it?
نفی بھی تیرے ہونے کا پتہ ہے
nafi bhi tere hone ka pata hai
Even negation reveals Your existence
میں جس کو کہہ رہا ہوں اپنی ہستی
main jis ko keh raha hoon apni hasti
That which I am calling my own existence –
اگر وہ تو نہیں تو اور کیا ہے
agar wo tu naheen to aur kya hai
If not You, what else could it be?
نہیں آیا خیالوں میں اگر تو
naheen aaya khayaalon mein agar tu
If You did not come into my thoughts,
تو پھر میں کیسے سمجھا تو خدا ہے
to phir main kaise samjha tu Khuda hai
Then how did I recognize You as God?
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

حیران ہوں اس بات پہ تم کون ہو کیا ہو
hairaan hoon is baat pe tum kaun ho kya ho
I am astonished thinking about who You are, what You are
ہاتھ آؤ تو بت ہاتھ نہ آؤ تو خدا ہو
haath aao to but haath na aao to Khuda ho
If I can grasp you, you are an idol, but if not then you are God
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

عقل میں جو گھر گیا لا انتہا کیونکر ہوا
aqal mein jo ghir gaya la-intiha kyoonkar hua
How can one who is enclosed in our comprehension be boundless?
جو سمجھ میں آ گیا پھر وہ خدا کیونکر ہوا
jo samajh mein aa gaya phir wo Khuda kyoonkar hua
How can one we understand then be God?
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle
فلسفی کو بحث کے اندر خدا ملتا نہیں

falsafi ko behes ke andar Khuda milta naheen
The philosopher does not find God in his arguments
ڈور کو سلجھا رہا ہے اور سرا ملتا نہیں
dor ko suljha raha hai aur sira milta naheen
He is untangling the cord but cannot ever find its end
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

پتہ یوں تو بتا دیتے ہو سب کو لا مکاں اپنا
pata yoon to bata dete ho sab ko la-makaan apna
Thus you tell everyone that your address is “nowhere”
تعجب ہے مگر رہتے ہو تم ٹوٹے ہوئے دل میں
ta’ajjub hai magar rehte ho tum toote hue dil mein
How amazing it is, though, that you live in a broken heart
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Aside
جب کہ تجھ بن نہیں کوئی موجود
jab ke tujh bin naheen koi maujood
When there is none except you in existence,
پھر یہ ہنگامہ اے خدا کیا ہے
phir ye hangama ae Khuda kya hai
Then what, O God, is all this commotion about?
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Naz Khialvi
چھپتے نہیں ہو سامنے آتے نہیں ہو تم
chhupte naheen ho saamne aate naheen ho tum
You neither hide nor come forth
جلوہ دکھا کے جلوہ دکھاتے نہیں ہو تم
jalwa dikha ke jalwa dikhaate naheen ho tum
Even when showing Yourself, You do not show Yourself
دیر و حرم کے جھگڑے مٹاتے نہیں ہو تم
dair-o-haram ke jhagre mitaate naheen ho tum
You do not wipe out quarrels between religions [the temple and mosque]
جو اصل بات ہے وہ بتاتے نہیں ہو تم
jo asal baat hai wo bataate naheen ho tum
You do not say what the actual truth is
حیراں ہوں میرے دل میں سمائے ہو کس طرح
hairaan hoon mere dil mein samaaye ho kis tarah
I am surprised at how You have occupied my heart
حالانکہ دو جہاں میں سماتے نہیں ہو تم
haalaanke do jahaan mein samaate naheen ho tum
Though even the two worlds cannot accommodate You
یہ معبد و حرم یہ کلیسا و دیر کیوں
ye maabad-o-haram ye kaleesa-o-dair kyoon
Why this shrine and mosque, this church and temple?
ہرجائی ہو جبھی تو بتاتے نہیں ہو تم
harjaaii ho jabhi to bataate naheen ho tum
Whenever there is disloyalty, You do not tell us
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

دل پہ حیرت نہیں عجب رنگ جما رکھا ہے
dil pe hairat naheen ajab rang jama rakha hai
It is not astonishment, but a wondrous color that has formed on my heart
اک الجھی ہوئی تصویر بنا رکھا ہے
ek uljhi hui tasveer bana rakha hai
You have drawn up a confused picture
کچھ سمجھ میں نہیں آتا کہ یہ چکّر کیا ہے
kuchh samajh mein naheen aata ke ye chakkar kya hai
I do not understand what this whole matter is
کھیل کیا تم نے ازل سے یہ رچا رکھا ہے
khel kya tum ne azal se ye racha rakha hai
What is this game you have fabricated since eternity?
روح کو جسم کے پنجرے کا بنا کر قیدی
rooh ko jism ke pinjre ka bana kar qaidi
Having made the soul a prisoner to the body,
اس پہ پھر موت کا پہرا بھی بٹھا رکھا ہے
us pe phir maut ka pehra bhi bitha rakha hai
You have then placed it in the custody of death
دے کے تدبیر کے پنچھی کو اڑانیں تم نے
de ke tadbeer ke panchhi ko uraanen tum ne
Having given the bird of Your plan flights
دامِ تقدیر میں ہر سمت بچھا رکھا ہے
daam-e-taqdeer mein har samt bichha rakha hai
You have placed the trap of destiny for it on each side
کر کے آرائشیں کونین کی برسوں تم نے
kar ke aaraaishen kaunain ki barson tum ne
Having decorated the two worlds for eons
ختم کرنے کا بھی منصوبہ بنا رکھا ہے
khatam karne ka bhi mansooba bana rakha hai
You have also established a plan for destruction
لا مکانی کا بہرحال ہے دعوہ بھی تمہیں
la-makaani ka bahar-haal hai daawa bhi tumhein
Though in any case you claim to be without a home
نَحْنُ اَقْرَب کا بھی پیغام سنا رکھا ہے
nahnu aqrab ka bhi paighaam suna rakha hai
You have also told us the message of “We are nearer…” [Qur’an 50:16]
یہ برائی وہ بھلائی یہ جہنم وہ بہشت
ye buraai wo bhalai ye jahannum wo bahisht
This badness, that goodness, this hell, that heaven
اس الٹ پھیر میں فرماؤ تو کیا رکھا ہے
is ulat pher mein farmaao to kya rakha hai
Do explain to me, what is the point of this jumbled mess?
جرم آدم نے کیا اور سزا بیٹوں کو
jurm Aadam ne kiya aur saza beton ko
Adam sinned, yet his children were given the punishment
عدل و انصاف کا معیار بھی کیا رکھا ہے
adal-o-insaaf ka meyaar bhi kya rakha hai
What kind of standard of equity and justice have You kept?
دے کے انسان کو دنیا میں خلافت اپنی
de ke insaan ko dunya mein khilaafat apni
By giving mankind Your viceregency on Earth,
اک تماشہ سا زمانے میں بنا رکھا ہے
ik tamaasha sa zamaane mein bana rakha hai
You have created a spectacle in the world
اپنی پہچان کی خاطر ہے بنایا سب کو
apni pehchaan ki khaatir hai banaaya sab ko
You made everyone for the sake of recognizing You
سب کی نظروں سے مگر خود کو چھپا رکھا ہے
sab ki nazron se magar khud ko chhupa rakha hai
But You have hidden Yourself from everyone’s vision
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

