Masjid-e-Qartabaa (With English Translation)

SILSILA-E-ROZ-O-SHAB NAQSH GAR-E-HADISAAT

SILSILA-E-ROZ-O-SHAB ASL-E-HAYAAT-O-MAMAAT

SILSILA-E-ROZ-O-SHAB TAAR-E-HAREER DO RAnG

JIS SE BANAATI HAI ZAAT APNI QABAAY-E-SIFAAT

SILSILA-E-ROZ-O-SHAB SAAZ-E-AZAL KI FUGHAAn

JIS SE DIKHAATI HAI ZAAT ZER-O-BAM-E-MUMKINAAT

TUJH KO PARAKTAA HAI YE, MUJH KO PARAKHTAA HAI YE

SILSILA-E-ROZ-O-SHAB SAIRAFI-E-KAAINAAT

TU HO AGAR KAM IYAAR, MAIn HOOn AGAR KAM IYAAR

MAUT HAI TERI BARAAT, MAUT HAI MERI BARAAT

TEREY SHAB-O-ROZ KI AUR HAQEEQAT HAI KYA

EK ZAMAANEY KI RAU JIS MEIn NA DIN HAI NA RAAT

AANI WO FAANI TAMAAM MO'EJIZAA HAAYE HUNAR

KAAR-E-JAHAAn BE-SABAAT! KAAR-E-JAHAAn BE-SABAAT!  

