Shikwa

kaise kahen ki tujh ko bhi hum se hai wasta koi tu ne to hum se aaj tak koi gila nahin kiya

zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe

zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe tu bahut der se mila hai mujhe tu mohabbat se koi chaal to chal haar jaane ka hausla hai mujhe dil dhadakta nahin tapakta hai kal jo khvahish thi aabla hai mujhe ham-safar chahiye hujum nahin ik musafir bhi qafila hai mujhe kohkan ho ki qais ho ki 'faraz' sab men ik shakhs hi mila hai mujhe zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe tu bahut der se mila hai mujhe tu mohabbat se koi chaal to chal haar jaane ka hausla hai mujhe dil dhadakta nahin tapakta hai kal jo khwahish thi aabla hai mujhe ham-safar chahiye hujum nahin ek musafir bhi qafila hai mujhe kohkan ho ki qais ho ki 'faraaz' sab mein ek shakhs hi mila hai mujhe

gila bhi tujh se bahut hai magar mohabbat bhi wo baat apni jagah hai ye baat apni jagah

ye gham kya dil ki aadat hai nahin to

ye ghham kya dil ki 'adat hai nahin to kisi se kuchh shikayat hai nahin to kisi ke bin kisi ki yaad ke bin jiye jaane ki himmat hai nahin to hai vo ik khvab-e-be-taabir us ko bhula dene ki niyat hai nahin to kisi surat bhi dil lagta nahin haan to kuchh din se ye halat hai nahin to tire is haal par hai sab ko hairat tujhe bhi is pe hairat hai nahin to ham-ahangi nahin duniya se teri tujhe is par nadamat hai nahin to hua jo kuchh yahi maqsum tha kya yahi saari hikayat hai nahin to aziyyat-nak ummidon se tujh ko amaan paane ki hasrat hai nahin to tu rahta hai khayal-o-khvab men gum to is ki vajh fursat hai nahin to sabab jo is judai ka bana hai vo mujh se khub-surat hai nahin to ye gham kya dil ki 'adat hai nahin to kisi se kuchh shikayat hai nahin to kisi ke bin kisi ki yaad ke bin jiye jaane ki himmat hai nahin to hai wo ek khwab-e-be-tabir us ko bhula dene ki niyat hai nahin to kisi surat bhi dil lagta nahin han to kuchh din se ye haalat hai nahin to tere is haal par hai sab ko hairat tujhe bhi is pe hairat hai nahin to ham-ahangi nahin duniya se teri tujhe is par nadamat hai nahin to hua jo kuchh yahi maqsum tha kya yahi sari hikayat hai nahin to aziyyat-nak ummidon se tujh ko aman pane ki hasrat hai nahin to tu rahta hai khayal-o-khwab mein gum to is ki wajh fursat hai nahin to sabab jo is judai ka bana hai wo mujh se khub-surat hai nahin to

ghairon se kaha tum ne ghairon se suna tum ne kuchh hum se kaha hota kuchh hum se suna hota

ya mujhe afsar-e-shahana banaya hota

ya mujhe afsar-e-shahana banaya hota ya mira taaj gadayana banaya hota apna divana banaya mujhe hota tu ne kyuun khirad-mand banaya na banaya hota khaksari ke liye garche banaya tha mujhe kaash khak-e-dar-e-janana banaya hota nashsha-e-ishq ka gar zarf diya tha mujh ko umr ka tang na paimana banaya hota dil-e-sad-chak banaya to bala se lekin zulf-e-mushkin ka tire shana banaya hota sufiyon ke jo na tha laeq-e-sohbat to mujhe qabil-e-jalsa-e-rindana banaya hota tha jalana hi agar duri-e-saqi se mujhe to charaghh-e-dar-e-mai-khana banaya hota shola-e-husn chaman men na dikhaya us ne varna bulbul ko bhi parvana banaya hota roz mamura-e-duniya men kharabi hai 'zafar' aisi basti ko to virana banaya hota ya mujhe afsar-e-shahana banaya hota ya mera taj gadayana banaya hota apna diwana banaya mujhe hota tu ne kyun khirad-mand banaya na banaya hota khaksari ke liye garche banaya tha mujhe kash khak-e-dar-e-jaanana banaya hota nashsha-e-ishq ka gar zarf diya tha mujh ko umr ka tang na paimana banaya hota dil-e-sad-chaak banaya to bala se lekin zulf-e-mushkin ka tere shana banaya hota sufiyon ke jo na tha laeq-e-sohbat to mujhe qabil-e-jalsa-e-rindana banaya hota tha jalana hi agar duri-e-saqi se mujhe to charagh-e-dar-e-mai-khana banaya hota shola-e-husn chaman mein na dikhaya us ne warna bulbul ko bhi parwana banaya hota roz mamura-e-duniya mein kharabi hai 'zafar' aisi basti ko to virana banaya hota

zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe tu bahut der se mila hai mujhe

duniya ke sitam yaad na apni hi wafa yaad

duniya ke sitam yaad na apni hi vafa yaad ab mujh ko nahin kuchh bhi mohabbat ke siva yaad main shikva ba-lab tha mujhe ye bhi na raha yaad shayad ki mire bhulne vaale ne kiya yaad chheda tha jise pahle-pahal teri nazar ne ab tak hai vo ik naghhma-e-be-saz-o-sada yaad jab koi hasin hota hai sargarm-e-navazish us vaqt vo kuchh aur bhi aate hain siva yaad kya janiye kya ho gaya arbab-e-junun ko marne ki ada yaad na jiine ki ada yaad muddat hui ik hadsa-e-ishq ko lekin ab tak hai tire dil ke dhadakne ki sada yaad haan haan tujhe kya kaam miri shiddat-e-ghham se haan haan nahin mujh ko tire daman ki hava yaad main tark-e-rah-o-rasm-e-junun kar hi chuka tha kyuun aa gai aise men tiri laghhzish-e-pa yaad kya lutf ki main apna pata aap bataun kiije koi bhuli hui khaas apni ada yaad duniya ke sitam yaad na apni hi wafa yaad ab mujh ko nahin kuchh bhi mohabbat ke siwa yaad main shikwa ba-lab tha mujhe ye bhi na raha yaad shayad ki mere bhulne wale ne kiya yaad chheda tha jise pahle-pahal teri nazar ne ab tak hai wo ek naghma-e-be-saz-o-sada yaad jab koi hasin hota hai sargarm-e-nawazish us waqt wo kuchh aur bhi aate hain siwa yaad kya jaaniye kya ho gaya arbab-e-junun ko marne ki ada yaad na jine ki ada yaad muddat hui ek hadsa-e-ishq ko lekin ab tak hai tere dil ke dhadakne ki sada yaad han han tujhe kya kaam meri shiddat-e-gham se han han nahin mujh ko tere daman ki hawa yaad main tark-e-rah-o-rasm-e-junun kar hi chuka tha kyun aa gai aise mein teri laghzish-e-pa yaad kya lutf ki main apna pata aap bataun kije koi bhuli hui khas apni ada yaad

dil ki taklif kam nahin karte ab koi shikwa hum nahin karte

teri duniya mein jine se to behtar hai ki mar jaen

tiri duniya men jiine se to behtar hai ki mar jaaen vahi aansu vahi aahen vahi ghham hai jidhar jaaen koi to aisa ghar hota jahan se pyaar mil jaata vahi begane chehre hain jahan jaaen jidhar jaaen are o asman vaale bata is men bura kya hai khushi ke chaar jhonke gar idhar se bhi guzar jaaen teri duniya mein jine se to behtar hai ki mar jaen wahi aansu wahi aahen wahi gham hai jidhar jaen koi to aisa ghar hota jahan se pyar mil jata wahi begane chehre hain jahan jaen jidhar jaen are o aasman wale bata is mein bura kya hai khushi ke chaar jhonke gar idhar se bhi guzar jaen

kab wo sunta hai kahani meri aur phir wo bhi zabani meri when does she ever heed my state and that too then when i narrate ghalib laments the absolute indifference of his beloved, who refuses to pay attention to his plight. the rejection is twofold: the beloved ignores the story itself, and finds it even more intolerable because it is being narrated directly by the poet.