نت نئے نقش بناتے ہو مٹا دیتے ہو
nit naye naqsh banaate ho mita dete ho
Continuously you make and erase new designs
جانے کس جرمِ تمنّا کی سزا دیتے ہو
jaane kis jurm-e-tamanna ki saza dete ho
Who knows which crime of desire You punish us for
کبھی کنکر کو بنا دیتے ہو ہیرے کی کنی
kabhi kankar ko bana dete ho heere ki kani
At times you turn pebbles into a mine of diamonds
کبھی ہیروں کو بھی مٹّی میں ملا دیتے ہو
kabhi heeron ko bhi mitti mein mila dete ho
At times you merge even diamonds back into the soil
زندگی کتنے ہی مردوں کو عطا کی جس نے
zindagi kitne hi murdon ko ata ki jis ne
He who gave life to so many corpses
وہ مسیحا بھی صلیبوں پہ سجا دیتے ہو
wo maseeha bhi saleebon pe saja dete ho
Even that Messiah You adorn on crucifixes
خواہشِ دید جو کر بیٹھے سرِ طور کوئی
khwaahish-e-deed jo kar baithe sar-e-toor koi
If someone sits on Mount Sinai with the wish of seeing You
طور ہی برقِ تجلّی سے جلا دیتے ہو
toor hi barq-e-tajalli se jala dete ho
You burn Mount Sinai down with a bolt of brightness
نارِ نمرود میں ڈلواتے ہو خود اپنا خلیل
naar-e-Namrood mein dalwaate khud apna khaleel
You Yourself get Your friend [Abraham] thrown into the fire of Nimrod
خود ہی پھر نار کو گلزار بنا دیتے ہو
khud hi phir naar ko gulzaar bana dete ho
But then You Yourself turn the fire into a bed of roses
چاہِ کنعان میں پھینکو کبھی ماہِ کنعاں
chaah-e-kanaan mein phenko kabhi maah-e-kanaan
You throw the Moon of Canaan [Joseph] into the well of Canaan
نور یعقوب کی آنکھوں کا بجھا دیتے ہو
noor Yaaqoob ki aankhon ka bujha dete ho
You thereby extinguish the light from Jacob’s eyes [making him blind]
بیچو یوسف کو کبھی مصر کے بازاروں میں
becho Yoosuf ko kabhi misr ke baazaaron mein
Sometimes you sell Joseph in the bazaars of Egypt
آخر کار شہِ مصر بنا دیتے ہو
aakhir-kaar shah-e-misr bana dete ho
But ultimately you make him the king of Egypt
جذب و مستی کی جو منزل پہ پہنچتا ہے کوئی
jazb-o-masti ki jo manzil pe pohanchta hai koi
When one reaches the height of divine absorption and intoxication
بیٹھ کر دل میں انا الحق کی صدا دیتے ہو
baith kar dil mein ana-al haqq ki sada dete ho
Sitting in his heart, you give voice to the words “I am the truth!”
خود ہی لگواتے ہو پھر کفر کے فتوے اس پر
khud hi lagwaate ho phir kufr ke fatwe us par
Then You Yourself place charges of blasphemy on him
خود ہی منصور کو سولی پہ چڑھا دیتے ہو
khud hi Mansoor ko sooli pe charha dete ho
You Yourself make Mansoor hang by the noose
اپنی ہستی بھی وہ اک روز گنوا بیٹھتا ہے
apni hasti bhi wo ik roz ganwa baithta hai
One day he too loses his life
اپنے درشن کی لگن جس کو لگا دیتے ہو
apne darshan ki lagan jis ko laga dete ho
Whomever you give the desire of Your sight
کوئی رانجھا جو کبھی کھوج میں نکلے تیری
koi Raanjha jo kabhi khoj mein nikle teri
If some Ranjha departs on a search for You
تم اسے جھنگ کے بیلے میں رلا دیتے ہو
tum use Jhang ke bele mein rula dete ho
You torment him in the forests of Jhang
جستجو لے کے تمہاری جو چلے قیس کوئی
justajoo le ke tumhaari jo chale Qais koi
If some Qais embarks on a quest for You,
اس کو مجنوں کسی لیلیٰ کا بنا دیتے ہو
us ko Majnoon kisi Laila ka bana dete ho
You turn him into a madman for some Laila
جوت سسّی کے اگر من میں تمہاری جاگے
jot Sassi ke agar man mein tumhaari jaage
If love for You awakens in Sassi’s heart
تم اسے تپتے ہوئے تھل میں جلا دیتے ہو
tum use tapte hue thal mein jala dete ho
You burn her in the scorching desert
سوہنی گر تم کو مہینوال تصوّر کر لے
Sohni gar tum ko Maheenwaal tasawwur kar le
If Sohni imagines You as Mahiwal
اس کو بکھری ہوئی لہروں میں بہا دیتے ہو
us ko bikhri hui lehron mein baha dete ho
You drown her in the frenzied waves
خود جو چاہو تو سرِ عرش بلا کر محبوب
khud jo chaho to sar-e-arsh bula kar mehboob
If You desire then You can summon Your beloved to the highest heavens
ایک ہی رات میں معراج کرا دیتے ہو
ek hi raat mein mairaaj kara dete ho
In just one night, you complete the Nightly Journey to Heaven [of Muhammad]
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

آپ ہی اپنا پردہ ہو
aap hi apna parda ho
You are Your own veil
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

جو کہتا ہوں مانا تمہیں لگتا ہے برا سا
jo kehta hoon maana tumhein lagta hai bura sa
Granted, what I say seems bad to You
پھر بھی ہے مجھے تم سے بہرحال گلا سا
phir bhi hai mujhe tum se bahar-haal gila sa
But still, I have a complaint to you in any case
چپ چاپ رہے دیکھتے تم عرشِ بریں پر
chup-chaap rahe dekhte tum arsh-e-bareen par
You remained quiet, looking from the Sublime Throne at
تپتے ہوئے کربل میں محمد کا نواسہ
tapte hue Karbal mein Muhammad ka nawaasa
Muhammad’s grandson [Hussein] in burning Karbala
کس طرح پلاتا تھا لہو اپنا وفا کا
kis tarah pilaata tha lahoo apna wafa ko
How he let his blood become a drink of loyalty
خود تین دنوں سے وہ اگرچہ تھا پیاسہ
khud teen dinon se wo agarche tha pyaasa
Even though he had been thirsty for three days
دشمن تو بہرحال تھے دشمن مگر افسوس
dushman to bahar-haal the dushman magar afsos
The enemy was, after all, the enemy – but how sad it is
تم نے بھی فراہم نہ کیا پانی ذرا سا
tum ne bhi faraaham na kiya paani zara sa
That You did not provide even a little bit of water
ہر ظلم کی توفیق ہے ظالم کی وراثت
har zulm ki taufeeq hai zaalim ki viraasat
The bounty for every cruelty is the inheritance of the oppressor
مظلوم کے حصّے میں تسلّی نہ دلاسہ
mazloom ke hisse mein tasalli na dilaasa
But the oppressed is given neither consolation nor comfort
کل تاج سجا دیکھا تھا جس شخص کے سر پر
kal taaj saja dekha tha jis shakhs ke sar par
Yesterday, the individual who had a crown adorning his head
ہے آج اسی شخص کے ہاتھوں میں ہکاسہ
hai aaj usi shakhs ke haathon mein hikaasa
Today I see a beggar’s bowl in the same individual’s hands
یہ کیا ہے اگر پوچھوں تو کہتے ہو جوابًا
ye kya hai agar poochhoon to kehte ho jawaaban
If I ask what all this is, You say in response:
اس راز سے ہو سکتا نہیں کوئی شناسا
is raaz se ho sakta naheen koi shanaasa
“No one can be acquainted with this secret!”
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

حیرت کی اک دنیا ہو
hairat ki ik dunya ho
You are a world of bewilderment
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Aside
ہر ایک جا پہ ہو لیکن پتہ نہیں معلوم
har ek ja pe ho lekin pata naheen maaloom
You are in each and every place but I do not know your whereabouts
تمہارا نام سنا ہی نشاں نہیں معلوم
tumhaara naam suna hai nishaan naheen maaloom
I have heard your name, but your mark I do not know
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Naz Khialvi
دل سے ارمان جو نکل جائے تو جگنو ہو جائے
dil se armaan jo nikal jaaye to jugnoo ho jaaye
If a wish emerges from the heart it glows like a firefly
اور آنکھوں میں سمٹ آئے تو آنسو ہو جائے
aur aankhon mein simat aaye to aansoo ho jaaye
And if it condenses in the eyes it becomes tears [of joy]
جاپ یا ہو کا جو بیہو کرے ہو میں کھو کر
jaap ya hoo ka jo behoo kare hoo mein kho kar
By getting lost in Him [God] through the repeated chant of“Ya Hoo”
اس کو سلطانیاں مل جائیں وہ باہو ہو جائے
us ko sultaaniyaan mil jaaein wo Baahoo ho jaaye
One receives lordships and becomes like Sultan Bahoo
بال بیکا نہ کسی کا ہو چھری کے نیچے
baal bika na kisi ka ho chhuri ke neeche
Some receive not the slightest of injury under a knife
حلقِ اصغر میں کبھی تیر ترازو ہو جائے
halq-e-asghar mein kabhi teer taraazoo ho jaaye
But at times an arrow in Asghar’s throat becomes the scale [of justice]
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

کس قدر بےنیاز ہو تم بھی
kis qadar be-niyaaz ho tum bhi
How carefree You are, too!
داستانِ دراز ہو تم بھی
daastaan-e-daraaz ho tum bhi
A lengthy saga You are, too!
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

