(Bal-e-Jibril-005) Asar Kare Na Kare, Sun To Le Meri Faryad (اثر کرے نہ کرے، سن تو لے میری فریاد) Whether or not it moves you, At least listen to my complaint

Asar Kare Na Kare, Sun To Le Meri Faryad
Nahin Hai Dad Ka Talib Ye Banda’ay Azad

Whether or not it moves you, At least listen to my complaint—
It is not redress this free spirit seeks.

Ye Musht-e-Khaak, Ye Sar Sar, Ye Wusaat-e-Aflak
Karam Hai Ya Ke Sitam Teri Lazzat-e-Ijad

This handful of dust, this fiercely blowing wind, and these vast, limitless heavens—
Is the delight You take in creation a blessing or some wanton joke?

Thehar Saka Na Huwa’ay Chaman Mein Khaima’ay Gul
Ye Hai Fasal-e-Bahari, Ye Hai Baad-e-Murad

The tent of the rose could not withstand the wind blowing through the garden:
Is this the spring season, and this the auspicious wind?

Kasoorwar, Ghareeb-ud-Diyar Hun, Lekin
Tera Kharaba Farishte Na Kar Sake Abad

I am at fault, and in a foreign land,
But the angels never could make habitable that wasteland of yours.

Meri Jafa Talbi Ko Duaen Deta Hai
Woh Dasht-e-Sada, Woh Tera Jahan-e-Bebunyad

Gratefully remembers my love of hardship.
That stark wilderness, that insubstantial world of Yours

Khatar Pasand Tabiyat Ko Saazgaar Nahin
Woh Gulistan Ke Jahan Ghaat Mein Na Ho Sayyad

An adventurous spirit is ill at ease
In a garden where no hunter lies in ambush.

Maqam-e-Shauq Tere Qudsiyon Ke Bus Ka Nahin
Unhi Ka Kaam Hai Ye Jin Ke Hosle Hain Zayyad

The station of love is beyond the reach of Your angels,
Only those of dauntless courage are up to it.

(Bal-e-Jibril-004) Gaisu-e-Tabdar Ko Aur Bhi Tabdar Kar (گیسوۓ تابدار کو اور بھی تابدار کر) Bright are Your tresses: brighten them even more

Gaisuay Tabdar Ko Aur Bhi Tabdar Kar
Hosh-o-Khirad Shakar Kar, Qalb-o-Nazar Shakar Kar

Bright are Your tresses: brighten them even more:
Ravish the senses and the mind, ravish the heart and the eyes.

Ishq Bhi Ho Hijab Mein, Husn Bhi Ho Hijab Mein
Ya Tu Khud Ashkar Ho Ya Mujhe Aashkar Kar

Love concealed, and beauty too!
Reveal Yourself to me, or reveal me to myself.

Tu Hai Muheet-e-Bekaran, Mein Hun Zara Si Aabjoo
Ya Mujhe Hamkinar Kar Ya Mujhe Bekinar Kar

You are the limitless ocean and I am but a tiny rivulet—
Either make Your peer or turn me limitless at least.

Main Hun Sadaf Tou Tere Hath Mere Guhar Ki Abroo
Mein Hun Khazaf Tou Tu Mujhe Gohar-e-Shahwar Kar

If I am a mother‐of‐pearl, the lustre of my pearl is in Your hands,
But if I am a piece of brick, give me a diamond’s sheen.

Naghma’ay Nau Bahar Agar Mere Naseeb Mein Na Ho
Iss Dam-e-Neem Souz Ko Taeerak-e-Bahar Kar

If I am not destined to sing at the advent of Spring,
Make this half‐enraptured breath a skylark of the Spring. 

Bagh-e-Bahisht Se Mujhe Hukam-e-Safar Diya Tha Kyun
Kaar-e-Jahan Daraz Hai, Ab Mera Intizar Kar

Why did You order me to quit the Garden of Eden?—
Now there is much to be done here—so just wait for me!

Roz-e-Hisab Jab Mera Paish Ho Daftar-e-Amal
Aap Bhi Sharamsaar Ho, Mujh Ko Bhi Sharamsaar Kar

When the roll of my deeds is brought up on the Day of Reckoning,
Be ashamed as You will shame me.

(Bal-e-Jibril-003) Tere Shishe Mein Mai Baqi Nahin Hai

Tere Shishe Mein May Baqi Nahin Hai
Bata, Kya Tu Mera Saqi Nahi Hai

Samundar Se Mille Piyase Ko Shabnam
Bakheeli Hai Ye Razzaqi Nahin Hai

(Bal-e-Jibril-002) Agar Kaj Ro Hain Anjum, Asman Tera Hai Ya Mera (اگر کج رو ہیں انجم, آسمان تیرا ہے یا میرا) If the stars have strayed...

