एक दानिश-ए-नूरानी, एक दानिश-ए-बुरहानी
है दानिश-ए-बुरहानी, हैरत की फ़रावानी
Reason is either luminous, or it seeks proofs;
Proof‐seeking reason is but an excess of wonder.
Proof‐seeking reason is but an excess of wonder.
*
इस पैकर-ए-ख़ाकी में एक शय है, सो वो तेरी
मेरे लिए मुश्किल है उस शय की निगहबानी
Thine alone is what I possess in this handful of dust;
And to keep it safe is beyond my power, O Lord!
And to keep it safe is beyond my power, O Lord!
*
अब क्या जो फ़ुगाँ मेरी पहुँची है सितारों तक
तूने ही सिखाई थी मुझको यह ग़ज़ल-ख्वानी
My songs of lament were all inspired by Thee;
If they have reached the stars, it is no fault of mine.
*
If they have reached the stars, it is no fault of mine.
*
हो नक्श अगर बातिल, तकरार से क्या हासिल
क्या तुझको ख़ुश आती है आदम की यह अर्ज़ानी ?
Art Thou pleased, O Lord, with man’s imperfection?
Why repeat a flawed attempt, and make his shame eternal?
Why repeat a flawed attempt, and make his shame eternal?
*
मुझ को तो सिखा दी है अफ़रंग ने ज़िन्दीक़ी
इस दौर के मुल्ला हैं क्यूँ नंग-ए-मुसलमानी !
The Western ways have tried to make me a renegade;
But why are our mullahs a disgrace to Muslims?
But why are our mullahs a disgrace to Muslims?
*
तक़दीर शिकन क़ुव्वत बाक़ी है अभी इस में
नादां जिसे कहते हैं तक़दीर का ज़िन्दानी !
Fools think man is a bondman of destiny;
But man has still the power to break the bonds of fate.
But man has still the power to break the bonds of fate.
*
तेरे भी सनमख़ाने, मेरे भी सनमख़ाने
दोनों के सनम ख़ाकी, दोनों के सनम फ़ानी
Thou hast Thy pantheon, and I have mine, O Lord!
Both have idols of dust; both have idols that die.
Both have idols of dust; both have idols that die.
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English Translation: Iqbal Urdu Blog