راہِ تحقیق میں ہر گام پہ الجھن دیکھوں
raah-e-tehqeeq mein har gaam pe uljhan dekhoon
On the path of inquiry, I see confusion at every footstep
وہی حالات و خیالات میں انبن دیکھوں
wahi haalaat-o-khayaalaat mein anban dekhoon
I see that discord between circumstances and ideas
بن کے رہ جاتا ہوں تصویر پریشانی کی
ban ke reh jaata hoon tasveer pareshaani ki
I become a picture of distress
غور سے جب بھی کبھی دنیا کے درپن دیکھوں
ghaur se jab bhi kabhi dunya ke darpan dekhoon
Whenever I closely look at the world’s mirror
ایک ہی خاک پہ فطرت کے تضادات اتنے
ek hi khaak pe fitrat ke tazaadaat itne
On one earth, there are so many conflicts of nature
اتنے حصّوں میں بنٹا ایک ہی آنگن دیکھوں
itne hisson mein banta ek hi aangan dekhoon
I see one courtyard divided into so many parts
کہیں زحمت کی سلگتی ہوئی پتجھڑ کا سما
kaheen zehmat ki sulagti hui patjhar ka sama
Somewhere there is the season of the burning autumn of hardship
کہیں رحمت کے برستے ہوئے ساون دیکھوں
kaheen rehmat ke baraste hue saawan dekhoon
Somewhere I see the descending monsoons of mercy
کہیں پھنکارتے دریا کہیں خاموش پہاڑ
kaheen phunkaarte darya kaheen khaamosh pahaar
Somewhere hissing rivers, somewhere silent mountains
کہیں جنگل کہیں صحرا کہیں گلشن دیکھوں
kaheen jangal kaheen sehra kaheen gulshan dekhoon
Somewhere jungle, somewhere desert, somewhere rose gardens I see
خون رلاتا ہے یہ تقسیم کا انداز مجھے
khoon rulaata hai ye taqseem ka andaaz mujhe
This manner of division makes me weep tears of blood
کوئی دھنوان یہاں پر کوئی نردھن دیکھوں
koi dhanwaan yahaan par koi nirdhan dekhoon
Here I see some rich, some poor
دن کے ہاتھوں میں فقط ایک سلگتا سورج
din ke haathon mein faqat ek sulagta sooraj
In day’s hands, there is only one smoldering sun
رات کی مانگ ستراوں سے مزیّن دیکھوں
raat ki maang sitaaron se muzayyan dekhoon
But I see that night’s part is bejeweled with many stars
کہیں مرجھائے ہوئے پھول ہیں سچّائی کے
kaheen murjhaaye hue phool hain sachaai ke
Somewhere there are the withered flowers of truth
اور کہیں جھوٹ کے کانٹوں پہ بھی جوبن دیکھوں
aur kaheen jhoot ke kaanton pe bhi joban dekhoon
And elsewhere I see the thorns of deceit flourishing
شمس کی کھال کہیں کھنچتی نظر آتی ہے
Shams ki khaal kaheen khinchti nazar aati hai
I see Shams’s skin being peeled off somewhere
کہیں سرمد کی اترتی ہوئی گردن دیکھوں
kaheen Sarmad ki utarti hui gardan dekhoon
Somewhere I see Sarmad’s head coming off

رات کیا شے ہے سویرا کیا ہے
raat kya shai hai savera kya hai
What is this thing called night, what is dawn?
یہ اجالا یہ اندھیرا کیا ہے
ye ujaala ye andhera kya hai
What is this light, what is this darkness?
میں بھی نائب ہوں تمہارا آخر
main bhi naaib hoon tumhaara aakhir
After all, I too am Your deputy
کیوں یہ کہتے ہو کہ تیرا کیا ہے
kyoon ye kehte ho ke tera kya hai
Why then do you say, “What is yours?”?
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Aside
دیکھنے والا تجھے کیا دیکھتا
dekhne waala tujhe kya dekhta
What could someone looking for You see?
تو نے ہر رنگ سے پردہ کیا
tu ne har rang se parda kya
You have veiled Yourself in every manner!
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

مسجد مندر یہ مے خانے
masjid mandir ye mai-khaane
Mosque, temple, these taverns
کوئی یہ مانے کوئی وہ مانے
koi ye maane koi wo maane
Some believe in this, some believe in that
سب تیرے ہیں جانا کاشانے
sab tere hain jaana kaashaane
All of them are Your home, Dear
کوئی یہ مانے کوئی وہ مانے
koi ye maane koi wo maane
Some believe in this, some believe in that
اک ہونے کا تیرا قائل ہے
ik hone ka tera qaail hai
One is persuaded of Your existence
انکار پہ کوئی مائل ہے
inkaar pe koi maail hai
Another is inclined towards denial
اصلیت لیکن تو جانے
asliyat lekin tu jaane
But You alone know the reality
کوئی یہ مانے کوئی وہ مانے
koi ye maane koi wo maane
Some believe in this, some believe in that
اک خلق میں شامل کرتا ہے
ik khalq mein shaamil karta hai
One includes You within creation
اک سب سے اکیلا رہتا ہے
ik sab se akela rehta hai
Another stays aloof from the rest
ہیں دونوں تیرے مستانے
hain donon tere mastaane
Both are Your drunken devotees
کوئی یہ مانے کوئی وہ مانے
koi ye maane koi wo maane
Some believe in this, some believe in that
سب ہیں جب عاشق تمہارے نام کے
sab hain jab aashiq tumhaare naam ke
When all are lovers of Your name,
کیوں یہ جھگڑے ہیں رحیم و رام کے
kyoon ye jhagre hain Raheem-o-Raam ke
Why are there quarrels between Rahim and Ram [Muslims and Hindus]?
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

دیر میں تو حرم میں تو عرش پہ تو زمیں پہ تو
dair mein tu haram mein tu arsh pe tu zameen pe tu
You are in the temple, in the mosque, in the heavens, on the ground
جس کی پہنچ جہاں تلک اس کے لیے وہیں پہ تو
jis ki pohanch jahaan talak us ke liye waheen pe tu
However far one’s reach goes, You are there for him
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

ہر اک رنگ میں یکتا ہو
har ik rang mein yakta ho
In every possible aspect, You are unique
تم اک گورکھ دھندا ہو
tum ik gorakh dhanda ho
You are a baffling puzzle

Naz Khialvi
مرکزِ جستجو عالمِ رنگ و بو
markaz-e-justajoo aalam-e-rang-o-boo
The center of our quest, the world of color and scent
دم بدم جلوہ گر تو ہی تو چار سو
dam-ba-dam jalwa-gar tu hi tu chaar soo
In every breath You are manifest, You are on all four sides
ہو کے ماحول میں کچھ نہیں الا ہو
Hoo ke maahaul mein kuchh naheen illa hoo
In God’s surroundings there is nothing but Him
تم بہت دلربا تم بہت خوبرو
tum bohat dilruba tum bohat khoobaroo
You are very enchanting, You are very beautiful
عرش کی عظمتیں فرش کی آبرو
arsh ki azmatein farsh ki aabroo
Glories of heaven, honor of earth
تم ہو کونین کا حاصلِ آرزو
tum ho kaunain ka haasil-e-aarzoo
You are the attainment of the desires of the two worlds
آنکھ نے کر لیا آنسوؤں سے وضو
aankh ne kar liya aansoo’on se wazoo
My eye has performed ablutions with tears
اب تو کر دو عـطا دید کا اک سبو
ab to kar do ata deed ka ik suboo
Now at least grant me a small proof of Your presence
آؤ پردے سے تم آنکھ کے روبرو
aao parde se tum aankh ke roo-ba-roo
Come out from Your veil, face-to-face with my eye
چند لمحے ملن دو گھڑی گفتگو
chand lamhe milan do ghari guftagoo
For a few moments of union, two hours of discussion
نازؔ جپتا پھرے جابجا کوبکو
Naaz japta phire ja-ba-ja koo-ba-koo
Naz will mutter in devotion, in every place and every alley,
وَحْدَہُ وَحْدَہُ لا شَریكَ لَهُ
wahdahoo wahdahoo la shareeka lahoo
“He is one, He is one, He has no partner!

اللہ هو اللہ هو اللہ هو اللہ هو
Allah hoo Allah hoo Allah hoo Allah hoo
God is, God is, God is, God is!”

Top 5 Versions of “Tajdar-e-Haram”

In no particular order, here is my list of the top five versions of the qawwali “Tajdar-e-Haram”. You can find my full translation of the poetry here. The original by the Sabri Brothers is obviously very hard to match, but I think others have also done justice to it. Post any more versions of “Tajdar-e-Haram” that you enjoy in the comments!

1. The Timeless Original by the Sabri Brothers

Highlights: The original is always the original, and here the Sabri Brothers are at their best. The two brothers’ voices are very distinct and complementary. They show their musical mastery in this qawwali by repeatedly varying the pace and volume, taking listeners on a journey.

2. The Second Generation by Amjad Sabri & Shahi Hasan

Highlights: Amjad Sabri ventures out of traditional qawwali in this soulful collaboration with Shahi Hasan. It’s an amazing composition in its own right, with lots of overlapping vocal tracks, and the female background vocals at the beginning are really mesmerizing.

3. The Coke Studio Rendition by Atif Aslam (2015)

Highlights: Atif’s Coke Studio version is also not traditional qawwali, but it includes a wider array of instruments that enhance the song. At times, the emotion in his unique voice really comes through.

4. The Indian Masters’ Version by Sonu Nigam & Sukhwinder Singh (1992)

Highlights: This is a really cool (and rare) rendition by two of Bollywood’s most famous singers, Sonu Nigam and Sukhwinder Singh. While not focusing on the raw and spontaneous nature of traditional qawwali, this version lets their amazing, highly-trained voices shine.

5. The Thunderous Tribute by Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad (2016)

Highlights: Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad paid tribute to the Sabri Brothers and Amjad Sabri through a more traditional performance. This version is loud and powerful, with excellent percussion (check out the vocals at 0:49 and the change in beat at 17:58).

Lyrics, Translation, and Explanation of “Tajdar-e-Haram”

“Tajdar-e-Haram” is a popular qawwali most famously performed by the late Sabri Brothers, Ghulam Farid Sabri (1930-1994) and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (1945-2011), from Pakistan. The titular Urdu poem is attributed to Hakim Mirza Madani and Habib Madani (or H.B. Madani), both of whom are difficult to identify. Given the takhallus in the last line, it is clear that someone named Habib wrote the verses. It is important to note that the long version by the Sabri Brothers that is translated here includes verses in multiple languages from several authors.

This qawwali would fall under the category of naat (praise of the prophet Muhammad), since it serves as a plea to Muhammad to bestow his mercy on the needy. Excerpts from quite a few naats are recited by the Sabri Brothers. The primary one that they repeatedly return to, of course, is the Urdu poem “Tajdar-e-Haram”. Another Urdu naat is by the famous Pakistani poet, Muzaffar Warsi (1933-2011), who also wrote the hamd (praise of God) titled “Wohi Khuda Hai”. Plus, a Persian line from the poem “Marhaba Sayyidi Makki Madani” by Muhammad Jaan Qudsi Mashhadi (-1646), the poet laureate of the Mughal Empire under Shah Jahan, is also recited.

Continuing with naats, the opening and another section are by Maulana Jami (1414-1492), a Sufi theologian and poet from modern-day Afghanistan. There are also a few lines in Arabic from a poem written by Zain al-Abideen (659-713), a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and the fourth Shia imam. Following the same theme as “Tajdar-e-Haram”, these two excerpts involve a hapless person asking the morning breeze (“Saba”) to carry his message seeking forgiveness to Muhammad’s tomb in Madinah.

The Sabri Brothers also recite a few excerpts from “Zihaal-e-Miskeen”, a celebrated poem by Ameer Khusrau (1253-1325), who was a Sufi disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya and the father of qawwali. Interestingly, “Zihaal-e-Miskeen” alternates languages, with one line in Persian followed by one line in Braj Bhasha (a dialect of Hindi-Urdu). Furthermore, another part of this qawwali is possibly from a Purbi poem by Bhai Mardana (1459–1534), a companion of the Sikh leader Guru Nanak. Both of these excerpts follow the Sufi theme of a person lamenting their separation from their beloved, who in the context of this qawwali is Muhammad.

Since this qawwali is so complex, I have done my best to indicate the language and author of each section wherever I could. I’d like to thank Ammar Kalimullah for helping with some of the more difficult parts of the translation.

Correction: This post previously incorrectly attributed “Tajdar-e-Haram” to Purnam Allahabadi. Purnam wrote a different poem titled “Sultan-e-Haram”. Please forgive the error.

A few notes that might help in understanding this qawwali:

* Taajdaar-e-Haram, Mustafa, Mujtaba, Sayyid, Tayyib, Saaqi-e-Kausar, Aaqa, and Arab ke Kunwar are all different names and titles used to address Muhammad.

* In Sufi poetry, concepts related to wine are often used metaphorically. In “Tajdar-e-Haram”, the wine drinkers being called to Madinah are those who are intoxicated by a divine love for the prophet Muhammad and for God. The prophet acts as a wine-pourer, i.e. as the guide facilitating a close relationship with the divine. Specifically, he is mentioned as the wine-pourer of Kausar (or Kawthar). Kausar is a body of water (sometimes called a “lake-fount”) in heaven that was promised to Muhammad in a Qur’anic revelation. In this poem, when he fills the cups of his followers with drink, he is replenishing their spirituality.

* The daaman that is filled refers to a concept similar to that of the jholi in “Bhar Do Jholi”. Literally, a daaman would be the hem of a long South Asian garment. Folding up and holding one’s daaman to form a sort of pouch is a way of begging for money. Since Muhammad is believed to have been generous to the poor, this qawwali mentions how he fills up the daaman of all those who come to his door. At the same time, the other meaning is that everyone is metaphorically a beggar asking for and receiving the prophet’s alms, i.e. his forgiveness.

Persian (Jami)
صبا تحیتِ شوقم بہ آن جناب رسان
saba tahiyat-e-shauqam ba aan janaab rasaan
O morning breeze! Carry my passionate greetings to His Holiness [Muhammad]!
حدیثِ ذرۂ مسکین بہ آفتاب
hadees-e-zarra-e-miskeen ba aaftaab rasaan
Carry the word of a wretched atom to the glorious sun!
ترا مقام کہ آرام گاہِ اقدسِ اوست
tura maqaam ke aaraam-gaah-e-aqdas-e-oost
Since your destination is his holiest of all resting places,
زمین ببوس و سلامِ منِ خراب رسان
zameen bi-bos o salaam-e-man-e-kharaab rasaan
Kiss the ground and convey the greetings of this sinner there!

Urdu
قسمت میں مری چین سے جینا لکھ دے
qismat mein meri chain se jeena likh de
Ordain for me a fate of living in peace!
ڈوبے نہ کبھی میرا سفینہ لکھ دے
ḍoobe na kabhi mera safeena likh de
May my ship never sink – write it!
جنت بھی گوارہ ہے مگر میرے لیے
jannat bhi gawaara hai magar mere liye
Paradise, too, is desirable, but for me,
اے کاتبِ تقدیر مدینہ لکھ دے
ae kaatib-e-taqdeer madeena likh de
O Writer of Destiny [God], inscribe Madinah!

تاجدارِ حرم ہو نگاہِ کرم
taajdaar-e-haram ho nigaah-e-karam
O King of the Holy Sanctuary [Muhammad], spare a glance of mercy!
ہم غریبوں کے دن بھی سنور جائیں گے
ham ghareebon ke din bhi sanwar jaaen ge
Even we, the downtrodden, will see our days turn for the better!

Persian (Qudsi Mashhadi)
چشمِ رحمت بکشا سوئے من انداز نظر
chashm-e-rehmat bi-kusha soo-e-man andaaz nazar
Open the eye of mercy, and cast a glance towards me,
اے قریشی لقبی ہاشمی و مطلبی
ae Qureshi Laqabi Hashimi o Muttalibi
O Qurayshi, you who are titled Hashemite and Muttalibite!

Urdu
تاجدارِ حرم ہو نگاہِ کرم
taajdaar-e-haram ho nigaah-e-karam
O King of the Holy Sanctuary, spare a glance of mercy!

Persian
یا رسول اللہ به احوالِ خرابِ ما ببین
ya Rasoolullah ba-ahwaal-e-kharaab-e-maa bi-been
O Prophet of God, look at our devastated conditions!
رو بہ خاک افتاده ام از شرمِ عصیان بر زمین
roo ba-khaak uftaada-am az sharm-e-isiyan bar zameen
I have fallen, with my face in the ground, from the shame of sin.
مذنبِ چون من نباشد در تمامِ امتت
muznib-e-choon man nabaashad dar tamaam-e-ummatat
There is no sinner like me in your entire community –
رحم کن بر حالِ ما یَا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِین
reham kun bar haal-e-ma ya rehmatal-lil-aalameen
Bestow mercy on my condition, O mercy for the worlds!

Urdu
تاجدارِ حرم ہو نگاہِ کرم
taajdaar-e-haram ho nigaah-e-karam
O King of the Holy Sanctuary, spare a glance of mercy!

Persian & Braj Bhasha (Khusrau)
ز حالِ مسکین مکن تغافل
zihaal-e-miskeen makun taghaaful
Do not neglect the condition of this wretched one,
دورائے نیناں بنائے بتیاں
doraaye nainaan banaaye batiyaan
By averting your eyes and making up stories!
کہ تا بِ ہجران ندارم اے جان
ke taab-e-hijraan nadaaram ae jaan
For I cannot tolerate separation, my dear.
نہ لیہو کاہے لگائے چھتیاں
na leho kaahe lagaaye chhatiyaan
Why do you not embrace me?
چون شمعِ سوزان چون ذره حيران
choon sham-e-sozaan choon zarra hairaan
Like a burning candle, like a bewildered atom,
ہميشہ گريان با عشقِ آن مہ
hamesha giryaan ba ishq-e-aan meh
I always weep out of love for that moon [i.e. the beloved].
نہ نیند نیناں نہ انگ چیناں
na neend nainaan na ang chainaan
Neither sleep for my eyes nor rest for my body,
نہ آپ آویں نہ بھیجیں پتیاں
na aap aaven na bhejen patiyaan
And you neither come to me nor send letters!

Urdu
جو جانے والے مدینے کے ہیں سنیں وہ ذرا
jo jaane waale madeene ke hain sunein woh zara
Listen, all those who are on their way to Madinah!
شہِ مدینہ سے اتنا ضرور کہہ دینا
shah-e-madeena se itna zaroor keh dena
Make sure to tell the King of Madinah
کہ ایک زخمی ءِ تیرِ نگاہ نظر جو پڑا
ke ek zakhmi-e-teer-e-nigeh nazar jo para
That when one wounded by the arrow of your glance saw you,
تڑپ تڑپ کے وہ کہتا تھا یا رسول اللہ
tarap tarap ke woh kehta tha ya rasool Allah
He would restlessly would call out, “O Messenger of God!”

Purbi (Mardana)
توری پریت میں سدھ بدھ سب بسری
tori preet mein sudh budh sab bisri
In your love, I have lost all sense of consciousness;
کب تک یہ رہے گی بےخبری
kab tak ye rahe gi be-khabri
How long will state of unknowing last?
گاہے بفگن دزدیدہ نظر
gaahe bifigan duzdeeda nazar
Cast a stolen glance towards me sometime!
کبھی سن بھی تو لو ہمری بتیاں
kabhi sun bhi to lo hamri batiyaan
Listen to what I too have to say sometime!

Urdu
تاجدارِ حرم ہو نگاہِ کرم
taajdaar-e-haram ho nigaah-e-karam
O King of the Holy Sanctuary, spare a glance of mercy!

