Charāġhoñ ko

Dhoop by Neha 

Charāġhoñ ko āñkhoñ meñ mahfūz rakhnā 

baḌī duur tak raat hī raat hogī  

Musāfir haiñ ham bhī musāfir ho tum bhī 

kisī moḌ par phir mulāqāt hogī 

- Bashir Badr 

Jal gaya sara badan

My Mother (1912–13) by Abanindranath Tagore

Sochate aur jaagte saanson ka ek dariya hoon main,
Apne guldastha kinaro ke liye bahta hu main.

Jal gaya sara badan, in mausamo ki aag me,
Rooh ka mausam hai, jismein ab rehta hoon main.

Mere honton ka tabassum, de gaya dhoka tujhe,
Tumne mujhko baag jana, dekhle sahara hu main.

Dekhe meri pajirayi ko aab aata hai kaun,
Lamha bhar to waqt ki, dahliz par aaya hu main.

- Athar Nafees, Sung by Ghulam Ali, As remembered - Ma

Itna na apne jame se

Abanindranath Tagore 

  - Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rekhta.org

Marte hain aarzoo mein

Ahalya by A.Ramachandran 

koi umeed bar nahin aati

koi soorat nazar nahin aati

maut ka ek din mu'ayyan hai

neend kyun raat bhar nahi aati

aage aati thi haal-e-dil pe hasee

aab kisi baat par nahi aati

jaanta hoon sawaab-e-taa'at-o-zahad

par tabiyat idhar nahin aati

hai kuch aisee hi baat jo chup hoon

warna kya baat kar nahin aati?

kyon na cheekhon ki yaad karate hain

mere awaaz gar nahin aati

daag-e-dil gar nazar nahin aata

boo bhi aye chaaraagar! nahin aati

hum wahan hain jahaan se humko bhi

kuch humari khabar nahin aati

marte hain aarzoo mein marne ki

maut aati hai par nahin aati

kaaba'a kis munh se jaaoge 'ghalib'

sharm tumko magar nahin aati 

- Mirza Ghalib 

जब यार देखा नैन भर

Lány by Amrita Sher-Gil (1936)

जब यार देखा नैन भर दिल की गई चिंता उतर
ऐसा नहीं कोई अजब राखे उसे समझाए कर।

तू तो हमारा यार है, तुझ पर हमारा प्यार है
तुझे दोस्ती बिसियार है एक शब मिलो तुम आय कर।

खुसरो कहै बातें ग़ज़ब, दिल में न लावे कुछ अजब
कुदरत  खुदा की है अजब, जब जिव दिया गुल लाय कर।

- अमीर ख़ुसरौ 

Ishrat-e-qatra

- Mirza Ghalib 

Ek na ek shamma

Ek na ek shamma andhere mein jalaye rakhiye

Subah hone ko hai maahawl sajaaye rakhiye

Jinke haathon se hume zakm-e-neha pahunchi hai

Wo bhee kehte hain ke zakhmon ko chupaaye rakhiye

Kaun jaane ke wo kis raah-guzar se guzre

Har guzar raah ko phoolon se sajaaye rakhiye

Daaman-e-yaar ki zeenat na bane har ansoo 

Apni palkon ke liye kuch to bachaaye rakhiye 

- From the album "Unforgettable" by Chitra Singh & Jagjit Singh

Listen on YouTube here. 

Dasht-e-Tanhaai

dasht-e-tanhaai mein, ai jaan-e-jahaan, larzaan hain 
In the desert of my solitude, oh love of my life, quiver
teri avaaz ke saaye, 
the shadows of your voice,
tere honthon ke saraab 
the mirage of your lips

dasht-e-tanhaai mein, 
In the desert of my solitude,
duri ke khas-o-khaak tale
beneath the dust and ashes of distance
khil rahe hain tere pehlu ke saman aur gulaab
bloom the jasmines and roses of your proximity

uht rahi hai kahin qurbat se 
From somewhere very close,
teri saans ki aanch 
rises the warmth of your breath
apani khushbuu mein sulagti hui 
smouldering in its own aroma,
maddham maddham 
slowly, bit by bit.

dur ufaq par chamakati hui 
far away, across the horizon, glistens
qatra qatra
drop by drop
gir rahi hai teri dil daar nazar ki shabnam 
the falling dew of your beguiling glance

is qadar pyaar se hai jaan-e jahaan rakkhaa hai 
With such tenderness, O love of my life,
dil ke rukhsaar pe 
on the cheek of my heart,
is vaqt teri yaad ne haath
has your memory placed its hand right now

yun guman hota hai 
that it looks as if
garche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq
(though it’s still the dawn of adieu)
dhal gaya hijr ka din 
the sun of separation has set
aa bhi gaye vasl ki raat 
and the night of union has arrived.