AWWAL-O-AAKHIR FANAA, BAATIN-O-ZAAHIR FANAA

NAQSH-E-KUHAN HO KE NAU, MANZIL-E-AAKHIR FANAA  

HAI MAGAR IS NAQSH MEIn RAnG-E-SABAAT-E-DAWAAM

JIS KO KIYA HO KISI MARD-E-KHUDAA NE TAMAAM

MARD-E-KHUDAA KA AMAL ISHQ SE SAAHAB FAROGH

ISHQ HAI ASL-E-HAYAAT MAUT HAI US PAR HARAAM

TUnD-O-SUBAK SAIR HAI GAR CHEY ZAMAANEY KI RAU

ISHQ KHUD IK SAIL HAI SAIL KO LETAA HAI THAAM

ISHQ KI TAQWEEM MEIn ASR-E-RAWAAn KE SIWAA

AUR ZAMAANEY BHI HAIn JIN KA NAHIEn KOI NAAM

ISHQ DAM-E-JIBRAIL, ISHQ DIL-E-MUSTAFAA

ISHQ KHUDAA KA RASOOL, ISHQ KHUDAA KA KALAAM

ISHQ KI MASTI SE HAI PAIKAR-E-GUL TAAB-NAAK

ISHQ HAI SAHBAA-E-KHAAM, ISHQ HAI KAAS-UL-KARAAM

ISHQ FAQIH-E-HARAM, ISHQ AMEER-E-JUNOOD

ISHQ HAI IBN-US-SABEEL, USKEY HAZAAROn MUQAAM  

ISHQ KE MIZRAAB SE NAGHMA-E-TAAR-E-HAYAAT

ISHQ SE NOOR-E-HAYAAT, ISHQ SE NAAR-E-HAYAAT

AYE HARAM-E-QARTABAA! ISHQ SE TERAA WAJOOD

ISHQ SARAAPAA DAWAAM JIS MEIn NAHIEn RAFT-O-BOOD

RAnG HO YA KHISHT-O-SAnG, CHAnG HO YA HARF-O-SAUT

MO'EIJIZA-E-FUN KI HAI KHOON-E-JIGAR SE NAMOOD

QATRA-E-KHOON-E-JIGAR SIL KO BANAATAA HAI DIL

KHOON-E-JIGAR SE SADAA SOZ-O-SUROOR-O-SUROOD

TERI FAZAA DIL FAROZ, MERI NAWAA SEENAA SOZ

TUJH SE DILOn KA HUZOOR, MUJH SE DILOn KI KASHOOD

ARSH-E-MO'ELLAA SE KAM SEENA-E-AADAM NAHIEn

GAR CHEY KAF-E-KHAAK KI HAD HAI SAPAHR-E-KABOOD

PAIKAR-E-NOORI KO HAI SAJDAA MUYASSAR TO KYA

US KO MUYASSAR NAHIEn SOZ-O-GUDAAZ-E-SAJOOD

KAAFIR-E-HINDI HOOn MAIn DEKH MIRAA ZAUQ-OSHAUQ

DIL MEIn SALAAT-O-DUROOD, LAB PE SALAAT-O-DUROOD  

SHAUQ MIRI LAI MEIn HAI, SHAUQ MIRI NAI MEIn HAI

NAGHMA-E-ALLAH-HU MEREY RAG-O-PAI MEIn HAI  

TERAA JALAAL-O-JAMAAL MARD-E-KHUDAA KI DALEEL

WO BHI JALEEL-O-JAMEEL, TU BHI JALEEL-O-JAMEEL

TERI BINAA PAAY-DAAR, TERI SUTOOn BE-SHUMAAR

SHAAM KE SAHRAA MEIn HO JAISEY HUJOOM-E-NAKHEEL

TEREY DAR-O-BAAM PAR WAADI-E-AYMAN KA NOOR

TERAA MEENAAR-E-BULAND JALWAA GAH-E-JIBRAEEL

MIT NAHIEn SAKTAA KABHI MARD-E-MUSALMAAn, KE HAI

US KI AZAANOn SE FAASH SIRR-E-KALEEM-O-KHALEEL

US KI ZAMEEn BE-HUDOOD, US KA UFUQ BE-SUGHOOR

US KE SAMAnDAR KI MAUJ DAJLA-O-DANYUB-O-NEEL

US KE ZAMAANEY AJEEB, US KE FASAANEY GHAREEB

AHD-E-KUHAN KO DIYAA US NE PAYAAM-E-RAHEEL

SAAQI-E-ARBAAB-E-ZAUQ, FAARAS-E-MAIDAAN-E-SHAUQ

BAADAA HAI US KA RAHEEQ, TEGH HAI US KI ASEEL

MARD-E-SIPAAHI HAI WO, US KI ZA RAH LA-ILAHAA

SAAY-E-SHAMSHEER MEIn USKI PANAH LA-ILAHAA  

TUJH SE HUWAA AASHKAAR BAnDA-E-MOMIN KA RAAZ

US KE DINOn KI TAPISH, US KI SHABOn KA GUDAAZ

US KE MUQAAM-E-BULAND, US KA KHAYAAL-E-AZEEM

US KA SUROOR, US KA SHAUQ, US KA NIYAAZ, US KA NAAZ

HAATH HAI ALLAH KA BAnDA-E-MOMIN KA HAATH

GHAALIB-O-KAAR AAFREEn, KAAR KUSHAA, KAAR SAAZ

KHAAKI-O-NOORI NIHAAD, BAnDA-E-MAULAA SIFAAT

HAR DO JAHAAn SE GHANI US KA DIL-E-BE-NIYAAZ

US KI UMEEDEIn QALEEL, US KE MAQAASID JALEEL

US KI ADAA DIL-FAREB, US KI NIGAH DIL-NAWAAZ

NARM DAM-E-GUFTAGOO, GARM DAM-E-JUSTAJOO

RAZM HO YA BAZM HO PAAK DIL-O-PAAK-BAAZ

NUQTA-E-PARKAAR-E-HAQ, MARD-E-KHUDAA KA YAQEEn

AUR YE AALAM TAMAAMWAHM-O-TILISM-O-MAJAAZ

AQL KI MANZIL HAI WO, ISHQ KA HAASIL HAI WO

HALQA-E-AAFAAQ MEIn GARMI-E-MAHFIL HAI WO  

KAABA-E-ARBAAB-E-FUN! SITWAT-E-DEEN-E-MABEEn

TUJH SE HARAM MARTABAT UNDALASIYOn KI ZAMEEn

HAI TAH-E-GARDOn AGAR HUSN MEIn TERI NAZEER

QALB-E-MUSALMAAn MEIn HAI AUR NAHIEn HAI KAHEEn

AAH WO MARDAAN-E-HAQ, WO ARABI SHAH-SAWAAR

HAAEL-E-'KHALQ-E-AZEEM', SAAHAB-E-SIDQ-O-YAQEEn

JIN KI HUKOOMAT SE HAI FAASH YE RAMZ-E-GHAREEB

SALTANAT-E-AHL-E-DIL FAQR HAI SHAAHI NAHIEn

JIN KI NIGAAHOn NE KI TARBIYAT-E-SHARQ-O-GHARB

ZULMAT-E-EUROPE MEIn THI JIN KI KHIRAD RAAH-BEEn

JIN KE LUHOO KE TUFAIL AAJ BHI HAIn UNDALASI

KHUSH DIL-O-KHUSH IKHTALAAT, SAADAA-O-RAUSHAN JABEEn

AAJ BHI IS DES MEIn AAM HAI CHASHM-E-GHAZAAL

AUR NIGAAHOn KE TER AAJ BHI DIL-NASHEEn

BOO-E-YAMAN AAJ BHI ISKI HAWAAOn MEIn HAI