Urdu
کہنا صبا حضور سے کہتا ہے ایک غلام
kehna saba huzoor se kehta hai ek ghulaam
O morning breeze, tell the Prophet that a servant of his pleads,
بس ایک نظر ہو ایک نطر کا سوال ہے
bas ek nazar ho ek nazar ka sawaal hai
“Spare a glance, tis a matter of just one glance!”

Arabic
یَا مُصْطَفیٰ یَا مُجْتَبیٰ إِرْحَمْ لَنَا إِرْحَمْ لَنَا
ya Mustafa ya Mujtaba irham lana irham lana
O Mustafa, O Mujtaba, have mercy on us, have mercy on us!
یَا مُصْطَفیٰ یَا سَیِّد
ya Mustafa ya sayyid
O Mustafa, O master,
مُطَهَّر مُنَوَّر في الْبَیْتِ وَالْحَرَم
mutahhar munawwar fil baiti wal haram
Purified and enlightened in the House and Sanctuary [of God, i.e. the Kaaba]!
یَا طَیِّب، اللہ
ya tayyib – Allah
O pure one – Allah!
یَا مُصْطَفیٰ یَا سَیِّد
ya Mustafa ya sayyid
O Mustafa, O master,
یَا مُصْطَفیٰ، صَلِّ عَلٰی
ya Mustafa – salli ala
O Mustafa – upon [him] be blessings!
یَا رَسُولُ اللہ یَا حَبِیبُ اللہ
ya Rasoolullah ya Habibullah
O Prophet of God, O Beloved of God!

Urdu (Warsi)
پھر گدڑیوں کو لال دے، جان پتھرون میں ڈال دے
phir gudriyon ko laal de, jaan patharon mein daal de
Give rubies to the rags once again, and give life to stones.
حاوی ہو مستقبل پہ ہم، ماضی سا ہم کو حال دے
haavi ho mustaqbil pe ham, maazi sa ham ko haal de
You comprehend our future, give us a condition like the past!
دعوٰی ہے تیری چاہ کا
daava hai teri chaah ka
This is a call for your favor!
اِس اُمتِ گمراہ کا تیرے سوا کوئی نہیں
is ummat-e-gumraah ka tere siwa koi naheen
For your this astray community of yours, there is no one but you,
یَا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِین
ya rehmatal-lil-aalameen
O mercy for the worlds!

Arabic
یَا مُصْطَفیٰ، صَلِّ عَلٰی
ya Mustafa – salli ala
O Mustafa – upon [him] be blessings!

Arabic & Persian (Jami)
یَا مُصْطَفیٰ یَا مُجْتَبیٰ إِرْحَمْ لَنَا إِرْحَمْ لَنَا
ya Mustafa ya Mujtaba irham lana irham lana
O Mustafa, O Mujtaba, have mercy on us, have mercy on us!
دستِ ہمہ بیچارہ را دامان توئی دامان توئی
dast-e-hama bechaara raa daamaan tu-yii daamaan tu-yii
For the hands of all helpless ones, you are the hem [to grasp]!
من عاصیم من عاجزم من بےکسم
man aasiyam man aajizam man be-kasam
I am a sinner, feeble and alone.
حالِ مرا یا شافعِ روزِ جزا پرسان توئی پرسان توئی
haal-e-maraa ya shaafi-e-rooz-e-jaza pursaan tu-yii pursaan tu-yii
O intercessor on Judgment Day, only you ask about my condition!

Persian
اے مشک بید عنبر فشان
ae mushk-bed ambar fishaan
O musk-willow, spraying fragrance!
پیکِ نسیمِ صبحدم
paik-e-naseem-e-subah-dam
O courier of the sweet morning breeze!
اے چارہ گر عیسٰی نفس
ae chaara-gar Eesaa nafas
O healer with the breath of Jesus!
اے مونسِ بیمارِ غم
ae moonis-e-beemaar-e-gham
O consoler of the grief-stricken!
اے قاسدِ فرخندہ پا
ae qaasid-e-farkhunda pa
O messenger with auspicious feet!

Urdu
تجھ کو اُسی گل کی قسم
tujh ko usi gul ki qasam
I swear to you by that same fragrance!

Arabic (Zain al-Abideen)
إنْ نَلٗتِ يَا رِيح الٗصَّبَا
in nalti ya reeh as-saba
O morning breeze, if you go
يَوْمًا إِلٰى أَرْضِ الْحَرَم
yauman ila ard il-haram
To the sacred land someday,
بَلِّغْ سَلَامِي رَوْضَةً
balligh salaami rauzatan
Carry my greetings to the grave
فِيهَا الْنَّبِيُّ الْمُحْتَرَم
feehan-nabiy-yul-muhtaram
In which rests the revered Prophet.

Urdu
تاجدارِ حرم ہو نگاہِ کرم
taajdaar-e-haram ho nigaah-e-karam
O King of the Holy Sanctuary, spare a glance of mercy!
ہم غریبوں کے دن بھی سنور جائیں گے
ham ghareebon ke din bhi sanwar jaaen ge
Even we, the downtrodden, will see our days turn for the better!
حامیِ بےکساں کیا کہے گا جہاں
haami-e-be-kasaan kya kahe ga jahaan
O Protector of the Helpless, what will the world say
آپ کے در سے خالی اگر جائیں گے
aap ke dar se khaali agar jaaen ge
If we leave empty-handed from your door?

کوئی اپنا نہیں غم کے مارے ہیں ہم
koi apna naheen gham ke maare hain ham
We have nobody to call our own and are afflicted with grief –
آپ کے در پہ فریاد لائے ہیں ہم
aap ke dar pe fariyaad laaye hain ham
To your door we have come with our plea!
ہو نگاہِ کرم ورنہ چوکھٹ پہ ہم
ho nigaah-e-karam warna chaukhat pe ham
Spare us a merciful glance, else at your doorstop,
آپ کا نام لے لے کے مر جائیں گے
aap ka naam le le ke mar jaaen ge
We will perish crying your name!

Urdu
مے کشوں آؤ آؤ مدینے چلیں
mai-kashon aao aao madeene chalen
Come, wine drinkers, let’s go to Madinah!
آؤ مدینے چلیں
aao madeene chalen
Come, let’s go to Madinah!
اِسی مہینے چلیں
isi maheene chalen
Let’s go this very month!
آؤ مدینے چلیں
aao madeene chalen
Come, let’s go to Madinah!

جب سال کے قریب مہینے پہنچ گئے
jab saal ke qareeb maheene pahunch gaye
When the number of months spent [in travel] reached nearly a year,
جدے میں عاشقوں کے سفینے پہنچ گئے
jadde mein aashiqon ke safeene pahunch gaye
In Jeddah the ships of those lovers [of Muhammad] arrived.
جن کو طلب کیا ہے
jin ko talab kiya hai
Those whom he summons…
جسے چاہا در پہ بلا لیا
jise chaaha dar pe bula liya
Whomever he wills he calls to his door.
جسے چاہا اپنا بنا لیا
jise chaaha apna bana liya
Whomever he wills he makes his own.
یہ بڑے کرم کے ہیں فیصلے
ye bare karam ke hain faisle
These are decisions of great mercy,
یہ بڑے نصیب کی بات ہے
ye bare naseeb ki baat hai
And this is a matter of great fortune!
جن کو طلب کیا ہے مدینے پہنچ گئے
jin ko talab kiya hai Madeene pahunch gaye
Those whom he summoned reached Madinah.
پیاسے تھے سال کے پینے پہنچ گئے
pyaase the saal ke peene pahunch gaye
Thirsty for a year, they arrived to take a drink!
پڑھتے ہوئے درود مدینے پہنچ گئے
parhte hue durood Madeene pahunch gaye
Whilst reciting prayers for the Prophet, they reached Madinah!

تجلیوں کی عجب ہے فضا مدینے میں
tajalliyon ki ajab hai fiza madeene mein
The wonder of divine manifestations is in the air of Madinah!
نگاہِ شوق کی ہے انتہا مدینے میں
nigaah-e-shauq ki hai intiha madeene mein
The zealous and ever-seeking gaze finds fulfilment in Madinah!
غمِ حیات نہ خوفِ قضا مدینے میں
gham-e-hayaat na khauf-e-qaza madeene mein
Neither sorrows of life nor fear of death exist in Madinah!
نمازِ عشق کریں گے ادا مدینے میں
namaaz-e-ishq karen ge ada madeene men
We will offer our prayer of love in Madinah!

اِدھر اُدھر نہ بھٹکتے پھرو خدا کے لیے
idhar udhar na bhatakte phiro Khuda ke liye
Don’t wander to and fro, for God’s sake,
براہِ راست ہے راہِ خدا مدینے میں
ba-raah-e-raast hai raah-e-Khuda madeene mein
As the path to God is clear and direct in Madinah!

مے کشوں آؤ آؤ مدینے چلیں
mai-kashon aao aao madeene chalen
Come, wine drinkers, let’s go to Madinah!
دستِ ساقی ءِ کوثر سے پینے چلیں
dast-e-saaqi-e-Kausar se peene chalen
Let’s go drink from the hand of the Wine-Pourer of Kausar!

Urdu
یاد رکھو اگر اُٹھ گئی ایک نظر
yaad rakho agar uth gayi ek nazar
Keep in mind that if he looks up just once
جتنے خالی ہیں سب جام بھر جائیں گے
jitne khaali hain sab jaam bhar jaaen ge
All the empty wine cups will suddenly be filled!

