A Collection of Bahadur Shah Zafar Poetry

[Wasif Safi]

The last Mughal emperor of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar II (1775-1862) was born Abu Zafar Sirajuddin Muhammad Bahadur Shah Zafar and was a very famous Urdu poet in his times. His poems are still read with much enthusiasm and admiration among the numerous Urdu poetry fans. The life history of Bahadur Shah Zafar is very interesting and is read with much enthusiasm by all. Read on further about Bahadur Shah Zafar biography and learn more about this Mughal emperor who was a genius poet.

Regarded as one of the greatest Urdu poets in the history of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar wrote a large number of Urdu Ghazals most of which were lost during wars fought in the year 1857. Yet, many of them were saved and were later on compiled as Kulliyat-I-Zafar. His Ghazals are a beautiful collection of words that spell magic and are read with awe and admiration even today. Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last and the weakest Mughal emperor. Even then he was considered a hero and was portrayed like one in many Hindi films. A road has been named in his honor in New Delhi, India. His valuable contribution in the Indian freedom struggle is very much acknowledged and he is known as a nationalist in modern India.

He was not a very able emperor and his empire had a lot of chaos and unrest. He was defeated and was sent on an exile in Rangoon. He died over there in the year 1862 and a tomb was built in his honor, which exists even today.

 

[Wasif Safi]

baat karanii mujhe mushkil kabhii aisii to na thii
jaisii ab hai terii mahafil kabhii aisii to na thii

le gayaa chhiin ke kaun aaj teraa sabr-o-qarar
beqaraarii tujhe ai dil kabhii aisii to na thii

chashm-e-qaatil merii dushman thii hameshaa lekin
jaise ab ho ga_ii qaatil kabhii aisii to na thii

un kii aa.Nkho.n ne Khudaa jaane kiyaa kyaa jaaduu
ke tabiiyat merii maa_il kabhii aisii to na thii

aks-e-ruKh-e-yaar ne kis se hai tujhe chamakaayaa
taab tujh me.n maah-e-kaamil kabhii aisii to na thii

kyaa sabab tuu jo biga.Dataa hai "Zafar" se har baar
Khuu terii huur-e-shamaa_il kabhii aisii to na thii

 

[Wasif Safi]

biich me.n pardaa du_ii kaa thaa jo haayal uTh gayaa
aisaa kuchh dekhaa ke duniyaa se meraa dil uTh gayaa

shamaa ne ro ro ke kaaTii raat suulii par tamaam
shab ko jo mahafil se terii ai zeb-e-mahafil uTh gayaa

merii aa.Nkho.n me.n samaayaa us kaa aisaa nuur-e-haq
shauq-e-nazzaaraa ai badr-e-kaamil uTh gayaa

ai Zafar kyaa puuchhataa hai begunaah-o-bar-gunah
uTh gayaa ab jidhar ko vaaste qaatil uTh gayaa

 

[Wasif Safi]

dil kii merii beqaraarii mujh se kuchh puuchho nahii.n
shab kii merii aah-o-zaarii mujh se kuchh puuchho nahii.n


baar-e-Gam se mujh pe roz-e-hijr me.n ik ik gha.Dii
kyaa kahuu.N hai kaisii bhaarii mujh se kuchh puuchho nahii.n

merii suurat hii se bas maaluum kar lo ham-damo
tum haqiiqat merii saarii mujh se kuchh puuchho nahii.n

shaam se taa-subah jo bistar pe tum bin raat ko
mai.n ne kii aKhtar-shumaarii mujh se kuchh puuchho nahii.n

ai "Zafar" jo haal hai meraa karuu.Ngaa gar bayaa.N
hogii un kii sharm-saarii mujh se kuchh puuchho nahii.n

 

