kabhi ai haqiqat-e-muntazar nazar aa libas-e-majaz mein
Interesting Fact
Once Allama Iqbal went to Lucknow to attend an educational conference. It was during this trip that he chanced upon traveling in a Tanga with the famous Urdu fiction writer Syed Sajjad Haider Yildirim. Both the gentlemen reached the house of Pyare Sahib Rasheed Lakhnawi. During the conversation, Iqbal recited his famous ghazal ‘Kabhi Ai Haqiqat-E-Muntazar, Nazar Aa Libaas-E-Majaaz Men’ to him. When he had recited the entire ghazal, Pyare Sahib said, ‘Ab Koi Ghazal Urdu Mein Bhi Suna Dijiye.’ Allama Iqbal used to narrate this incident to his friends hilariously. Film: Dulhan ek raat ki (1966) (From Bang-e-Dara Part-3, 1908)
kabhī ai haqīqat-e-muntazar nazar aa libās-e-majāz meñ
ki hazāroñ sajde taḌap rahe haiñ mirī jabīn-e-niyāz meñ
O long-awaited truth appear someday in metaphor's guise,
For on my brow of longing, a thousand prostrations writhe and rise.
tarab-āshnā-e-ḳharosh ho tū navā hai mahram-e-gosh ho
vo sarod kyā ki chhupā huā ho sukūt-e-parda-e-sāz meñ
Let joy embrace the thrill of sound, you are melody, meet the ears,
What worth has a lute that lies concealed, in silence, shrouded, drears?
tū bachā bachā ke na rakh ise tirā aa.ina hai vo aa.ina
ki shikasta ho to azīz-tar hai nigāh-e-ā.īna-sāz meñ
Guard not thy mirror with such care, nor fear its shattered face,
For the broken ones are dearer still, in the craftsman’s fond embrace.
dam-e-tauf kirmak-e-sham.a ne ye kahā ki vo asar-e-kuhan
na tirī hikāyat-e-soz meñ na mirī hadīs-e-gudāz meñ
While circling around the candle’s glow, the grieving moth did say,
No trace of old kind remains in our tales of ardour and anguish today.
na kahīñ jahāñ meñ amaañ milī jo amaañ milī to kahāñ milī
mire jurm-e-ḳhāna-ḳharāb ko tire afv-e-banda-navāz meñ
No refuge did I find anywhere in the world; if I did, then where?
Only in thy divine forgiveness was my sin-ravaged soul given care.
na vo ishq meñ rahīñ garmiyāñ na vo husn meñ rahīñ shoḳhiyāñ
na vo ġhaznavī meñ taḌap rahī na vo ḳham hai zulf-e-ayāz maiñ
Gone is the ardor that once lit love, gone the coquetry of the fair,
No more does Ghaznavi ache with longing, nor is there a curl in Ayaz’s hair.
jo maiñ sar-ba-sajda huā kabhī to zamīñ se aane lagī sadā
tirā dil to hai sanam-āshnā tujhe kyā milegā namāz meñ
When I bowed my head in solemn prayer, a whisper rose from the ground,
When thy heart adores the idols still—what blessing in prayer can be found?
kabhi ai haqiqat-e-muntazar nazar aa libas-e-majaz mein
ki hazaron sajde taDap rahe hain meri jabin-e-niyaz mein
O long-awaited truth appear someday in metaphor's guise,
For on my brow of longing, a thousand prostrations writhe and rise.
tarab-ashna-e-KHarosh ho tu nawa hai mahram-e-gosh ho
wo sarod kya ki chhupa hua ho sukut-e-parda-e-saz mein
Let joy embrace the thrill of sound, you are melody, meet the ears,
What worth has a lute that lies concealed, in silence, shrouded, drears?
tu bacha bacha ke na rakh ise tera aaina hai wo aaina
ki shikasta ho to aziz-tar hai nigah-e-aina-saz mein
Guard not thy mirror with such care, nor fear its shattered face,
For the broken ones are dearer still, in the craftsman’s fond embrace.
dam-e-tauf kirmak-e-shama ne ye kaha ki wo asar-e-kuhan
na teri hikayat-e-soz mein na meri hadis-e-gudaz mein
While circling around the candle’s glow, the grieving moth did say,
No trace of old kind remains in our tales of ardour and anguish today.
na kahin jahan mein aman mili jo aman mili to kahan mili
mere jurm-e-KHana-KHarab ko tere afw-e-banda-nawaz mein
No refuge did I find anywhere in the world; if I did, then where?
Only in thy divine forgiveness was my sin-ravaged soul given care.
na wo ishq mein rahin garmiyan na wo husn mein rahin shoKHiyan
na wo ghaznawi mein taDap rahi na wo KHam hai zulf-e-ayaz main
Gone is the ardor that once lit love, gone the coquetry of the fair,
No more does Ghaznavi ache with longing, nor is there a curl in Ayaz’s hair.
jo main sar-ba-sajda hua kabhi to zamin se aane lagi sada
tera dil to hai sanam-ashna tujhe kya milega namaz mein
When I bowed my head in solemn prayer, a whisper rose from the ground,
When thy heart adores the idols still—what blessing in prayer can be found?
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