خوفِ طوفان ہے بجلیوں کا ہے ڈر
khauf-e-toofaan hai bijliyon ka hai dar
We have a storm to fear and lightning to dread
سخت مشکل ہے آقا کدھر جائیں ہم
sakht mushkil hai aaqa kidhar jaaen ham
Our misery is severe, Master, where should we turn?
آپ ہی گر نہ لیں گے ہماری خبر
aap hi gar na lein ge hamaari khabar
If even you will not take notice of our condition,
ہم مصیبت کے مارے کدھر جائیں گے
ham museebat ke maare kidhar jaaen ge
Where will we, suffering from calamities, go?

آپ کے در سے کوئی نہ خالی گیا
aap ke dar se koi na khaali gaya
No one has ever left your door empty-handed;
اپنے دامن کو بھر کے سوالی گیا
apne daaman ko bhar ke sawaali gaya
Each seeker returned with his daaman filled.
ہو حبیبِ حزین پر بھی آقا نظر
ho habeeb-e-hazeen par bhi aaqa nazar
Also look upon this sorrowful lover, master,
ورنہ اوراقِ ہستی بکھر جائیں گے
warna auraaq-e-hasti bikhar jaaen ge
Else the pages of my existence will scatter away!

Urdu
بندہ پرور نگاہِ کرم کیجیے
banda-parwar nigaah-e-karam kijiye
O sustainer of mankind, look upon me mercifully!
اب نہ کچھ امتحانِ وفا لیجیے
ab na kuch imtihaan-e-wafa lijiye
Do not take any more tests of my loyalty!
مجھ کو اقرار ہے میں گناہگار ہوں
mujh ko iqraar hai main gunaahgaar hoon
I have given my confession that I am a sinner.
مجھ کو کملی میں اپنی چھپا لیجیے
mujh ko kamli mein apni chhupa lijiye
Hide me within your cloak!

Urdu
آپ کے در سے کوئی نہ خالی گیا
aap ke dar se koi na khaali gaya
No one has ever left your door empty-handed;
اپنے دامن کو بھر کے سوالی گیا
apne daaman ko bhar ke sawaali gaya
Each seeker returned with his daaman filled.
ہو حبیبِ حزین پر بھی آقا نظر
ho habeeb-e-hazeen par bhi aaqa nazar
Also look upon this sorrowful lover, master,
ورنہ اوراقِ ہستی بکھر جائیں گے
warna auraaq-e-hasti bikhar jaaen ge
Or else the pages of my existence will scatter away!

تاجدارِ حرم
taajdaar-e-haram
O King of the Holy Sanctuary!

While not in this version, I have heard the following lines in other performances of this qawwali, so I have translated them as well:

Purbi (Mardana)
کا تم سے کہوں اے عرب کے کنور
ka tum se kahoon ae arab ke kunwar
What is there to tell you, O Prince of Arabia,
تم جانت ہو من کی بتیاں
tum jaanat ho man ki batiyaan
You know what is in my heart!
دارِ فرقتِ تو اے اُمی لقب
daar-e-furqat-e-tu ae ummi-laqab
O you known as the Unlettered One, while in separation from you,
کاٹے نہ کٹت ہیں اب رتیاں
kaaṭe na katat hain ab ratiyaan
My nights do not pass now!

Urdu
دکھ رنج و الم سب چھٹتے ہیں
dukh ranj o alam sab chhat’te hain
Sadness, agony, and suffering are all escaped
حسنین کے صدقے بٹتے ہیں
Hasnain ke sadqe bat’te hain
As the charity of Hassan and Hussein is distributed!

Lyrics, Translation, and Explanation of “Bhar Do Jholi”

Sufi devotional music has a long and rich history in South Asia. One of its major forms is qawwali (Urdu: قوالی), which originated at the shrines of Sufi saints centuries ago. The content of qawwalis is either religious or romantic poetry (or both, as per the Sufi influence). Those who sing qawwali are known as qawwals. A party of qawwals includes a lead singer (or two), accompanied by side singers, clappers, a harmonium or two, and tabla and dholak drums. Qawwali songs are traditionally very long, as they involve a lot of repetition of lyrics. They often begin slowly and increase in energy gradually. The singing of notes instead of words, sargam (Urdu: سرگم), is usually intertwined with the lyrics of the composition. Overall, qawwali is a mystical and hypnotic kind of music that can be spiritually awakening. It appeals to many people, and one need not be religious to appreciate it.

“Bhar Do Jholi” is a popular qawwali most famously performed by the late Sabri Brothers, Ghulam Farid Sabri (1930-1994) and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (1945-2011), from Pakistan. It was written by Purnam Allahabadi and is mainly a praise of the Prophet Muhammad (naat), though also of his companion Bilal and his grandson Hussein. Purnam Allahabadi (-2009) was the pen name of Mohammed Musa, a prolific Urdu poet, although the performers of his work have gained more fame than he has for it. “Bhar Do Jholi” was published in his book Phool Dekhe Na Gaye (I Could Not Look at Flowers), which you can read online here on Rekhta (it starts on page 21).

The poet/singer of this qawwali takes on the role of a beggar, coming to ask the Prophet Muhammad for food and/or money. Yet, this is only the surface meaning; he is not only begging for physical sustenance but for spiritual sustenance and redemption as well. I have translated the title phrase “bhar do jholi” as “fill my bag”, but that does not convey the meaning totally accurately. Here, “bag” refers to the lower portion of one’s upper garment that beggars fold upward from the bottom corners and hold to fill it with change. So, the narrator of the song is extending his garment out in front of Muhammad to metaphorically have it filled. He also sings in praise of the grandson of Muhammad, Hussein, who was martyred by the tyrant Yazid at the Battle of Karbala. Near the end, he praises Bilal, an Ethiopian slave who was freed by Muhammad’s friend, Abu Bakr, and was chosen by Muhammad to recite the adhan, which is the Islamic call to prayer.

شہِ مدینہ سنو اِلتجا خدا کے لئے
Shah-e-Madeena suno iltija Khuda ke liye
O King of Madinah, hear my plea, for God’s sake
کرم ہو مجھ پہ حبیبِ خدا، خدا کے لئے
karam ho mujh pe Habeeb-e-Khuda Khuda ke liye
Bestow your favor upon me, O Beloved of God, for God’s sake
حضور غنچۂ اُمّید اَب تو کھِل جائے
Huzoor ghuncha-e-ummeed ab to khil jaye
O Prophet, let the bud of my hopes blossom now
تمہارے در کا گدا ہوں تو بھیک مِل جائے
tumhaare dar ka gada hoon to bheek mil jaye
I am a pauper at your door, here to seek alms
بھر دو جھولی میری یا محمد
bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Fill my bag, O Muhammad
لوٹ کر میں نہ جاؤں گا خالی
laut kar main na jaaoon ga khaali
I will not go back empty-handed

تمہارے آستانے سے زمانہ کیا نہیں پاتا
tumhaare aastane se zamaana kya naheen paata
What does the world not receive at your doorstep?
کوئی بھی در سے خالی مانگنے والا نہیں جاتا
koi bhi dar se khaali maangne waala naheen jaata
No one who comes asking at your door leaves empty-handed
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Lord of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری تاجدارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah

تم زمانے کے مختار ہو یا نبی
tum zamaane ke mukhtaar ho ya Nabi
You are the chosen one of the age, O Prophet
بیکسوں کے مددگار ہو یا نبی
bekason ke madadgaar ho ya Nabi
And the helper of the friendless, O Prophet
سب کی سنتے ہو اَپنے ہوں یا غیر ہوں
sab ki sunte ho apne hon ya ghair hon
You listen to everyone, whether they are your own or strangers
تم غریبوں کے غمخوار ہو یا نبی
tum ghareebon ke ghamkhwaar ho ya Nabi
You are the comforter of the poor, O Prophet
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Lord of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری تاجدارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah

ہم ہیں رنج و مصیبت کے مارے ہوئے
ham hain ranj o museebat ke maare huey
I am struck with grief and hardship
سخت مشکل میں ہیں غم سے ہارے ہوئے
sakht muskhil mein hain gham se haare huey
I am in great difficulty, defeated by sorrow
یا نبی کچھ خدا را ہمیں بھیک دو
ya Nabi kuchh Khuda-ra hamein bheek do
O Prophet, give me some alms for the sake of God
در پہ آئے ہیں جھولی پسارے ہوئے
dar pe aaey hain jholi pasaare huey
I have come to your door with my bag stretched open
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Lord of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری تاجدارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah

ہے مخالف زمانہ کدھر جائیں ہم
hai mukhaalif zamaana kidhar jaaein ham
The times are against me, where should I go?
حالتِ بیکسی کس کو دکھلائیں ہم
haalat-e-bekasi kis ko dikhlaaein ham
To whom should I show my state of helplessness?
ہم تمہارے بھکاری ہیں یا مصطفیٰ
ham tumhaare bhikaari hain ya Mustafa
I am your beggar, O Mustafa
کس کے آگے بھلا ہاتھ پھیلائیں ہم
kis ke aage bhala haath phailaaein ham
In front of whom else shall I spread my hands?
بھر دو جھولی میری سرکارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Lord of Madinah
بھر دو جھولی میری تاجدارِ مدینہ
bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena
Fill my bag, Sovereign of Madinah