[Wasif Safi]

ham to chalate hai.n lo Khudaa haafiz
but_kadaa kaa buto.n Khudaa haafiz

kar chuke tum nasiihate.n ham ko
jaao bas naaseho Khudaa haafiz

aaj kuchh aur tarah par un kii
sunate hai.n guftaguu Khudaa haafiz

bar yahii hai hameshaa zaKhm pe zaKhm
dil kaa chaaraaGaro.n Khudaa haafiz

aaj hai kuchh ziyaadaa betaabii
dil-e-betaab ko Khudaa haafiz

kyo.n hifaazat ham aur kii Dhuu.Ndhe.n
har nafas jab ki hai Khudaa haafiz

chaahe ruKhsat ho raah-e-ishq me.n aql
ai "Zafar" jaane do Khudaa haafiz

 

[Wasif Safi]

hamane duniyaa me.n aake kyaa dekhaa
dekhaa jo kuchh so Khvaab-saa dekhaa

hai to insaan Khaak kaa putalaa
lek paanii kaa bul-bulaa dekhaa

[lek (a short form of lekin)=but]

Khuub dekhaa jahaa.N ke Khuubaa.N ko
ek tujh saa na duusaraa dekhaa

[Khuubaa.N=beauties (beautiful ladies)]

ek dam par havaa na baa.Ndh habaab
dam ko dam bhar me.n yaa.N havaa dekhaa

[habaab=bubble]

na huye terii Khaak-e-paa ham ne
Khaak me.n aap ko milaa dekhaa

[Khaak-e-paa=dust of the feet (paao.n kii dhuul)]
[aap=self (in the context used here)]

ab na diije "Zafar" kisii ko dil
ki jise dekhaa bevafaa dekhaa

 

[Wasif Safi]

ja kahiyo un se nasiim-e-sahar meraa chain gayaa merii niind ga_ii
tumhe.n merii na mujh ko tumhaarii Khabar meraa chain gayaa merii niind ga_ii

na haram me.n tumhaare yaar pataa na suraaG dair me.n hai milataa
kahaa.N jaa ke dekhuu.N mai.n jaa_uu.N kidhar meraa chain gayaa merii niind ga_ii

ai baadashaah-e-Khubaa.N-e-jahaa.N terii mohinii surat pe qurbaa.N
kii mai.n ne jo terii jabii.n pe nazar meraa chain gayaa merii niind ga_ii

huii bad-e-bahaarii chaman me.n ayaa.N gul buTii me.n baaqii rahii na fizaa
merii shaaKh-e-ummiid na laa_ii sa.Nvar meraa chain gayaa merii niind ga_ii

ai barq-e-tajalli bahar-e-Khudaa na jalaa mujhe hijr me.n shammaa saa
merii ziist hai misl-e-chiraaG-e-sahar meraa chain gayaa merii niind ga_ii

kahataa hai yahii ro ro ke "Zafar" merii aah-e-rasaa kaa huaa na asar
terii hijr me.n maut na aa_ii abhii meraa chain gayaa merii niind ga_ii

yahii kahanaa thaa shero ke aaj "Zafar" merii aah-e-rasaa me.n huaa na asar
tere hijr me.n maut na aaii magar meraa chain gayaa merii nii.nd gaii

 

[Wasif Safi]

khulataa nahii.n hai haal kisii par kahe baGair
par dil kii jaan lete hai.n dil_bar kahe baGair

mai.n kyuu.Nkar kahuu.N tum aao ki dil kii kashish se vo
aaye.Nge dau.De aap mere ghar kahe baGair

kyaa taab kyaa majaal hamaarii ki bosaa le.n
lab ko tumhaare lab se milaakar kahe baGair

[bosaa=kiss]
bedard tuu sune naa sune lek dard-e-dil
rahataa nahii.n hai aashiq-e-muztar kahe baGair

[lek=but (lekin); muzatar=anxious]
taqdiir ke sivaa nahii.n milataa kahii.n se bhii
dilavaataa ai "Zafar" hai muqaddar kahe baGair

 