- Faiz Ahmed Faiz

(Translated by Ayesha Kaljuvee)

Can't quite decide which rendition is my favorite, they are all beautiful: 

1) Iqbal Bano 

2) Tina Sani 

3) Iqbal Qasim 

4) Meesha Shafi 

Saraktee jaye hai

Saraktee jaye hai rukh se naqaab ahista ahista

nikalataa aa raha hai aaftaab ahista ahista

Jawaan hone lage jab vo to ham se kar liyaa pardaa

hayaa yakalakht aayii aur shabaab ahista ahista

Shabefurkat kaa jaagaa hoon farishton ab to sone do

kabhee fursat men kar lenaa hisaab ahista ahista

Savaalevasl par unko uduu kaa khauf hai itna

Dabey honthon se dete hain javaab ahistaa ahistaa

Hamarey aur tumharey pyar men bass fark hai itna

Idhar to jaldee jaldee hai udhar aahistaa aahistaa

Woh bedardee se sar kaatein "ameer" aur main kahoon un se

Huzoor aahistaa aahistaa, janaab ahista ahista

- Written by Ameer Menai, Sung by Jagjit Singh

Key to urdu words: sarakti - to slip, naqab - veil, ahista - slowly, aftaab - ( vision of) moon, yakalaKht - modesty/shame, shabefurkat - night of separation, savaalevasl - question-answers, uduu - villian,

Barason ke baad

baraso.n ke baad dekhaa ik shaKhs dil_rubaa saa

ab zahan me.n nahii.n hai par naam thaa bhalaa saa

abaruu khi.nche khi.nche se aa.Nkhe.n jhukii jhukii sii

baate.n rukii rukii sii lahajaa thakaa thakaa saa

alfaaz the ke jugnuu aavaaz ke safar me.n

ban jaaye jangalo.n me.n jis tarah raastaa saa

Khvaabo.n me.n Khvaab us ke yaado.n me.n yaad us kii

niindo.n me.n ghul gayaa ho jaise ke rat_jagaa saa

pahale bhii log aaye kitane hii zindagii me.n

vo har tarah se lekin auro.n se thaa judaa saa

agalii muhabbato.n ne vo naa_muraadiyaa.N dii.n

taazaa rafaaqato.n se dil thaa Daraa Daraa saa

kuchh ye ke muddato.n se ham bhii nahii.n the roye

kuchh zahar me.n bujhaa thaa ahabaab kaa dilaasaa

phir yuu.N huaa ke saavan aa.Nkho.n me.n aa base the

phir yuu.N huaa ke jaise dil bhii thaa aabalaa saa

ab sach kahe.n to yaaro ham ko Khabar nahii.n thii

ban jaayegaa qayaamat ik vaaqi_aa zaraa saa

tevar the beruKhii ke andaaz dostii ke

vo ajanabii thaa lekin lagataa thaa aashnaa saa

ham dasht the ke dariyaa ham zahar the ke amrit

naahaq thaa zo.Num ham ko jab vo nahii.n thaa pyaasaa

ham ne bhii us ko dekhaa kal shaam ittefaaqan

apanaa bhii haal hai ab logo 'Faraz' kaa saa

- Ahmed Faraz

Kharey panee ko

"Make a Wish" by Neha

Samundar ke kharey panee ko meetha kardey

Ya phir meree aankhon ko pathar kardey

- As remembered

ae khuda ret ke sehra ko samandar kar de
ya chhalakti aankhon ko bhi patthar kar de

tujhko dekha naheen mehsoos kiya hai maine
aa kisi din mere ehsaas ka paikar kar de

aur kuch bhi mujhe darkaar nahin hai lekin
meri chaadar mere pairon ke baraabar kar de