ab to shahron se khabar aati hai diwanon ki

ab to shahron se khabar aati hai divanon ki koi pahchan hi baaqi nahin viranon ki apni poshak se hushyar ki khuddam-e-qadim dhajjiyan mangte hain apne garebanon ki sanaten phailti jaati hain magar is ke saath sarhaden tutti jaati hain gulistanon ki dil men vo zakhm khile hain ki chaman kya shai hai ghar men barat si utri hui gul-danon ki un ko kya fikr ki main paar laga ya duuba bahs karte rahe sahil pe jo tufanon ki teri rahmat to musallam hai magar ye to bata kaun bijli ko khabar deta hai kashanon ki maqbare bante hain zindon ke makanon se buland kis qadar auj pe takrim hai insanon ki ek ik yaad ke hathon pe charaghhon bhare tasht kaaba-e-dil ki faza hai ki sanam-khanon ki ab to shahron se khabar aati hai diwanon ki koi pahchan hi baqi nahin viranon ki apni poshak se hushyar ki khuddam-e-qadim dhajjiyan mangte hain apne garebanon ki sanaten phailti jati hain magar is ke sath sarhaden tutti jati hain gulistanon ki dil mein wo zakhm khile hain ki chaman kya shai hai ghar mein baraat si utri hui gul-danon ki un ko kya fikr ki main par laga ya duba bahs karte rahe sahil pe jo tufanon ki teri rahmat to musallam hai magar ye to bata kaun bijli ko khabar deta hai kashanon ki maqbare bante hain zindon ke makanon se buland kis qadar auj pe takrim hai insanon ki ek ek yaad ke hathon pe charaghon bhare tasht kaba-e-dil ki faza hai ki sanam-khanon ki

bada maza ho jo mahshar mein hum karen shikwa wo minnaton se kahen chup raho khuda ke liye dagh dehlvi imagines the ultimate courtroom—judgment day—as a stage for lovers’ grievances. the thrill lies in the irony that even there, where truth should be spoken, the beloved tries to hush the lover with humble entreaties. “for god’s sake” carries both social politeness and a sacred weight, turning suppression into a tender, teasing intimacy. the couplet blends complaint with playful affection and moral pressure.

haq fath-yab mere khuda kyun nahin hua

haq fath-yab mere khuda kyuun nahin hua tu ne kaha tha tera kaha kyuun nahin hua jab hashr isi zamin pe uthae gae to phir barpa yahin pe roz-e-jaza kyuun nahin hua vo shama bujh gai thi to kohram tha tamam dil bujh gae to shor-e-aza kyuun nahin hua vamandgan pe tang hui kyuun tiri zamin darvaza asman ka va kyuun nahin hua vo shoala-saz bhi isi basti ke log the un ki gali men raqs-e-hava kyuun nahin hua akhir isi kharabe men zinda hain aur sab yuun khaak koi mere siva kyuun nahin hua kya jazb-e-ishq mujh se ziyada tha ghhair men us ka habib us se juda kyuun nahin hua jab vo bhi the gulu-e-burida se nala-zan phir kushtagan ka harf rasa kyuun nahin hua karta raha main tere liye doston se jang tu mere dushmanon se khafa kyuun nahin hua jo kuchh hua vo kaise hua janta huun main jo kuchh nahin hua vo bata kyuun nahin hua haq fath-yab mere khuda kyun nahin hua tu ne kaha tha tera kaha kyun nahin hua jab hashr isi zamin pe uthae gae to phir barpa yahin pe roz-e-jaza kyun nahin hua wo shama bujh gai thi to kohram tha tamam dil bujh gae to shor-e-aza kyun nahin hua wamandgan pe tang hui kyun teri zamin darwaza aasman ka wa kyun nahin hua wo shoala-saz bhi isi basti ke log the un ki gali mein raqs-e-hawa kyun nahin hua aakhir isi kharabe mein zinda hain aur sab yun khak koi mere siwa kyun nahin hua kya jazb-e-ishq mujh se ziyaada tha ghair mein us ka habib us se juda kyun nahin hua jab wo bhi the gulu-e-burida se nala-zan phir kushtagan ka harf rasa kyun nahin hua karta raha main tere liye doston se jang tu mere dushmanon se khafa kyun nahin hua jo kuchh hua wo kaise hua jaanta hun main jo kuchh nahin hua wo bata kyun nahin hua

shikwa koi dariya ki rawani se nahin hai rishta hi meri pyas ka pani se nahin hai

dil se wo kaam nahin lete hain

dil se vo kaam nahin lete hain ab mira naam nahin lete hain vo bhi aghhaz bhula baithe hain ham bhi anjam nahin lete hain ham se nalan hain mohabbat kyuun ki khud par ilzam nahin lete hain hazrat-e-dil ka bhala kya kiije zara aram nahin lete hain zid hai girna hai yahan roz-o-shab jab talak thaam nahin lete hain koi samjhae bujhae dil ko dil par alam nahin lete hain mere she'ron pe hai marti duniya vahi paighham nahin lete hain lijiye muft men jaan le liije jaan ke ham daam nahin lete hain tauba kitna hai bura naam 'abrak' jab vahi naam nahin lete hain dil se wo kaam nahin lete hain ab mera nam nahin lete hain wo bhi aaghaz bhula baithe hain hum bhi anjam nahin lete hain hum se nalan hain mohabbat kyun ki khud par ilzam nahin lete hain hazrat-e-dil ka bhala kya kije zara aaram nahin lete hain zid hai girna hai yahan roz-o-shab jab talak tham nahin lete hain koi samjhae bujhae dil ko dil par aalam nahin lete hain mere she'ron pe hai marti duniya wahi paigham nahin lete hain lijiye muft mein jaan le lije jaan ke hum dam nahin lete hain tauba kitna hai bura nam 'abrak' jab wahi nam nahin lete hain

raat aa kar guzar bhi jati hai ek hamari sahar nahin hoti

sara jahan raqib bina baat ka raha

saara jahan raqib bina baat ka raha bekar silsila hi mulaqat ka raha donon jahan men ghharq hua mera jhonpada kya daur yaar raat ki barsat ka raha insan ki bata mujhe hoti hai qaum kya dushman har ek shakhs miri zaat ka raha laaiq nahin tha jis ke jo us ne vahi liya main hi ghharib tha gila is baat ka raha sara jahan raqib bina baat ka raha bekar silsila hi mulaqat ka raha donon jahan mein gharq hua mera jhonpada kya daur yar raat ki barsat ka raha insan ki bata mujhe hoti hai qaum kya dushman har ek shakhs meri zat ka raha laiq nahin tha jis ke jo us ne wahi liya main hi gharib tha gila is baat ka raha

aarzu hasrat aur ummid shikayat aansu ek tera zikr tha aur bich mein kya kya nikla

sab yar the hamrah magar yar nahin the

sab yaar the hamrah magar yaar nahin the ham misl-e-zamana kabhi hushyar nahin the har baar tujhe dhundne aae hain yahan tak lekin miri jaan tum yahan har baar nahin the us ki hi mohabbat men gire dost ki jis se ham baat talak karne ko tayyar nahin the ai shaikh na kahna ki maza mai men nahin hai mai-khane men ik tum the jo bedar nahin the phir hijr ki raton ne inhen kar diya aisa ye log azal se hi to mai-khvar nahin the sab yar the hamrah magar yar nahin the hum misl-e-zamana kabhi hushyar nahin the har bar tujhe dhundne aae hain yahan tak lekin meri jaan tum yahan har bar nahin the us ki hi mohabbat mein gire dost ki jis se hum baat talak karne ko tayyar nahin the ai shaikh na kahna ki maza mai mein nahin hai mai-khane mein ek tum the jo bedar nahin the phir hijr ki raaton ne inhen kar diya aisa ye log azal se hi to mai-khwar nahin the

sar agar sar hai to nezon se shikayat kaisi dil agar dil hai to dariya se bada hona hai

mohabbat hi mein milte hain shikayat ke maze paiham mohabbat jitni badhti hai shikayat hoti jati hai

kyun hijr ke shikwe karta hai kyun dard ke rone rota hai ab ishq kiya to sabr bhi kar is mein to yahi kuchh hota hai

kahne deti nahin kuchh munh se mohabbat meri lab pe rah jati hai aa aa ke shikayat meri from voicing my emotions, love makes me refrain grievances come to my lips but silent there remain the couplet shows a lover trapped between feeling and speech: love itself becomes a force that silences. the “complaint” rises again and again, yet remains unspoken, suggesting fear of hurting the beloved or losing dignity. the repeated reaching of words to the lips conveys persistent longing and inner pressure. the emotional core is restrained pain—too intense to hide, yet too delicate to declare.

koi charag jalata nahin saliqe se magar sabhi ko shikayat hawa se hoti hai

sunega kaun meri chaak-damani ka afsana yahan sab apne apne pairahan ki baat karte hain

chup raho to puchhta hai khair hai lo khamoshi bhi shikayat ho gai

saf inkar agar ho to tasalli ho jae jhute wadon se tere ranj siwa hota hai

han unhin logon se duniya mein shikayat hai hamein han wahi log jo akasr hamein yaad aae hain

un ka gham un ka tasawwur un ke shikwe ab kahan ab to ye baaten bhi ai dil ho gain aai gai