[Wasif Safi]

kiije na das me.n baiTh kar aapas kii baat chiit
pahu.Nchegii das hazaar jagaah das kii baat chiit

kab tak rahe.n Khaamosh ke zaahir se aap kii
ham ne bahut sunii kas-o-naakas kii baat chiit

muddat ke baad hazarat-e-naaseh karam kiyaa
farmaa_iiye mizaaj-e-muqaddas kii baat chiit

par tark-e-ishq ke liye izhaar kuchh na ho
mai.n kyaa karuu.N nahii.n ye mere bas kii baat chiit

kyaa yaad aa gayaa hai "Zafar" panjaa-e-nigaar
kuchh ho rahii hai band-o-muKhammas kii baat chiit

 

[Wasif Safi]

lagataa nahii.n hai jii meraa uja.De dayaar me.n
kis kii banii hai aalam-e-naa_paayedaar me.n

kah do in hasarato.n se kahii.n aur jaa base.n
itanii jagah kahaa.N hai dil-e-daaG_daar me.n

umr-e-daraaz maa.Ng kar laaye the chaar din
do arazuu me.n kaT gaye do intazaar me.n

kitanaa hai bad_nasiib "Zafar" dafn ke liye
do gaz zamiin bhii na milii kuu-e-yaar me.n

 

[Wasif Safi]

na kisii kii aa.Nkh kaa nuur huu.N na kisii ke dil kaa qaraar huu.N
jo kisii ke kaam na aa sake mai.n vo ek musht-e-Gubaar huu.N

na to mai.n kisii kaa habiib huu.N na to mai.n kisii kaa raqiib huu.N
jo biga.D gayaa vo nasiib huu.N jo uja.D gayaa vo dayaar huu.N

meraa rang-ruup biga.D gayaa meraa yaar mujh se bichha.D gayaa
jo chaman fizaa.N me.n uja.D gayaa mai.n usii kii fasl-e-bahaar huu.N

paye faatehaa ko_ii aaye kyuu.N ko_ii chaar phuul cha.Daaye kyuu.N
ko_ii aake shammaa jalaaye kyuu.N mai.n vo bekasii kaa mazaar huu.N

mai.n nahii.n huu.N naGmaa-e-jaa.N_fishaa.N mujhe sun ke ko_ii karegaa kyaa
mai.n ba.De barog kii huu.N sadaa main ba.De dukh kii pukaar huu.N

 

[Wasif Safi]

pas-e-marg mere mazaar par jo chiraaG kisii ne jalaa diyaa
use aah daaman-e-baad ne sare shaam hii se bujhaa diyaa

mujhe dafn karanaa tuu jis gha.Dii to ye us se kahanaa ki ai parii
vo jo teraa aashiq-e-zaar thaa tah-e-Khaak use dabaa diyaa

dam-e-Gusl se mere peshtar use ham_damo.n ne ye soch kar
kahii.n jaave us kaa na dil dahal merii laash par se haTaa diyaa

merii aa.Nkh jhapakii thii ek pal mere dil ne chaahaa ki uTh ke chal
dil-e-beqaraar ne o miyaa.N vahii.n chuTakii leke jagaa diyaa

zaraa un kii shoKhii to dekhiye liye zulf-e-Kham_shudaa haath me.n
mere piichhe aaye dabe-dabe mujhe saa.Np kah ke Daraa diyaa

mai.n ne dil diyaa mai.n ne jaa.N dii magar aah! tuune na qadr kii
kisii baat ko jo kahaa kabhii use chuTakiyo.n me.n u.Daa diyaa

 

[Wasif Safi]

shamashiir barahanaa maa.Ng Gazab baalo.n kii mahak phir vaisii hai
juu.De kii gundhaavat bahar-e-Khudaa zulfo.n kii laTak phir vaisii hai

har baat me.n us ke garmii hai har naaz me.n us ke shoKhii hai
aamad hai qayaamat chaal bharii chalane kii pha.Dak phir vaisii hai

maharam hai habaab-e-aab-e-ravaa suuraj kii kiran hai us pe lipaT
jaalii kii ye kuratii hai vo balaa goTe kii dhanak phir vaisii hai

vo gaaye to aafat laaye hai sur taal me.n leve jaan nikaal
naach us kaa uThaaye sau fitane ghungharuu kii chhanak phir vaisii hai

 