RAnG-E-HIJAAZ AAJ BHI ISKI NAWAAOn MEIn HAI  

DEEDA-E-AnJUM MEIn HAI TERI ZAMEEn AASMAAn

AAH! KE SADYOn SE HAI TERI FAZAA BE-AZAAn

KAUN SI WAADI MEIn HAI, KAUN SI MANZIL MEIn HAI

ISHQ-E-BALAA-KHEEZ KA QAAFLA-E-SAKHT JAAn

DEKH CHUKAA ALMANI SHORISH-E-ASLAAH-E-DEEn

JIS NE NA CHHODEY KAHIEn NAQSH-E-KUHAN KE NISHAAn

HARF-E-GHALAT BAN GAYI ISMAT-E-PEER-E-KANISHT

AUR HUI FIKR KI KASHTI-E-NAZUK RAWAAn

CHASHM-E-FRANSIS BHI DEKH CHUKI INQILAAB

JIS SE DIGAR Gon HUA MAGHRABIYOn KA JAHAAn

MILLAT-E-RUMI NIZAAD KUHNAA PARASTI SE PEER

LAZZAT-E-TAJDEEDAA SE WO BHI HUI PHIR JAWAAn

RUH-E-MUSALMAAn MEIn HAI AAJ WOHI IZTARAAB

RAAZ-E-KHUDAAI HAI YE KAH NAHIEn SAKTI ZABAAn

DEKHIYE IS BAHR KI TAH SE UCHHALTAA HAI KYA

GUnBAD-E-NEELOFARI RAnG BADALTAA HAI KYA

WAADI-E-KUHSAAR MEIn GHARQ-E-SHAFAQ HAI SAHAAB

LAAL-BADAKHSHAAn KE DHER CHHOD GAYAA AAFTAAB

SAADAA-O-PUR-SOZ HAI DUKHTAR-E-DAHQAAn KA GEET

ASHTI-E-DIL KE LIYE SAIL HAI AHD-E-SHABAAB

AAB-E-RAWAAN-E-KABEER!* TEREY KINAAREY KOI

DEKH RAHAA HAI KISI AUR ZAMAANEY KA KHWAAB

AALAM-E-NAU HAI ABHI PARDA-E-TAQDEER MEIn

MERI NIGAAHOn MEIn HAI USKI SAHAR BE-HIJAAB

PARDAA UTHAA DOn AGAR CHAHRA-E-AFKAAR SE

LA NA SAKEYGAA FIRAnG MERI NAWAAOn KI TAAB

JIS MEIn NA HO INQILAAB MAUT HAI WO ZINDAGI

RUH-E-UMAM KI HAYAAT KASHMAAKSH-E-INQILAAB

SOORAT-E-SHAMSHEER HAI DAST-E-QAZAA MEIn WO QAUM

KARTI HAI JO HAR ZAMAAn APNEY AMAL KA HISAAB

NAQSH HAIn SAB NA-TAMAAM KHOON-E-JIGAR KE BAGHAIR

NAGHMA HAI SAUDAA-E-KHAAM KHOON-E-JIGAR KE BAGHAIR

English Translation

THE MOSQUE OF CORDOBA

The cycle of day and night [is] the engraver of events.

The cycle of day and night [is] the essence of life and death.

The cycle of day and night is a two-colored thread of silk

with which the being weaves its attire of traits.

The cycle of day and night [is] the lamentation of the musical-instrument of the origin

through which the being shows the vicissitudes of possibilities.

It tries you, it tries me;

the cycle of day and night is the examiner of the cosmos.

If you're impure, if I'm impure

[then] it leads to your funeral procession, it leads to my funeral procession.

What else is the truth of your days and nights;

a surge of the time sans day and night.

All the marvels of the skills are transient;

the existence of world is ephemeral! The existence of world is ephemeral!

[The fate of] the beginning and the end is death, [the fate of] the unseen and apparent is death.

Be it an antiquated imprint or the latest one, its last destination is death.

Yet there exists a hue of eternity in this imprint;

the one that has been completed by some man of God.

The actions of the man of God get accelerated with [the help of] love.

The essence of life is love; death is forbidden for it.

hough the gush of the time is intense and fast

love itself is a tempest that restrains [other] tempests.

In the calendar of love, besides the contemporary age,

|there're other ages too that don't have names.

Love is the mainstay of Gabriel, love is the heart of Mustafa.

Love is the Messenger of God, love is the message of God.

The flower looks dazzling because of the intoxication of love.

Love is the undiluted wine, love is the wine-cup of a munificent drinker.

Love is the jurist of the Shariat, love is the commander of the army.

Love is the traveler because of which it passes through thousands of stages.

The lifeline streams out of the plectrum of love.

The radiance of life is due to love; the fire of life is because of love.

O Mosque of Cordoba! Your existence [too] is because of love.

Love is infinite time that's beyond the cycle of transient time.

Be it painting, architecture, music poetry or calligraphy,

all these arts thrive on the intensity of love!

The intensity of love turns a stone into a heart

[and] it's love that bestows depth of feeling, exhilaration and melody to the voice.

Your environ is charming, my songs are poignant;

you make the hearts bow before God, I make the hearts capacious.

The bosom of man isn't inferior to the empyrean throne of God

though his body is made of earth and is mortal.

Though the angels [also] prostrate before God

but their prostration lacks poignancy.

[Though] I'm an infidel from India,  behold my earnestness

[that] my heart prays benison for the Prophet, my lips do the same.

The zeal is in my tune, the zeal is in my flute;

the hymn of God is in my essence.

Your grandeur and beauty manifests the man of God;

he too is eminent and handsome, you too are eminent and handsome.

Your foundation is stable, you've countless pillars

[which look like] the rows of palm trees in the oasis of Syria.

The radiance of Sinai valley is spread over your nooks and corners;

this tall minaret of yours is the place of manifestation for Gabriel.

The pious Muslim can never be eliminated, for

his calls for prayers reveal the mysteries of Moses and Abraham.

His land is limitless, his sky is boundless;

the surge of his sea is spread over Tigris, Danube and Nile.

His reigns have been awe-inspiring, his tales have been extraordinary;

it was he who commanded the antiquated epoch to perish.

He's the cupbearer to those who have taste, he's the cavalier of the field of passion;

his wine is pure, his sword is of high trait.

He's the soldier whose armor is [the belief in] one God;

under the shadow of swords his refuge is [the belief in] one God.

Through you the mysteries of the pious Muslim,

the warmth of his days, the poignancy of his nights,

his lofty position, his exalted thoughts,

his exhilaration, his passion, his humility, his dalliance, have been revealed.

The hand of God is the hand of the pious Muslim,

which is triumphant, effectual, resourceful [and] skillful.

[He possesses] the traits of both man and angel and the attributes of the Lord;

his heart, though carefree, is richer than the two worlds.

His expectations are few, his objectives are sublime;

his style is irresistible, his sight is captivating.

[He's] soft while conversing, passionate while in action;

be it the battlefield or a social gathering [he's always] pious and orderly.

His faith is the focal point of Truth

and the rest of the cosmos is illusion, sorcery and unreal.

He's the destination of reason, he is the output of love;

he's is the warmth of the assemblage in the circuit of cosmos.

You're the Mecca of the designers, the apostle of the grandeur of Islam;

by virtue of you, the land of Spain has become as hallowed as that of Mecca.

If any other model, as exquisite as you, exists in this world

it is in the heart of a Muslim and nowhere else.

Alas! Those men of Truth! Those Arab cavaliers!

The possessors of 'inspiring character', the followers of truth and faith;

their rule has revealed this simple mystery

that the State ruled by the faithful is pro-poor, not monarchical;

their insights have trained the East and the West;

their reasoning was the guiding force in the darkness of Europe.

It is because of their blood that, even today, the Spanish people

are friendly, hospitable, simple and handsome.

In this country, even now, [people's eyes] look like those of gazelle

and, even today,  the arrows of their sights are enchanting.

The aroma of Yemen, even today, is mixed in its winds;

the tunes of Hejaz, even now, are fused in its songs.

In the eyes of the faithful your land's estimation is equal to that of sky.

Alas! Your environ has not heard the call for prayer for centuries.

In which vale, at what destination,

the strong caravan of the zealous lovers [of God] got stuck up.

Germany has witnessed the Reformation

that has erased all the imprints of antiquated faith;

because of which the piety of the Pope has become an erroneous term

and the subtle ferry of reason sailed on its course.

France too has experienced the Revolution

that has changed the world of the Westerners.

The Roman nation that has been submerged in retrogressive culture

has, once again, become powerful because of the new ideas.

The soul of the Muslim nation too is experiencing similar unrest;

what lies ahead is a mystery of God that I can't reveal.

Wait and see what spurts out of the seabed;

the blue dome [of sky] changes to what colour.

In the vale, surrounded by the mountain range, the cloud is swallowed up by the redness;

the sun has set leaving behind the mounds of rubies from Badakhshan.

The song of the farmer's daughter is simple and poignant;

youth is like a tempest to the vessel of heart.

O stream of Kabeer! On your bank

someone is perceiving the dream of some other age.

[Though] the coming world is still covered with the curtain of destiny,

before my eyes its beginning is uncovered.

If I remove the curtains from the face of the [future] thoughts

the Western people won't face up to my songs.

The life that has no place for revolution is death

[for] the spirit of the nation lies in struggle and revolution.

The nation, which takes stock of its actions in each age,

develops into a sword in the hand of death.

All the imprints are incomplete in the absence of love and endeavor;

melody is like a crude insanity in the absence of love and endeavor