بھر دو جھولی میری یا محمد
bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Fill my bag, O Muhammad
لوٹ کر میں نہ جاؤں گا خالی
laut kar main na jaaoon ga khaali
I will not go back empty-handed
کچھ نواسوں کا صدقہ عطا ہو
kuchh nawaason ka sadqa ata ho
Let me gain some of your grandsons’ charity
در پہ آیا ہوں بن کر سوالی
dar pe aaya hoon ban kar sawaali
I have come to your door to ask from you

حق سے پائی وہ شانِ کریمی
haq se paai woh shaan-e-kareemi
Rightfully you have attained your beneficent glory
مرحبا دونو عالم کے والی
marhaba Dono Aalam Ke Waali
Welcome, O Master of Both Worlds
اُس کی قسمت کا چمکا ستارہ
us ki qismat ka chamka sitaara
The star of fate shines upon
جس پہ نظرِ کرم تم نے ڈالی
jis pe nazar-e-karam tum ne daali
Whomever you look at with kindness and favor

زندگی بخش دی بندگی کو
zindagi bakhsh di bandagi ko
He sacrificed his life to worship God
آبرو دینِ حق کی بچا لی
aabroo deen-e-haq ki bacha li
And saved the honor of the religion of truth
وہ محمد کا پیارا نواسہ
woh Muhammad ka pyaara nawaasa
That beloved grandson of Muhammad,
جس نے سجدے میں گردن کٹا لی
jis ne sajde mein gardan kata li
Whose neck was cut in prostration

جو اِبنِ مرتضیٰ نے کیا کام خوب ہے
jo Ibn-e-Murtaza ne kiya kaam khoob hai
The deed done by the son of Murtaza is excellent
قربانی ءِ حسین کا انجام خوب ہے
qurbaani-e-Husain ka anjaam khoob hai
The consequence of the sacrifice of Hussein is virtuous
قربان ہو کے فاطمہ زہرا کے چین نے
qurbaan ho ke Faatima Zehra ke chain ne
By sacrificing himself, Fatima Zahra’s source of comfort,
دینِ خدا کی شان بڑھائی حسین نے
deen-e-Khuda ki shaan barhaai Husain ne
Hussein, increased the glory of the religion of God
بخشی ہے جس نے مذہبِ اِسلام کو حیات
bakhshi hai jis ne mazhab-e-Islam ko hayaat
He is the one who gave life to the religion of Islam
کتنی عظیم حضرتِ شبیر کی ہے ذات
kitni azeem Hazrat-e-Shabbeer ki hai zaat
How great is the rank of Hazrat Shabbir!
میدانِ کربلا میں شہِ خوش خصال نے
maidaan-e-Karbala mein Shah-e-Khush Khisaal ne
In the field of Karbala, the King of Good Character,
سجدے میں سر کٹا کے محمد کے لال نے
sajde mein sar kata ke Muhammad ke laal ne
That beloved of Muhammad, was decapitated in prostration
زندگی بخش دی بندگی کو
zindagi bakhsh di bandagi ko
He sacrificed his life to worship God
آبرو دینِ حق کی بچا لی
aabroo deen-e-haq ki bacha li
And saved the honor of the religion of truth
وہ محمد کا پیارا نواسہ
woh Muhammad ka pyaara nawaasa
That beloved grandson of Muhammad,
جس نے سجدے میں گردن کٹا لی
jis ne sajde mein gardan kata li
Whose neck was cut in prostration

حشر میں اُن کو دیکھیں گے جس دم
hashar mein un ko dekhein ge jis dam
The moment they see him (Muhammad) on Armageddon,
اُمتی یہ کہیں گے خوشی سے
ummati yeh kahein ge khushi se
His followers will say with happiness,
آ رہے ہیں وہ دیکھو محمد
aa rahe hain woh dekho Muhammad
“Look, Muhammad is coming,
جن کے کاندھے پہ کملی ہے کالی
jin ke kaandhe pe kamli hai kaali
on whose shoulders is a black shawl.”

محشر کے روز پیشِ خدا ہوں گے جس گھڑی
mehshar ke roz pesh-e-Khuda hon ge jis ghari
On the Day of Judgment when they will be before God
ہو گی گناہگاروں میں کس درجہ بیکلی
ho gi gunaahgaaron mein kis darja bekali
In such a degree of uneasiness sinners will be
آتے ہوئے نبی کو جو دیکھیں کے اُمتی
aate huey Nabi ko jo dekhein ge ummati
When his followers will see the Prophet approaching,
ایک دوسرے سے سب یہ کہیں گے خوشی خوشی
ek dusre se sab yeh kahein ge khushi khushi
They will all say to each other happily,
آ رہے ہیں وہ دیکھو محمد
aa rahe hain woh dekho Muhammad
“Look, Muhammad is coming,
جن کے کاندھے پہ کملی ہے کالی
jin ke kaandhe pe kamli hai kaali
on whose shoulders is a black shawl.”

سرِ محشر گناہگاروں سے پرسش جس گھڑی ہو گی
sar-e-mehshar gunaahgaaaron se pursish jis ghari ho gi
On the Day of Judgment, when sinners will be questioned,
یقیناً ہر بشر کو اَپنی بخشش کی پڑی ہو گی
yaqeenan har bashar ko apni bakhshish ki pari ho gi
Truly, each person will be preoccupied with his own pardon
سبھی کو آس اُس دن کملی والے سے لگی ہو گی
sabhi ko aas us din kamli waale se lagi ho gi
That day everyone will be placing their hope in the one with the shawl
کہ ایسے میں محمد کی سواری آ رہی ہو گی
ke aise mein Muhammad ki sawaari aa rahi ho gi
And in this situation, Muhammad’s procession will be coming
پکارے گا زمانہ اُس گھڑی دکھ درد کے ماروں
pukaare ga zamaana us ghari dukh dard ke maaron
At that hour, the age will call out, “O you who are afflicted and suffering!
نہ گھبراؤ گناہگاروں نہ گھبراؤ گناہگاروں
na ghabraao gunaahgaaron na ghabraao gunaahgaaron
Fear not, sinners! Fear not, sinners!
آ رہے ہیں وہ دیکھو محمد
aa rahe hain woh dekho Muhammad
Look, Muhammad is coming,
جن کے کاندھے پہ کملی ہے کالی
jin ke kaandhe pe kamli hai kaali
on whose shoulders is a black shawl.”

عاشقِ مصطفیٰ کی اَذان میں اللہ اللہ کتنا اَثر تھا
aashiq-e-Mustafa ki azaan mein Allah Allah kitna asar tha
By God, such influential power was in the adhan of Mustafa’s adorer
سچا یہ واقعہ ہے اَذانِ بلال کا
sacha yeh waaqia hai azaan-e-Bilaal ka
This incident about Bilal’s adhan is true
ایک دن رسولِ پاک سے لوگوں نے یوں کہا
ek din Rasool-e-Paak se logon ne yoon kaha
One day people said to the Holy Prophet,
یا مصطفیٰ اَذان غلط دیتے ہیں بلال
ya Mustafa azaan ghalat dete hain Bilaal
“O Mustafa, Bilal recites the adhan incorrectly.
کہیے حضور آپ کا اِس میں ہے کیا خیال
kahiye Huzoor aap ka is mein hai kya khayaal
Tell us, Prophet, what is your thought on this matter?”
فرمایا مصطفیٰ نے یہ سچ ہے تو دیکھیے
farmaaya Mustafa ne yeh sach hai to dekhiye
Mustafa declared, “Let us see if this is true.
وقتِ سحر کی آج اَذان اور کوئی دے
waqt-e-seher ki aaj azaan aur koi de
Let someone else give the adhan at dawn today.”
حضرت بلال نے جو اَذانِ سحر نہ دی
Hazrat Bilaal ne jo azaan-e-seher na di
Since Hazrat Bilal did not give the dawn adhan
قدرت خدا کی دیکھو نہ مطلق سحر ہوئی
qudrat Khuda ki dekho na mutlaq seher hui
Behold God’s power: dawn did not break at all

آئے نبی کے پاس کچھ اصحابِ با صفا
aaye Nabi ke paas kuchh ashaab-e-ba-safa
Some companions came to the Prophet with purity
کی عرض مصطفیٰ سے کہ یا شاہِ اَنبیا
ki arz Mustafa se ke ya Shaah-e-Ambiya
And asked Mustafa, “O King of the Prophets!
ہے کیا سبب سحر نہ ہوئی آج مصطفیٰ
hai kya sabab seher na hui aaj Mustafa
What is the reason for the sun not rising today, O Mustafa?”
جبریل لائے اَیسے میں پیغامِ کبریا
Jibreel laaey aise mein paighaam-e-Kibriya
In this situation Gabriel brought the message of the Magnificent Lord

پہلے تو مصطفیٰ کو اَدب سے کیا سلام
pehle to Mustafa ko adab se kiya salaam
First he greeted Mustafa cordially
بعد اَز سلام اُن کو خدا کا دیا پیام
baad az salaam un ko Khuda ka diya payaam
After the greeting he gave him God’s message
یوں جبرائیل نے کہا خیر الاَنام سے
yoon Jibraaeel ne kaha khair-ul-anaam se
And so Gabriel said to the best of creations,
اللہ کو ہے پیار تمہارے غلام سے
Allah ko hai pyaar tumhaare ghulaam se
“God loves your slave!
فرما رہا ہے آپ سے یہ ربِ ذو الجلال
farma raha hai aap se yeh Rabb-e-Zul-Jalaal
The Majestic Lord is declaring to you:
ہو گی نہ صبح دیں گے نہ جب تک اَذان بلال
ho gi na subah dein ge na jab tak azaan Bilaal
It shall not be morning until Bilal gives the adhan!”
آشقِ مصطفیٰ کی اَذان میں اللہ اللہ کتنا اَثر تھا
Aashiq-e-Mustafa ki aazaan mein Allah Allah kitna asar tha
By God, such influential power was in the adhan of Mustafa’s adorer
عرش والے بھی سنتے تھے جس کو
arsh waale bhi sunte the jis ko
Even that which God and the angels listened to,
کیا اَذان تھی اَذانِ بلالی
kya azaan thi azaan-e-Bilaali
Which adhan was it but the adhan of Bilal?