[Wasif Safi]

subah ro ro ke shaam hotii hai
shab ta.Dap kar tamaam hotii hai

saamane chashm-e-mast ke saaqii
kis ko parvaah-e-jaam hotii hai

ko_ii Gunchaa khilaa ke bul-bul ko
bekalii zar-e-daam hotii hai

ham jo kahate hai.n kuchh ishaaro.n se
ye Khataa laa-kalaam hotii hai

 

[Wasif Safi]

the kal jo apane ghar me.n vo mahamaa.N kahaa.N hai.n
jo kho gaye hai.n yaa rab vo ausaa.N kahaa.N hai.n

aa.Nkho.n me.n rote rote nam bhii nahii.n ab to
the maujazan jo pahale vo tuufaa.N kahaa.N hai.n

kuchh aur Dhab ab to hame.n log dekhate hai.n
pahale jo ai "Zafar" the vo insaa.N kahaa.N haiN

 

[Wasif Safi]

tum na aaye ek din kaa vaadaa kar do din talak
ham pa.De ta.Dapaa kiye do do pahar do din talak


[talak = till]

dard-e-dil apanaa sunaataa huu.N kabhii jo ek din
rahataa hai us naazanii.n ko dard-e-sar do din talak


dekhate hai.n Khvaab me.n jis din kisuu kii chashm-e-mast
rahate hai.n ham do jahaa.N se beKhabar do din talak


[kisuu = kisii = someone; chashm-e-mast = intoxicating eyes]

gar yaqii.n ho ye hame.n aayegaa tuu do din ke baad
to jiye.n ham aur is ummiid par do din talak


[yaqii.n = believe/trust]

kyaa sabab kyaa vaastaa kyaa kaam thaa batalaa_iye
ghar se jo nikale na apane tum "Zafar" do din talak


[sabab = reason]

 

[Wasif Safi]

vo behisaab jo pii ke kal sharaab aayaa
agarche mast thaa mai.n par mujhe hijaab aayaa

idhar Khayaal mere dil me.n zulf kaa guzaraa
udhar vo khaataa huaa dil me.n pech-o-taab aayaa

Khayaal kis kaa samaayaa hai diidaa-o-dil me.n
na dil ko chain mujhe aur na shab ko Khvaab aayaa

 

[Wasif Safi]

yaa mujhe afsar-e-shaahaa na banaayaa hotaa
yaa meraa taaj gadaayaa na banaayaa hotaa

[afsar-e-shaahaa=royal officer; gadaaya=like a beggar]

Khaak_saarii ke liye garache banaayaa thaa mujhe
kaash Khaak-e-dar-e-jaanaa.N na banaayaa hotaa

nashaa-e-ishq kaa gar zarf diyaa thaa mujh ko
umr kaa tang na paimaanaa banaayaa hotaa

[zarf=knowledge; tang=short]

apanaa diivaanaa banaayaa mujhe hotaa tuune
kyo.n Khirad_mand banaayaa na banaayaa hotaa

sholaa-e-husn chaman me.n na dikhaayaa us ne
varanaa bul_bul ko bhii paravaanaa banaayaa hotaa

roz-e-mamuuraa-e-duniyaa me.n Kharaabii hai 'Zafar'
aisii bastii se to viiraanaa banaayaa hotaa

 

[Wasif Safi]

yaar thaa gul_zaar thaa baad-e-sabaa thii mai.n na thaa
laayaq-e-paa-bos-e-jaa.N kyaa hinaa thii mai.n na thaa

haath kyo.n baa.Ndhe mere chhallaa agar chorii huaa
ye saraapaa shoKhii-e-rang-e-hinaa thii mai.n na thaa

mai.n ne puuchhaa kyaa huaa vo aap kaa husn-o-shabaab
ha.Ns ke bolaa vo sanam shaan-e-Khudaa thii mai.n na thaa

mai.n sisakataa rah gayaa aur mar gaye farahaad-o-qais
kyaa unhii.n dono.n ke hisse me.n qazaa thii mai.n na thaa

 

[Wasif Safi]