T h o u  
A r t   all  in
Recognition of
T h y s e l f

✒ ℐamil Hussain

Jis Ki Janib Woh Nazar Apni Uttha Lete Hain
Uss Ki Soyee Hui Taqdeer Jaga Dete Hain

Towards whom they raise their glance
His resting destiny they awaken in a trance

Teri Duzdeeda Nigahon Ko Dua Dete Hain
Jitne Chubte Hain Yeh Teer Utna Maza Dete Hain

For your peeking gazes, I pray
The more these arrows wound, the more delighted I lay

Jab Se Dekha Hai Unhein Apna Mujhe Hosh Nahin
Jane Kya Cheez Woh Nazroon Se Pila Dete Hain

Ever since them I saw, senseless I have become
What they pour from their glances, a mystery it has become

Takht Kya Cheez Hai Aur Laal-o-Jawahir Kya Hai
Ishq Wale To Khudai Bhi Loota Dete Hain

What is a throne and what are lustrous jewels?
Lovers surrender divinity against the rules

Aik Din Aisa Bhi Ata Hai Mohabbat Mein Zaroor
Khud Ko Ghabra Ke Naqab Apna Uttah Lete Hain

There is one such moment in love, indeed!
With nervousness, they raise their veil

Apni Barbadi Pe Khush Hoon Yeh Suna Hai Jabse
Woh Jisse Apna Samajhte Hain Mitta Dete Hain

Happy with my own ruin I am, ever since I have learned
Who they consider their own, obliterated have turned

Apne Daman Ko Zara Aap Bacha Kar Rakhna
Sakhat Aahon Se Bhi Hum Aag Laga Dete Hain

Your own hem a little, you save and claim
With deep sighs, we set the fire aflame

Jis Ki Janib Woh Nazar Apni Uttha Lete Hain
Uss Ki Soyee Hui Taqdeer Jaga Dete Hain*

Towards whom they raise their glance
His resting destiny they awaken in a trance

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Apni Dhun Mein Rehta Hoon
Main Bhi Tere Jaisa Hoon

Roaming within my own tunes I am
O’ just like you I am

Oh Pichhlee Rut Ke Saathi
Abke Baras Main Tanha Hoon

O’ friend of the past season
This year completely alone I am

Teri Gali Mein Sara Din
Dukh Ke Kankar Chunta Hoon

Whole day, in your street
Collecting the pebbles of sorrows I am

Mera Diya Jalaye Kuan
Main Tera Khali Kamra Hoon

Who will set my lamp alight?
O’ your vacated room I am

Apni Leher Hai Apna Rog
Dariya Hoon Aur Pyasaa Hoon

My own wave is the malady
Ocean I am and yet so thirsty I am

Aati Rut Mujhe Royegi
Jaati Rut Ka Jhonka Hoon*

Coming season will weep for me
O’ breeze of the ending season I am

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Poet Nasir Kazmi, Sung by Ghulam Ali

Junoon Ka Hukm Suno Aur Amal Karo Us Per
Khirad Ko Aag Lagao Bahar Ke Din Hein*

Listen to the command of madness and act
Set rationality on fire – spring has returned!

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Jab Raat Dhali Aadhi Maikhane Ko Hosh Aaya
Angrai Li Botal Ne Paimane Ko Hosh Aaya

When the night cast halfway, tavern came to its senses
The bottle took a yawn and the cup came to its senses

Utha Jo Naqaab Unka Deewane Ko Hosh Aaya
Jab Shamma Howi Roshan Parwane Ko Hosh Aaya

They appeared from their veil, crazy came to their senses
Then the flame became evident and the moth came to its senses

Phir Dard Utha Dil Mein Phir Yaad Teri Aayi
Phir Teri Mohabbat Ke Afsanay Ko Hosh Aaya

Then the pain grew within, your memories unfolded
And then your affectionate tale came to my senses

In Mast Nigahon Ne Girtay Ko Sambhala Hai
Sagar Ke Saharay Se Mastanay Ko Hosh Aaya

Intoxicating glances have balanced the tumbling
With the support of a cup, the drunk came to their senses

Woh Daikho Fana Daikho Jaam Aa Gaye Gardish Mein
Woh Mast Nazar Uthi Maikhane Ko Hosh Aaya*

Look there O’ Fana, see the cups are quickly rotating
Emergence of intoxicating glance; tavern has now come to its senses

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Poet Anwar Farrukhabadi, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Main Talkhi-e-Hayat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya
Gham Ki Siyah Raat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya

With the worry from bitterness of life, I drank
With the grief of my darkest night, I drank

Itni Daqiq Shai Koi Kaise Samajh Sake
Yazdan Ke Vaqiat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya

Such delicate substance, how can one comprehend?
With the fear of merciful moment, I drank

Chhalke Hue The Jaam Pareshan Thi Zulf-e-Yaar
Kuchh Aise Hadsat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya

Overflowing cups and beloved’s anxious tresses
With the concern for such calamities, I drank

Main Aadmi Huun Koi Farishta Nahi Huzur
Main Aaj Apni Zaat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya

Human I am and no angel O’ respected
Today, with the vigilance of my own being, I drank

Duniya-e-Hadsat Hai Ik Dardnak Giit
Duniya-e-Hadsat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya

World of incidents is an agonising song
With the discomfort of this world of incidents, I drank  

Kante To Khair Kante Hain Is Ka Gila Hi Kya
Phulon Ki Vardat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya

Thorns are yet thorns and there is no complaint
With the scare from crimes of flowers, I drank

Saghar Vo Kah Rahe The Ki Pi Lijiye Huzur
Un Ki Guzarishat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*

Saghar they said drink O’ respected
And with the care for their wishes, I drank

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Poet Saghar Siddiqui, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Bheed Mein Ek Ajnabi Ka, Saamna Acha Laga
Sabse Chup Kar Woh Kisi Ka, Dekhna Acha Laga

Within a crowd, facing of one stranger I liked
Hidden away from all others, her staring I liked

Surmayi Aanchal Ke Neeche Phool Se Khilne Lage
Kehte Kehte Kuch Kisi Ka Sochna Acha Laga

Grey colour below the eyes, flowers begun to bloom
Talking and losing of her thoughts I so liked

Baat To Khuch Bhi Nahi Laikan Uska Ekdam
Haath Ko Honton Pe Rakh Kar Rokna Acha Laga

It was all nothing but suddenly
Placing of her hands over my lips and asking me to stop I liked

Uss Adoo-e-Jaan Ko Amjad Mein Bura Kaise Kahoon
Jab Bhi Aaya Saamne, Woh Bewafa Acha Laga*

O’ Amjad how can one say anything negative to that enemy of life
Whenever she came before me, that treacherous I liked

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Poet Amjad Islam Amjad, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan