baat karni mujhe mushkil kabhi aisi to na thi
baat karni mujhe mushkil kabhi aisi to na thi
jaisi ab hai tiri mahfil kabhi aisi to na thi
conversing has never been so diffficult for me
your company now is no more as it used to be
le gaya chhin ke kaun aaj tira sabr o qarar
be-qarari tujhe ai dil kabhi aisi to na thi
who is it that's spirited your peace and calm away
o heart you never were perturbed as you are today
us ki ankhon ne khuda jaane kiya kya jaadu
ki tabiat miri maail kabhi aisi to na thi
lord knows what enchantment her eyes have cast on me
never was my temperament inclined to this degree
aks-e-rukhsar ne kis ke hai tujhe chamkaya
taab tujh men mah-e-kamil kabhi aisi to na thi
reflection of whose face is it that causes you to glow?
o full moon, you've never shone this brightly before
ab ki jo rah-e-mohabbat men uthai taklif
sakht hoti hamen manzil kabhi aisi to na thi
--------
--------
pa-e-kuban koi zindan men naya hai majnun
aati avaz-e-salasil kabhi aisi to na thi
in jail some lover, newly crazed, is stomping all around
never did the clamour of the chains produce this sound
nigah-e-yar ko ab kyuun hai taghhaful ai dil
vo tire haal se ghhafil kabhi aisi to na thi
o heart why is my loved one's glance neglectful today?
unmindful of your state, it has never been this way
chashm-e-qatil miri dushman thi hamesha lekin
jaisi ab ho gai qatil kabhi aisi to na thi
--------
--------
kya sabab tu jo bigadta hai 'zafar' se har baar
khu tiri hur-shamail kabhi aisi to na thi
what reason zafar's every act you do now deplore
houri-face! your nature never was like this before
baat karni mujhe mushkil kabhi aisi to na thi
jaisi ab hai teri mahfil kabhi aisi to na thi
conversing has never been so diffficult for me
your company now is no more as it used to be
le gaya chhin ke kaun aaj tera sabr o qarar
be-qarari tujhe ai dil kabhi aisi to na thi
who is it that's spirited your peace and calm away
o heart you never were perturbed as you are today
us ki aankhon ne khuda jaane kiya kya jadu
ki tabiat meri mail kabhi aisi to na thi
lord knows what enchantment her eyes have cast on me
never was my temperament inclined to this degree
aks-e-rukhsar ne kis ke hai tujhe chamkaya
tab tujh mein mah-e-kaamil kabhi aisi to na thi
reflection of whose face is it that causes you to glow?
o full moon, you've never shone this brightly before
ab ki jo rah-e-mohabbat mein uthai taklif
sakht hoti hamein manzil kabhi aisi to na thi
--------
--------
pa-e-kuban koi zindan mein naya hai majnun
aati aawaz-e-salasil kabhi aisi to na thi
in jail some lover, newly crazed, is stomping all around
never did the clamour of the chains produce this sound
nigah-e-yar ko ab kyun hai taghaful ai dil
wo tere haal se ghafil kabhi aisi to na thi
o heart why is my loved one's glance neglectful today?
unmindful of your state, it has never been this way
chashm-e-qatil meri dushman thi hamesha lekin
jaisi ab ho gai qatil kabhi aisi to na thi
--------
--------
kya sabab tu jo bigadta hai 'zafar' se har bar
khu teri hur-shamail kabhi aisi to na thi
what reason zafar's every act you do now deplore
houri-face! your nature never was like this before
ibn-e-mariyam hua kare koi
ibn-e-mariyam hua kare koi
mere dukh ki dava kare koi
let anyone the son of mary be
how will i know till i find remedy
shar' o aaiin par madar sahi
aise qatil ka kya kare koi
when sanctioned by laws of divinity
for such a killer what can one decree?
chaal jaise kadi kaman ka tiir
dil men aise ke ja kare koi
like an arrow drawn her graceful gait
in this heart embedded directly
baat par vaan zaban katti hai
vo kahen aur suna kare koi
my every word she contradicts alas
if i could, but, speak and she agree
bak raha huun junun men kya kya kuchh
kuchh na samjhe khuda kare koi
lord i pray that no one comprehends
all that i rant and rave in ecstasy
na suno gar bura kahe koi
na kaho gar bura kare koi
if someone speaks ill pay no heed
stay silent if behave they sinfully
rok lo gar ghhalat chale koi
bakhsh do gar khata kare koi
stop them if they step misguidedly
forgive them if they act mistakenly
kaun hai jo nahin hai hajat-mand
kis ki hajat rava kare koi
is there anyone who's not in need?
then to whom does one do charity?
kya kiya khizr ne sikandar se
ab kise rahnuma kare koi
what did khizr for alexander do?
for guidance then who shall i go and see?
jab tavaqqo' hi uth gai 'ghhalib'
kyuun kisi ka gila kare koi
when no expectations remain
why complain of adversity?
ibn-e-mariyam hua kare koi
mere dukh ki dawa kare koi
let anyone the son of mary be
how will i know till i find remedy
shar' o aain par madar sahi
aise qatil ka kya kare koi
when sanctioned by laws of divinity
for such a killer what can one decree?
chaal jaise kadi kaman ka tir
dil mein aise ke ja kare koi
like an arrow drawn her graceful gait
in this heart embedded directly
baat par wan zaban katti hai
wo kahen aur suna kare koi
my every word she contradicts alas
if i could, but, speak and she agree
bak raha hun junun mein kya kya kuchh
kuchh na samjhe khuda kare koi
lord i pray that no one comprehends
all that i rant and rave in ecstasy
na suno gar bura kahe koi
na kaho gar bura kare koi
if someone speaks ill pay no heed
stay silent if behave they sinfully
rok lo gar ghalat chale koi
bakhsh do gar khata kare koi
stop them if they step misguidedly
forgive them if they act mistakenly
kaun hai jo nahin hai hajat-mand
kis ki hajat rawa kare koi
is there anyone who's not in need?
then to whom does one do charity?
kya kiya khizr ne sikandar se
ab kise rahnuma kare koi
what did khizr for alexander do?
for guidance then who shall i go and see?
jab tawaqqo' hi uth gai 'ghaalib'
kyun kisi ka gila kare koi
when no expectations remain
why complain of adversity?
nazar mila ke mere pas aa ke lut liya
nazar mila ke mire paas aa ke luut liya
nazar hati thi ki phir muskura ke luut liya
shikast-e-husn ka jalva dikha ke luut liya
nigah nichi kiye sar jhuka ke luut liya
duhai hai mire allah ki duhai hai
kisi ne mujh se bhi mujh ko chhupa ke luut liya
salam us pe ki jis ne utha ke parda-e-dil
mujhi men rah ke mujhi men sama ke luut liya
unhin ke dil se koi us ki azmaten puchhe
vo ek dil jise sab kuchh luta ke luut liya
yahan to khud tiri hasti hai ishq ko darkar
vo aur honge jinhen muskura ke luut liya
khusha vo jaan jise di gai amanat-e-ishq
rahe vo dil jise apna bana ke luut liya
nigah daal di jis par hasin ankhon ne
use bhi husn-e-mujassam bana ke luut liya
bade vo aae dil o jaan ke lutne vaale
nazar se chhed diya gudguda ke luut liya
raha kharab-e-mohabbat hi vo jise tu ne
khud apna dard-e-mohabbat dikha ke luut liya
koi ye luut to dekhe ki us ne jab chaha
tamam hasti-e-dil ko jaga ke luut liya
karishma-sazi-e-husn-e-azal are tauba
mira hi aina mujh ko dikha ke luut liya
na lutte ham magar un mast ankhdiyon ne 'jigar'
nazar bachate hue dabdaba ke luut liya
nazar mila ke mere pas aa ke lut liya
nazar hati thi ki phir muskura ke lut liya
shikast-e-husn ka jalwa dikha ke lut liya
nigah nichi kiye sar jhuka ke lut liya
duhai hai mere allah ki duhai hai
kisi ne mujh se bhi mujh ko chhupa ke lut liya
salam us pe ki jis ne utha ke parda-e-dil
mujhi mein rah ke mujhi mein sama ke lut liya
unhin ke dil se koi us ki azmaten puchhe
wo ek dil jise sab kuchh luta ke lut liya
yahan to khud teri hasti hai ishq ko darkar
wo aur honge jinhen muskura ke lut liya
khusha wo jaan jise di gai amanat-e-ishq
rahe wo dil jise apna bana ke lut liya
nigah dal di jis par hasin aankhon ne
use bhi husn-e-mujassam bana ke lut liya
bade wo aae dil o jaan ke lutne wale
nazar se chhed diya gudguda ke lut liya
raha kharab-e-mohabbat hi wo jise tu ne
khud apna dard-e-mohabbat dikha ke lut liya
koi ye lut to dekhe ki us ne jab chaha
tamam hasti-e-dil ko jaga ke lut liya
karishma-sazi-e-husn-e-azal are tauba
mera hi aaina mujh ko dikha ke lut liya
na lutte hum magar un mast ankhdiyon ne 'jigar'
nazar bachate hue dabdaba ke lut liya
teri anjuman mein zalim ajab ehtimam dekha
tiri anjuman men zalim ajab ehtimam dekha
kahin zindagi ki barish kahin qatl-e-am dekha
in your realm o cruel one, how strange prevails the scene
life giving showers are often seen with massacres between
meri arz-e-shauq padh len ye kahan unhen gavara
vahin chaak kar diya khat jahan mera naam dekha
expressions of my love for her, she cares not to peruse
the moment that she sees my name, tears it to smithereen
badi minnaton se aa kar vo mujhe mana rahe hain
main bacha raha huun daman mira intiqam dekha
pleading she does come to me, attempting to placate
i turn my back to her behold, my vengeance needs be seen
ai 'shakil' ruh-parvar tiri be-khudi ke naghhme
magar aaj tak na ham ne tire lab pe jaam dekha
shakeel your songs of sadness are so soulfully sublime
yet through your lips a drop of wine never has there been
teri anjuman mein zalim ajab ehtimam dekha
kahin zindagi ki barish kahin qatl-e-am dekha
in your realm o cruel one, how strange prevails the scene
life giving showers are often seen with massacres between
meri arz-e-shauq padh len ye kahan unhen gawara
wahin chaak kar diya khat jahan mera nam dekha
expressions of my love for her, she cares not to peruse
the moment that she sees my name, tears it to smithereen
badi minnaton se aa kar wo mujhe mana rahe hain
main bacha raha hun daman mera intiqam dekha
pleading she does come to me, attempting to placate
i turn my back to her behold, my vengeance needs be seen
ai 'shakil' ruh-parwar teri be-khudi ke naghme
magar aaj tak na hum ne tere lab pe jam dekha
shakeel your songs of sadness are so soulfully sublime
yet through your lips a drop of wine never has there been
dhadakta jata hai dil muskurane walon ka
dhadakta jaata hai dil muskurane valon ka
utha nahin hai abhi e'tibar nalon ka
ye mukhtasar si hai rudad-e-subh-e-mai-khana
zamin pe dher tha tuute hue piyalon ka
ye khauf hai ki saba ladkhada ke gir na pade
payam le ke chali hai shikasta-halon ka
na aaen ahl-e-khirad vadi-e-junun ki taraf
yahan guzar nahin daman bachane valon ka
lipat lipat ke gale mil rahe the khanjar se
bade ghhazab ka kaleja tha marne valon ka
dhadakta jata hai dil muskurane walon ka
utha nahin hai abhi e'tibar nalon ka
ye mukhtasar si hai rudad-e-subh-e-mai-khana
zamin pe dher tha tute hue piyalon ka
ye khauf hai ki saba ladkhada ke gir na pade
payam le ke chali hai shikasta-haalon ka
na aaen ahl-e-khirad wadi-e-junun ki taraf
yahan guzar nahin daman bachane walon ka
lipat lipat ke gale mil rahe the khanjar se
bade ghazab ka kaleja tha marne walon ka
ba-nam-e-amn-o-aman kaun mara jaega
ba-nam-e-amn-o-aman kaun maara jaega
na jaane aaj yahan kaun maara jaega
liye hue hain sabhi apna sar hatheli par
kise khabar hai kahan kaun maara jaega
ajiib maarka barpa hai, kuchh khabar hi nahin
kise milegi amaan kaun maara jaega
namaz padhne ki mohlat mile, mile na mile!
na jaane vaqt-e-azan kaun maara jaega
jo tiir bhi hai, itaat-guzar hai us ka
ye janti hai kaman kaun maara jaega
kiye gae hain jo itne hifazati iqdam
ye dekhna hai yahan kaun maara jaega
kisi ke lab pe 'nasim'-e-sahar dua kaisi
yahi hai vird-e-zaban kaun maara jaega
ba-nam-e-amn-o-aman kaun mara jaega
na jaane aaj yahan kaun mara jaega
liye hue hain sabhi apna sar hatheli par
kise khabar hai kahan kaun mara jaega
ajib marka barpa hai, kuchh khabar hi nahin
kise milegi aman kaun mara jaega
namaz padhne ki mohlat mile, mile na mile!
na jaane waqt-e-azan kaun mara jaega
jo tir bhi hai, itaat-guzar hai us ka
ye jaanti hai kaman kaun mara jaega
kiye gae hain jo itne hifazati iqdam
ye dekhna hai yahan kaun mara jaega
kisi ke lab pe 'nasim'-e-sahar dua kaisi
yahi hai wird-e-zaban kaun mara jaega
You have reached the end.