Agar Kaj Ro Hain Anjum, Asman Tera Hai Ya Mera
Mujhe Fikar-e-Jahan Kyun Ho, Jahan Tera Hai Ya Mera?

If the stars have strayed—To whom do the heavens belong, You or Me?
Why must I worry about the world—To whom does this world belong, You or Me?

Agar Hangama Ha’ay Shauq Se Hai La-Makan Khali
Khata Kis Ki Hai Ya Rab ! La-Makan Tera Hai Ya Mera?

If the Placeless Realm Offers no lively scenes of passion and longing,
Whose fault is that, my Lord?—Does that realm belong to You or to me?

Usse Subah-e-Azal Inkaar Ki Juraat Hui Kyun Kar
Mujhe Maloom Kya, Woh Raazdan Tera Hai Ya Mera?

On the morning of eternity he dared to say ʹNoʹ,
But how would I know why—Is he Your confidant, or is he mine?

Muhammad (S.A.W.) Bhi Tera, Jibreel Bhi, Quran Bhi Tera
Magar Ye Harf-e-Shireen Tarjuman Tera Hai Ya Mera?

Muhammad (PBUH) is Yours, Gabriel is Yours, The Qurʹan is Yours—
But this discourse, This exposition in melodious tunes, Is it Yours or is it mine?

Issi Koukab Ki Tabani Se Hai Tera Jahan Roshan
Zawal-e-Adam-e-Khaki Zayan Tera Hai Ya Mera?

Your world is illuminated by the radiance of the same star
Whose loss was the fall of Adam, that creature of earth, Was it Yours or mine?

(Bang-e-Dra-067) Talaba'ay Ali Garh College Ke Naam

Talba-e-Ali Garh College Ke Naam
Addressed To The Students Of Aligarh College

Auron Ka Hai Payam Aur, Mera Payam Aur Hai
Ishq Ke Dardmand Ka Tarz-e-Kalaam Aur Hai

The message of others is different, my message is different
The style of address of the one afflicted with Love is different

Taair-e-Zair-e-Daam Ke Naale Tu Sun Chukke Ho Tum
Ye Bhi Suno Ke Nala-e-Tair-e-Baam Aur Hai

You have heard the laments of the bird under the net
Also listen to the laments of the bird on the roof tops which are different

At Thi Koh Se Sada Raaz-e-Hayat Hai Sukoon
Kehta Tha Moor-e-Natwan Lutf-e-Kharaam Aur Hai

Call was coming from the mount, “Life’s secret is peace”
The frail ant was saying “The pleasure of struggle is different”

Jazb-e-Haram Se Hai Farough Anjuman-e-Hijaz
Iss Ka Maqam Aur Hai, Iss Ka Nizam Aur Hai

The glory of Hijaz’ assemblage is based on Haram’s Love
The station of this is different, the system of that is different!

Mout Hai Aysh-e-Javidan, Zuaq-e-Talab Agar Na Ho
Gardish-e-Adami Hai Aur, Gardish-e-Jaam Aur Hai

Eternal luxury is death if there is no Longing for Search
Man’s revolving is different, wine‐cup’s revolving is different

Shama-e-Sehar Ye Keh Gyi Souz Hai Zindagi Ka Saaz
Ghamkuda-e-Namood Mein Shart-e-Dawam Aur Hai

The dawn’s candle left the message that burning is life’s secret
In the life’s sorrowful abode the condition for eternity is different

Badah Hai Neem Ras Abhi, Shuaq Hai Na-Rasa Abhi
Rehne Do Khum Ke Sar Pe Tum Khisht-e-Kaleesiya Abhi

The wine is still half‐mature, Love is unsuccessful still
Leave the church’s brick on the pitcher’s mouth still.

(Bang-e-Dra-066) Sawami Raam Tirath

Swami Ram Tirath

Hum Baghal Darya Se Hai Ae Qatra-e-Betaab Tu
Pehle Gohar Tha, Bana Ab Kohar-e-Nayab Tu

O Impatient drop! You are in the bosom of the sea
You were a pearl earlier, now you are an invaluable pearl

Aah! Khola Kis Ada Se Tu Ne Raaz-e-Rang-o-Bu
Main Abhi Tak Hun Aseer-e-Imtiaz-e-Rang-o-Bu

Ah! How gracefully you opened the secrets of life
I am still a prisoner of the discriminations of life

Mit Ke Ghogha Zindagi Ka Shorish-e-Mehshar Bana
Ye Sharah Bujh Ke Atish Khana-e-Azar Bana

The life’s clamor on destruction became the Last Day’s tumult
The spark on being extinguished became Azar‘s fire temple

Nafi-e-Hasti Ek Karishma Hai Dil-e-Agah Ka
‘LA’ Ke Darya Mein Nihan Moti Hai ‘ILLALLAH’ Ka

The denial of Existence is the Love’s gesture of the informed heart
In the river of 'La' is concealed the pearl of 'Illallah'

Chashm-e-Nabeena Se Makhfi Maani-e-Anjaam Hai
Tham Gyi Jis Dam Tarap, Seemab Seem-e-Kham Hai

The meaning of the end is hidden from the unsightful eye
Mercury is only raw silver, when its restlessness stops,

Torh Deta Hai But-e-Hasti Ko Ibraheem-e-Ishq
Hosh Ka Daru Hai Goya Masti-e-Tasneem-e-Ishq

The Ibrahim of Love is the destroyer of the idol of existence
The ecstasy of Tasnim of Love is the cure of awareness.

(Bang-e-Dra-065) Payam

Payam
The Message

Ishq Ne Kar Diya Tujhe Zauq-e-Tapish Se Ashna
Bazm Ko Misl-e-Shama-e-Bazm Hasil-e-Souz-o-Saaz

Love made you acquainted with the taste of affliction
Like assembly’s candle give affliction’s gift to the assembly

Shan-e-Karam Pe Hai Madar Ishq-e-Girah Kushaye Ka
Dair-o-Haram Ki Qaid Kya! Jis Ko Woh Be-Niaz De

The illuminating Love depends on God’s Benevolence
To whomever He may give without restriction of temple or Harem

Soorat-e-Shama Noor Ki Milti Nahin Qaba Use
Jis Ko Khuda Na Dehr Mein Girya-e-Jaan Gudaz De

Like the candle the mantle of light he does not get
Whom God does not give effective wail in the world

Tare Mein Woh, Qamar Mein Woh, Jalwagah-e-Sehar Mein Woh
Chashm-e-Nazara Mein Na Tu Surma-e-Imtiaz De

He is in the star, the moon, the dawn’s theatre of display
You need not apply discrimination’s collyrium to the Sightful eye

Ishq Buland Baal Hai Rasm-o-Reh-e-Niaz Se
Husn Hai Mast-e-Naz Agar Tu Bhi Jawab-e-Naaz De

Love is exalted above the customs and usages of prayers
If Beauty has ecstasy of elegance you too give elegant reply

Peer-e-Mughan! Farang Ki Mai Ka Nishat Hai Asar
Iss Mein Woh Kaif-e-Gham Nahin, Mujh Ko To Khana Saaz De

O Tavern‐keeper! Pleasure is the only effect of West’s wine
It does not have pleasure of affliction, give me the home‐made wine

Tujh Ko Khabar Nahin Hai Kya! Bazm-e-Kuhan Badal Gyi
Ab Na Khuda Ke Waste In Ko Mai-e-Majaz De

Do you not know? The old congregation has changed
For God’s sake do not give them materialism’s wine.

(Bang-e-Dra-064) Haqiqat-e-Husn

Haqiqat-e-Husn
Beauty's Essence

Khuda Se Husn Ne Ek Roz Ye Sawal Kiya
Jahan Mein Kyun Na Mujhe Tu Ne La-Zawal Kiya

Beauty asked God one day
This question: ‘Why Didst Thou not make me, in Thy world, undying?’

Mila Jawab Ke Tasveer-e-Khana Hai Dunya
Shab-e-Daraz-e-Aadam Ka Fasana Hai Dunya

And God replying— ‘A picture‐show is this world:
All this world a tale out of the long night of not‐being;

Huwi Hai Rang-e-Taghiyar Se Jab Namood Uss Ki
Wohi Haseen Hai Haqiqat Zawal Hai Jis Ki

And in it, seeing tts nature works through mutability,
That only is lovely whose essence knows decay.’

Kahin Qareeb Tha, Ye Gutugu Qamar Ne Suni
Falak Pe Aam Huwi, Akhtar-e-Sehar Ne Suni

The moon stood near and heard this colloquy,
The words took wing about the sky and reached the morning‐star;

Sehar Ne Tare Se Sun Kar Sunayi Shabnam Ko
Falak Ki Baat Bata Di Zameen Ke Mehram Ko

Dawn learned them from its star, and told the dew—
It told the heavens’ whisper to Earth’s poor familiar;

Bhar Aye Phool Ke Ansu Payam-e-Shabnam Se
Kali Ka Nanha Sa Dil Khoon Ho Gya Gham Se

And at the dew’s report the flower’s eye filled,
With pain the new bud’s tiny heartbeat thrilled;

Chaman Se Rota Huwa Mousam-e-Bahar Gya
Shabab Sair Ko Aya Tha, Sogawar Gya

Springtime fled from the garden, weeping;
Youth, that had come to wander there, went creeping sadly away.