Faiz

Though I had promised myself to restrict this blog to my own works only, there are certain instances when we give in to the great wave. This nazm is by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, one of my most loved and most profound inspirations, (btw, I found out I was related to him three years ago), and its a prayer, this nazm. It epitomizes what I believe at this point in time. That relegion is not the same as spiritualism, and that relegion in itself, can be defined in a myriad of ways. That a prayer, can fly from the heart, anytime. That prayers are not confined to ideological or theological barriers. That who I pray to, may not matter, as long as I understand what I am praying for.That we, in this world right now, need to bleed with those who bleed, and to cry with those who cry, for it is only then, will we understand them, and only through understanding comes action.

Show me the light. But show it to me through the living.Through essentially, the heart. Through compassion.And then, I shall believe.


"Aaiye, haath uthaaein hum bhi
Hum, jinhe rasm-e-dua yaad nahi
Hum, jinhe soze-e-muhabbat k siwa,
Koi but, koi khuda yaad nahi.

aaiye, arz guzaarein k nigaar-e-hasti
Zeher-e-imroz mein shireen-e-fardaan bhar de
Woh jinhe taabe garaan baarii-e-ayaam nahi
Unki palkon pe shab-o-roz ko halka kar de.

Jin ki aankhon ko rukh-e-subh ka yaaran bhi nahi
Un ki raaton mein koi shumma munawwar kar de
Jin k qadmon ko kisi raah ka sahaara bhi nahi
Un ki nazron pe koi raah ujaagar kar de.

Jin ka deen pairwi-e-kasb-o-riyaa hai un ko
Himmat-e-kufar miley, Jurrat-e-tahqeeq miley.
Jin ke sar muntazir-e-taigh-e-jafaa hain un ko
Dast-e-qaatil ko jhatak dainey ki taufeeq miley.

Ishq kaa sar-e-nihaan jaan-tapaa hai jis se
Aaj iqraar karein aur tapish mit jaye
Harf-e-haq dil mein khataktaa hai jo kaante ki tarah
Aaj izhaar karein aur khalish mit jaye.

Aaiye haath uthayein hum bhi....."

(Faiz Ahmed Faiz--14 August 1967)