کاش پرنمؔ دیارِ نبی میں
kaash Purnam dayaar-e-Nabi mein
If only, Purnam, to the land of the Prophet
جیتے جی ہو بلاوہ کسی دن
jeete ji ho bulaawa kisi din
I may be summoned someday in my life
حالِ غم مصطفیٰ کو سناؤں
haal-e-gham Mustafa ko sunaaoon
I will recount my sadness to Mustafa
تھام کر اُن کے رَوضے کی جالی
thaam kar un ke rauze ji jaali
While clutching the screen around his tomb

بھر دو جھولی میری یا محمد
bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Fill my bag, O Muhammad
لوٹ کر میں نہ جاؤں گا خالی
laut kar main na jaaoon ga khaali
I will not go back empty-handed

* Note on names: Mustafa is another name for Muhammad, and Murtaza is another name for Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law. The son of Murtaza mentioned, also Muhammad’s grandson, is Hussein. Shabbir is another name for Hussein. Hazrat is an Islamic honorific title used for prophets, saints, and other important religious figures.

* Note on the takhallus: The takhallus (Urdu: تخلص) is the pen name adopted by a poet in Urdu, and is usually incorporated into his/her poems near the end. It often has a double meaning as both a name and as a word. Purnam Allahabadi included his takhallus in this qawwali when he says, “kaash Purnam dayaar-e-nabi mein jeete ji ho bulaawa kisi din”. Purnam is the author’s name, but it also means “tearfully” or “weeping”. This adds another meaning to that line: “If only I may be summoned to the land of the Prophet someday in my life, weeping [from being overwhelmed]”.

Urdu: Language of Poets

Urdu is an Indo-European language from the central zone of the Indo-Aryan branch, with over one hundred million speakers worldwide. Once associated with the Mughal Empire, it is most prominent in Pakistan, northern India, and South Asian diaspora communities.

Urdu is the official language in Pakistan and some states of India (marked in dark orange; marked in yellow is Hindi).

Due to its mutual intelligibility with Hindi, Urdu and Hindi are often referred to jointly by the term Hindustani (literally: “from the land of the Indus”). Considering Hindustani as a single unit, it is the third or fourth most spoken language in the world, depending on which source you look at.

People often ask what the differences between Hindi and Urdu are, and I would say that there are essentially two. First, the writing system: Hindi employs the Devanagari script, which is a descendant of older Indian scripts, whereas Urdu uses a version of the Perso-Arabic script, which came into use for several South Asian languages after Muslims entered the subcontinent. Second, while the grammar and syntax for both is alike, higher-level vocabulary in Hindi is derived from Sanskrit while in Urdu it is often derived from Persian and Arabic. In regular conversation, though, Hindi and Urdu speakers can communicate with each other perfectly well. Due to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, the differences between the two have been artificially magnified in Pakistan, where Urdu has national status, and India, where Hindi has national status, in quite a politicized manner.

Anyways, Urdu is known for its great canon of literature and poetry; figures such as Meer, Ghalib, and Iqbal have truly inspired millions. It makes sense that Urdu is a poetic language when one looks at the rich sources it draws from – it is built on a foundation of Sanskrit and Hindi, and ornamented with vocabulary from Persian, Arabic, and even Turkish.

Interestingly enough, the word Urdu is even synonymous with poetry in some cases. For example, take a look at the super-hit Bollywood song “Chaiyya Chaiyya” from the 1999 movie Dil Se. Skip to 1:28 and you’ll hear the line “Woh yaar hai jo khushboo ki tarah, jiski zubaan Urdu ki tarah”. This would translate to “My beloved is like a sweet aroma, whose words sound like Urdu”.

In this post I will highlight some of the interesting features of Urdu. (Of course, many of these apply to Hindi as well)
1) In Urdu, a noticeable number of words rhyme with their antonyms. Here are a few examples:

Dena (to give) دینا – Lena (to take) لینا
Aana (to come) آنا – Jaana (to go) جانا
Torna (to break apart) توڑنا – Jorna (to fix/join together) جوڑنا
Daaein (right) دائیں – Baaein (left) بائیں
Tan (physical body) تن – Man (heart) من
Mera (my) میرا – Tera (your) تیرا
Saaz (instrument) ساز – Awaaz (voice) آواز
Dukh (sadness) دکھ – Sukh (happiness) سکھ

There are also many pairs of rhyming words that are connected by a similar theme, and while they aren’t necessarily exact opposites, they are distinct.

Neela (blue) نیلا – Peela (yellow) پیلا
Mota (fat) موٹا – Chhota (small) چھوٹا
Ghoomna (to wander/go around) گھومنا – Jhoomna (to sway/dance) جھومنا
Neeche (below) نیچے – Peechhe (behind) پیچھے
Agar (if) اگر – Magar (but) مگر

2) This is probably my favorite characteristic of the Urdu language. Many verbs are part of families (usually 3-4 verbs) that use a root verb to derive causative versions of it. Take a look at the examples below to see what I mean. The infinitive form of every Urdu verb end with the suffix “-na” (نا-), just as every English infinitive begins with “to”.

Banna (to become) بننا – Banaana (to make) بنانا – Banvaana (to have someone make, as in, to cause to be made) بنوانا
Seekhna (to learn) سیکھنا – Sikhaana (to teach) سکھانا – Sikhvaana (to cause to be taught) سکھوانا
Karna (to do) کرنا – Karaana (to have done) کرانا – Karvaana (to cause to have done) کروانا
Milna (to meet) ملنا – Milaana (to introduce/connect) ملانا – Milvaana (to cause to introduce) ملوانا
Khulna (to become open) کھلنا – Kholna (to open) کھولنا – Khulvaana (to cause to open) کھلوانا

It is a little confusing if you’re not used to it, so here is an example of how these multiple forms could be used:
.یہ دروازہ خود کھلتا ہے
Yeh darwaaza khud khulta hai (This door opens by itself).
.تم نے اس دروازے کو کھولنا ہے
Tum ne is darwaaze ko kholna hai (You need to open this door).
.اس دروازے کو کسی سے کھلوانا ہے
Is darwaaze ko kisi se khulvaana hai (Someone must be brought to make this door open).

3) Urdu also has the interesting feature of having rhyming series of certain pronouns and adverbs.

Is ka (his/hers, owner present) اس کا – Us ka (his/hers, owner absent) اس کا – Jis ka (whosever) جس کا – Kis ka (whose?) کس کا
Idhar (here) ادھر – Udhar (there) ادھر – Jidhar (wherever) جدھر – Kidhar (where?) کدھر
Itna (this much) اتنا – Utna (that much) اتنا – Jitna (however much) جتنا – Kitna (how much?) کتنا
Yahan (here) یہاں – Wahan (there) وہاں – Jahan (wherever) جہاں – Kahan (where?) کہاں
Aise (like this) ایسے – Waise (like that) ویسے – Jaise (however) جیسے – Kaise (how?) کیسے
Ab (now) اب – Tab (then) تب – Jab (whenever) جب – Kab (when?) کب

As you can see, there is a pattern, such that the first one always has to do with something removed from the present situation, the second has to do with something related to the present situation, the third is used for general statements applicable to any situation, and the fourth is an interrogative word for an uncertain situation.

4) Like many languages, Urdu has a rich vocabulary, but there is a focus on poetic and romantic words. There exist multiple words for things that have only one word in other languages like English. The reason for this is that some words have South Asian etymologies, while others have Central or Western Asian origins.

Dil دل – Man من – Jiya جیا (heart)
Nain نین – Aankh آنکھ – Chasham چشم (eye)
Zulfein زلفیں – Baal بال (hair)
Ishq عشق – Mohabbat محبت – Pyar پیار – Prem پریم (love)
Jeevan جیون – Zindagi زندگی (life)
Falak فلک – Aasmaan آسمان – Ambar امبر (sky)
Haseen حسین – Khoobsoorat خوبصورت – Sundar سندر (beautiful)

I hope that those who are interested in the study of languages enjoyed this post. Please feel free to comment below to ask any questions you may have about Urdu.