- As sung by Jagjit Singh

Key to urdu words: ret ke sehra = sand castles,paikar = real/concrete ,darkaar = lack, chaadar=sheet of cloth

Tujh lab ki sifat

"Spread" by Neha

Tujh lab ki sifat laal-e-badaksha soo kahoonga
Jaadu hai tere nain, ghazala soo kahoonga

Jalta hu shabon roz tere gham me ey saajan
Yaha soz tera misal-e-soja soo kahoonga

Mujh par na karo zulm tum ey lailiye khuba
Majnoon hu tere gham ko bayamban soo kahoonga

Dekha hu tujhe khwaab mein ey maya-e-khubi
Is khwaab ko ja yusuf-e-tanha soo kahoonga

Di baadshahi haq mein tujhe husn nagar ki
Ja kishwar-e-imaan-e-suleman soo kahoonga

Yak nukta tere safaye rukh par nahi beja
Is mukh ko tere safa-e-Quran soo kahoonga

- Written by Wali Dakkani, Sung by Abida Parveen

Key to urdu words: Sifat - quality, like/similar to ; lab = lips; laal = ruby; gazaalaaan = deer;so= compare to, badakhshaan= place in Afghanistan famous for its rubies

Baat Shanasai ki

" A wish" by Neha

kubaku phail gayee baat shanasai ki
us ne khushboo ki tarah meri pazirai ki

kaise kah dun k mujhe chor diya hai us ne
bat to sach hai magar bat hai ruswai ki

wo kahin bhi gaya lauta to mere paas aaya
bas yahi baat hai achee merey harjai ki

tera pahlu tere dil ki tarah abad rahe
tujh pe guzre na qayamat shab-e-tanhai ki

us ne jaltee hui peshani pe jo hath rakha
rooh tak a gai tasir masihai ki

- Parveen Shakir

Listen to this ghazal on YouTube by Abida Parveen and Mehdi Hassan

Apni Parwaaz

Apni Parwaaz-e-Takhayyull Hain Zamane Se Juda
Jiss Jagah Koyi Na Pahuncha Wahaan Tak Pahunche
Main Samajhta Huun Harr Dil Mein Khuda Rehta Hain
Mera Paigam Mohabbat Hain Jaahan Tak Pahunche

- Ahsan Sherazi

Ab ke hum

ab ke hum bichDe to shaayad kabhi khwaaboN meiN mile
jis tarah sookhe huye phool kitaaboN meiN mile

dhoonD uJde huye logon meiN wafa ke moti
ye khazane tuJhe mumkin hai kharaboN meiN mile

tu khuda hai na mera ishq faristoN jaisa
dono insaaN haiN to inum itne hijaaboN mein mile

gham-e-duniya bhi gham-e-yaar meiN shaamil kar lo
nasha behta hai sharaaboN meiN to sharaboN meiN mile

ab laboN meiN hooN na tu hai na wo maaji hai faraaq
jaise do saaye tamaana ke saraabOn meiN mile

Writer: Ahmed Faraz
Singer: Mehdi Hassan

Le chala jaan meri

le chala jaan meri rooth ke jana tera
aise aanay se to behtar tha na aana tera

tu jo ay zulf pareshaan raha karti hai
kis ke ujre howay dil mein hai thikana tera

aarzu he na rahi subh e watan ki mujh ko
shaam e ghurbat hai ajab waqt sunhana ter

apni aankhon mein abhi kond gayi bijli si
hum na samjhe ke yeh aana hai ke jaana tera

tu khuda to nahi, ae naaseh naadaan mera
kya khata ki jo kaha maine na maana tera

le chala jaan meri rooth ke jana tera
aise aanay se to behtar tha na aana tera

-Daag Dehlvi

Note:

1) See performance by Abida Parveen here

2) For complete translation see Ek Fankar's Blog

Mohabbat karney waley

Mohabbat karNe wale kam nah hoNge
Teri mehfil main lekin hum nah hoNge

Zamaane bhar ke gham yah ik tera gham
Yeh gham hoga to kitNe gham nah hoNge

Dilon ki uljah ne bardti rahengi
Agar kuch mushWare baaham nah hoNge

Agar tu ittifaaqan mil bhi jaeN
Teri furqat ke sadMai kam nah hoNge

'Hafeez' oon se mein jit na badGumaaN hooN
Woh mujh se is qadar barham na hoNge

-Hafeez Hoshiarpuri

Listen to this beautiful ghazal by Mehdi Hassan on YouTube

Ye aarzoo thee

yeh aarzoo thi tujhe gul ke ru-ba-ru karte
hum aur bulbul-e-betaab guftagu karte

payaam bar na mayassar hua to khoob hua
zabaan-e-ghair se kyaa shar ki aarzoo karte

meri tarah se maah-o-mahar bhi hain aavaaraa
kisi habib ko ye bhi hain justajoo karte

jo dekhte teri zanjeer-e-zulf kaa aalam
aseer hone ke aazaad aarzoo karte

na poochh aalam-e-baragashtaa taali-e-"Aatish"
barasati aag main jo baaraan ki aarzoo karte

- Sung by Abida Parveen

Dard ka hudd se guzarna

Pollard Willows with Setting Sun by Van Gogh - 1888

Ishrate qatrah hai, dariya mein fana ho jana

Dard ka hudd se guzarna hee dawa ho jana

Tujh se qismat mein reri soorate qafle abjad

Tha likha, baat ke bante hi juda ho jana

Dil hua kashmakash charai zahmat mein tamam

Mit gaya ghisne mein is uqdey ka wa ho jana

Ab jafa se bhi hain mahroom hum allah allah!

Is qader dushmane arbabe wafa ho jana!

Zof se giryah mubaddil bah dam serd hawa

Bawer aaya hamein pani ka hawa ho jana

Dil se mitna teri angusht hinaee ka khayal

Ho gaya gosht se nakhun ka zuda ho jana

Hai mujhe abre bahari ka baras ker khulna

Rote rote game furqat mein fana ho jana

Gar nahin nikhate gul ko tere koche ki hawas

Kiyon hai girde rahe jolane saba ho jana

Bakhshe hain jalwai gul joshe tamasha Ghalib!

Chashm ko chahiye her rang mein wa ho jana

Taki tujh per khule ajaz hawai saiqal

Daikh bersatmein sabz aiene ka ho jana

- Mirza Ghalib

Key to urdu words: Ishrat- heartfelt wish (desire), qatrah- drop of water , fana- to get destroyed (mit jana)

Ek bass tu hi nahee

Southern Gardens by Paul Klee ( 1936)

Ek bass tu hi nahin mujhse khafa ho baitha
Mainey jo sang taraasha tha khuda ho baitha

Uth ke manzil hi agar aaye to shayad kuchh ho
Shauq-E-Manzil to mera aablaa-pa ho baitha

Masalaht cheen gayi quwwat-e-guftaar magar
Kuchh na kehna hee mera meri kata ho baitha

Shukriya ai mere qaatil ai masiha merey
Zehar jo tuney diya tha wo dawa ho baitha

Jaan-e-shahazaad ko min-jumlaa-e-ada pa kar
Huuk wo utthi ki ji tan se juda ho baitha

- Farhat Shehzad

Key to urdu words: Khafa: Angry, Annoyed, Displeased, Sang: Stone, Taraashaa: Carving ; Shauq-e-Manzil: Eager search of the goal/destination, Aabalaa-paa: Blistered Feet;Maslehat: Public interest, a thing that is right or wrong, Cheen-na: Snatching, Quvvat: Strength, Guftaar: Conversation, Discourse, Speech, Talk, Quvvat-e-Guftaar: Strength of Speech, Sadaa: Sound, Tone, Voice, Qaatil: Killer, Masihaa: God ( as Christ) , Zehar : Poison, Dawa: Medicine , Shehzad: A reference to the poet, Farhat Shehzad, Min-jumla-e-ada: fragile state, Huuk: shooting pain ( translation thanks to Ek Fankaar )

Notes: Listen to beautiful renditions of this ghazal on YouTube by Abida Parveen and Mehdi Hassan