(Bang-e-Dra-086) Siqaliya

Siqaliya
(Jazeera-e-Sisli)

Sicily

Ro Le Ab Dil Khol Kar Ae Didah-e-Khunanaba Bar
Woh Nazar Ata Hai Tehzeeb-e-Hijazi Ka Mazar

Weep to thy heart’s content, O blood‐weeping eye!
Yonder is visible the tomb of Muslim culture.

Tha Yahab Hangama In Sehra Nasheenon Ka Kabhi
Beher Bazi-Gah Tha Jin Ke Safeenon Ka Kabhi

Once this place was alive with those dwellers of the desert,
For whose ships the ocean was a playground;

Zalzale Jin Se Shehanshahon Ke Darbaron Mein The
Bijliyon Ke Aashiyane Jin Ki Talwaron Mein The

Who raised earthquakes in the palaces of the kings of kings,
In whose swords were the nests of many lightning.

Ek Jahan-e-Taza Ka Pegham Tha Jin Ka Zahoor
Kha Gyi Asr-e-Kuhan Ko Jin Ki Taegh-e-Na-Saboor

Whose birth was death for the old world,
Whose fear caused the palaces of error to tremble;

Murda Alam Zinda Jin Ki Sourish-e-Qum Se Huwa
Admi Azad Zanjeer-e-Toham Se Huwa

Whose cry of arise gave life to a lifeless world
And freedom to men from the chains of superstition.

Ghulghulon Se Jis Ke Lazzat-Geer Ab Tak Gosh Hai
Kya Woh Takbeer Ab Hamasha Ke Liye Khamosh Hai?

Is that cry of God is great silent for ever,
Whose reverberations delight the ear to this day?

Aah Ae Sisli! Samunder Ki Hai Tujh Se Abru
Rehnama Ki Tarah Iss Pani Ke Sehra Mein Hai Tu

Oh Sicily! The sea is honoured by you,
You are a guide in the desert of these waters.

Zaib Tere Khal Se Rukhsar-e-Darya Ko Rahe
Teri Shamaon Se Tasalli Beher-Pema Ko Rahe

May the cheek of the ocean remain adorned by your beauty spot;
May the lamps comfort those who measure the seas;

Ho Subak Chashme-e-Musafir Par Tera Manzar Madaam
Mouj Raqsaan Tere Sahil Ki Chatanon Par Madaam

May your view be ever light on the eyes of the traveller,
May waves ever dance on your rocks!

Tu Kabhi Uss Qoum Ki Tehzeeb Ka Gehwara Tha
Husn-e-Alam Souz Jis Ka Atish-e-Nazzara Tha

Once you were the cradle of civilization of the people,
The fire of whose glance was world‐burning beauty.

Nala-Kash Sheeraz Ka Bulbul Huwa Baghdad Par
Dagh Roya Khoon Ke Ansu Jahan-Abad Par

The nightingale of Shiraz wailed over Baghdad,
And Dagh wept tears of blood over Delhi.

Asman Ne Doulat-e-Gharnata Jab Barbad Ki
Ibn-e-Badroon Ke Dil-e-Na-Shaad Ne Faryad Ki

When the heavens scattered the wealth of Granada to the winds,
The sorrowful heart of Ibn Badrun cried out.

Gham Naseeb Iqbal Ko Bakhsa Gya Matam Tera
Chun Liya Taqdeer Ne Woh Dil Ke Tha Mehram Tera

The dirge of your ruin fell to the lot of the grieving Iqbal:
Destiny picked up the heart that was privy to your secrets.

Hai Tere Asaar Mein Poshidah Kis Ki Dastan
Tere Sahil Ki Khamoshi Mein Hai Andaz-e-Byan

Whose story is hidden in your ruins?
The silence of your footfall has a mode of expression.

Dard Apna Mujh Se Keh, Main Bhi Sarapa Dard Hun
Jis Ki Tu Manzil Tha, Main Uss Karwan Ki Gard Hun

Tell me of your sorrow—I too am full of pain;
I am the dust of that caravan whose goal you were.

Rang Tasveer-e-Kuhan Mein Bhar Ke Dikhla De Mujhe
Qissa Ayyam-e-Salaf Ka Keh Ke Tarpa De Mujhe

Paint over this picture once more and show it to me;
Make me suffer by telling the story of ancient days.

Main Tera Tohfa Sooye Hindustan Le Jaun Ga
Khud Yahan Rota Hun, Auron Ko Wahan Rulaon Ga

I shall carry your gift to India;
I shall make others weep as I weep here.