Ghazal
ख़ुदा अलीगढ़ के मदरसे को तमाम अमराज़ से शिफ़ा दे
This poem is an affectionate yet subtly observant prayer for the well-being and prosperity of the Aligarh institution. It highlights the refined manners, sharpness, and nobility of its students while wishing for the academy to remain free from all intellectual and moral shortcomings.
Source: rekhta · HI
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1
ख़ुदा अलीगढ़ के मदरसे को तमाम अमराज़ से शिफ़ा दे
भरे हुए हैं रईस-ज़ादे अमीर-ज़ादे शरीफ़-ज़ादे
May God heal the college of Aligarh from every malady and plight, filled as it is with the sons of the wealthy, the noble, and the elite.
May God cure the college of Aligarh from all ailments, for it is filled with the sons of the rich, the wealthy, and the noble.
2
लतीफ़ ओ ख़ुश-वज़्अ चुस्त-ओ-चालाक ओ साफ़-ओ-पाकीज़ा शाद-ओ-ख़ुर्रम
तबीअतों में है उन की जौदत दिलों में उन के हैं नेक इरादे
Refined and elegant, nimble and alert, spotless, pure, joyful and gay;
Brilliance abides within their minds, and noble intentions in their hearts hold sway.
They are refined, elegant, active, alert, pure, and cheerful; their minds are endowed with sharpness and intelligence, and their hearts are filled with noble intentions.
3
कमाल मेहनत से पढ़ रहे हैं कमाल ग़ैरत से बढ़ रहे हैं
सवार मशरिक़ की राह में हैं तो मग़रिबी राह में पियादे
With earnest toil they learn and strive, with wondrous pride they march ahead; Mounted riders on the Eastern road, yet humble pawns upon the Western path.
People are studying with extreme diligence and advancing with great self-respect; while they ride as mounted horsemen on the Eastern path, they remain merely foot-soldiers on the Western road.
4
हर इक है उन में का बे-शक ऐसा कि आप उसे जानते हैं जैसा
दिखाए महफ़िल में क़द्द-ए-रअना जो आप आएँ तो सर झुका दे
Each one among them is undoubtedly just as you know them to be: flaunting proud grace before the gathering, yet bowing low the moment you appear.
Each one of them is undoubtedly just as you know them to be; they show off their graceful stature in the gathering, but bow their head the moment you arrive.
5
फ़क़ीर माँगें तो साफ़ कह दें कि तू है मज़बूत जा कमा खा
क़ुबूल फ़रमाएँ आप दावत तो अपना सरमाया कुल खिला दे
If a beggar pleads, they bluntly sneer, 'You are able and strong, go work and earn!' / Yet if the elite accept their feast, their entire fortune is spent in return.
If a beggar asks for charity, people bluntly tell him that he is able-bodied and should work to earn, but if an important person accepts their invitation, they spend their entire fortune hosting them.
6
बुतों से उन को नहीं लगावट मिसों की लेते नहीं वो आहट
तमाम क़ुव्वत है सर्फ़-ए-ख़्वाँदन नज़र के भोले हैं दिल की सादे
With idols they have no liaison, nor heed the whisper of English misses; All their strength is spent in study, innocent in glance and simple of heart.
They have no attachment to idols (earthly beauties) nor do they pay attention to foreign maidens; all their energy is spent solely on study, for they are innocent in gaze and simple-hearted.
7
नज़र भी आए जो ज़ुल्फ़-ए-पेचाँ तो समझें ये कोई पालिसी है
इलेक्ट्रिक लाईट उस को समझें जो बर्क़-वश कोई कोई दे
Should tangled tresses catch the eye, deem it to be some clever policy; and take that for electric light, which flashes rare like lightning's gleam.
If tangled tresses ever catch the eye, one should take it to be some deliberate policy or strategy, and only that which flashes rarely like lightning should be regarded as electric light.
8
निकलते हैं कर के ग़ोल-बंदी ब-नाम-ए-तहज़ीब ओ दर्द-मंदी
ये कह के लेते हैं सब से चंदे हमें जो तुम दो तुम्हें ख़ुदा दे
Forming factions they venture out in the name of culture and compassion, extracting donations from all with the cry: 'Whatever you give us, may God grant you in return!'
People form groups and set out in the name of culture and sympathy, collecting donations from everyone by saying, 'May God give you whatever you give to us.'
9
उन्हें इसी बात पर यक़ीन है कि बस यही असल कार-ए-दीं है
इसी सी होगा फ़रोग़-ए-क़ौमी इसी से चमकेंगे बाप दादे
They are firmly convinced that this alone is the true calling of faith; through this alone shall the nation rise, and their forefathers' glory brightly shine.
They firmly believe that this alone is the true essence of religious duty, and that only through this will the nation prosper and the glory of their ancestors shine.
10
मकान-ए-कॉलेज के सब मकीं हैं अभी उन्हें तजरबे नहीं हैं
ख़बर नहीं है कि आगे चल कर है कैसी मंज़िल हैं कैसी जादे
Sheltered dwellers of the college halls, as yet untouched by worldly trial; they know not what rugged paths lie ahead, nor what destinations wait beyond the mile.
All the residents of the college lack real experience right now; they have no idea what kinds of paths and destinations await them ahead in life.
11
दिलों में उन के है नूर-ए-ईमाँ क़वी नहीं है मगर निगहबाँ
हवा-ए-मंतिक़ अदा-ए-तिफ़ली ये शम्अ ऐसा न हो बुझा दे
Within their hearts glows the light of faith, yet its guardian is not strong; lest the winds of cold logic and childish caprice extinguish this tender flame.
The light of faith exists in their hearts, but its protector is not strong. Beware lest the wind of logic and childish tendencies extinguish this candle.
12
फ़रेब दे कर निकाले मतलब सिखाए तहक़ीर-ए-दीन-ओ-मज़हब
मिटा दे आख़िर को वज़-ए-मिल्लत नुमूद-ए-ज़ाती को गर बढ़ा दे
To gain its ends through false deceit, it teaches scorn for faith and creed; It sweeps away the communal bond, if only self-glory it may breed.
It achieves selfish ends through deceit and teaches contempt for faith and religion, ultimately destroying the collective identity and traditions of the community if it serves to elevate personal fame and glory.
13
यही बस 'अकबर' की इल्तिजा है जनाब-ए-बारी में ये दुआ है
उलूम-ओ-हिकमत का दर्स उन को प्रोफ़ेसर दें समझ ख़ुदा दे
This alone is Akbar's humble plea, to the Divine this prayer to send: Let professors teach them sciences and arts, but may God grant wisdom to comprehend.
Akbar's only plea and prayer to God is that while professors may teach people knowledge and sciences, true understanding and wisdom should be granted by God.
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