I am a great lover of Urdu verse – poetry, ghazals, qawwalis, anything at all. The beauty of the language is incomparable and I spend hours reading Faiz, Iqbal and several others. This qawwali, sung most beautifully by the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is my favourite. Its sentiment and its poetry can move to tears. I’ve highlighted my favourite lines.
Saqi Ki Har Nigah Pay Bal Kha Kay Pee Gaya
Lehroon Say Khailta Hoa Lehra Kay Pee Gaya
Dancing to every look of the wine-giver, I drank
Playing with the waves, I drank
Ey Rehmat-E-Tamaam Meri Har Khata Muaf
Mein Intiha-E-Shouq (Mein) Say Ghabra Kay Pee Gaya
O Lord, forgive my sins
That I was afraid, but still with great pleasure, I drank
Peta Baghair Izm Yeh Kab Thi Meri Majaal
Dar Pardah Chashm-E-Yaar Ki Shay Pa Kay Pee Gaya
That I would drink without prerogative, when did I have such courage?
With the acquiescence of my lover’s veiled eyes, I drank
Paas Rehta Hai Duur Rehta Hai
Koi Dil Mein Zaroor Rehta Hai
Close to me, far from me
Someone surely lives in my heart
Jab Say Dekha Hai Un Ki Aankhon Ko
Halka Halka Suroor Rehta Hai
Since I have seen her eyes
This mild inebriation remains with me
Aisay Rehtay Hein Koi Mere Dil Mein
Jaisay Zulmat Mein Noor Rehta Hai
She lives in my heart
Like light lives in darkness
Ub Adam Ka Yeh Haal Hai Har Waqt
Mast Rehta Hai Chuur Rehta Hai
Now is the state of this man that all the time
I remain enraptured, broken
Yeh Joh Halka Halka Saroor Hai
Yeh Teri Nazar Ka Qasoor Hai
This mild intoxication
It is the fault of your gaze
Kay Sharab Peena Sikha Diya
Tere Pyar Nai, Teri Chaah Nai
That you have taught me how to drink
With my desire, my longing for you
Teri Behki Behki Nigaah Nai
Mujhay Ik Sharabi Bana Diya…
Your flirtatious looks
Have made me a lover of wine
Sharab Kaisi, Khumaar Kaisa
Yeh Sub Tumhari Nawazishein Hein
What a drink, what a high
These are all your gifts
Pilai Hai Kiss Nazar Say Tu Ne
Kay Mujhko Apni Khabar Nahi Hai
How you have made me elated with your looks
That I am not even aware of myself
Teri Behki Behki Nigah Nai
Mujhe Ik Sharabi Bana Dia
Your flirtatious looks
Have made me a lover of wine
Sara Jahan Must, Jahan Ka Nizam Must
Din Must, Raat Must, Saher Must, Shaam Must
The whole world is exhilarated
Day, night, morning and evening
Dil Must, Sheesha Must, Sabu Must, Jaam Must
Hai Teri Chashm-E-Must Say Her Khaas-O-Aam Must
The heart is intoxicated, so is the mirror, the glass and even the wine itself
Your captivating eyes have made everything delirious
Yoon To Saqi Her Tarah Ki Tere MaiKhane Mein Hai
Woh Bhi Thori Si Jo In Aankhon K Paimane Mein Hai
Every kind of wine resides in your cellar
And then there is that look in those eyes as well
Sub Samajhta Hoon Teri Ishwa-Kari Ay Saqi
Kaam Karti Hai Nazar Naam Hai Paimane Ka.. Bus!
I understand your cleverness well
It is the fault of your gaze, but the blame is put on the wine
Teri Behki Behki Nigah Nai
Mujhe Ik Sharabi Bana Diya
Your flirtatious looks
Have made me a lover of wine
Tera Pyar Hai Meri Zindagi
Tera Pyar Hai Meri Bandagi
To love you is my life
To love you is my bondage
Tera Pyar Hai Bas Meri Zindagi,
Tera Pyar Hai Bas Meri Zindagi
To love you is my life,
To love you is my life
Na Namaz Aati Hai Mujhko, Na Wazoo Aata Hai
Sajda Kar Leta Hoon Jab Saamnay Tu Aata Hai
Not prayer nor ablution do I know
I prostrate when before me you come
Bus Meri Zindagi Tera Pyar Hai
My life is only my love for you
Mai Azal Say Banda-E-Ishq Hoon,
Mujhe Zohd-O-Kufr Ka Gham Nahin
I am a true lover
With no fear of the hereafter
Mere Sir Ko Dar Tera Mil Gaya
Mujhe Ab Talash-E-Haram Nahi
Now that my head has found your mat
No need have I to search for heaven
Meri Bandagi Hai Wo Bandagi
Jo Muqeed-E-Dair-O-Haram Nahi
My bondage is to that spot
Which is tied to no sacred place
Mera Ik Nazar Tumhein Dekhna
Ba Khuda Namaz Se Kam Nahi
My taking one look at you
By God is equal to prayer
Meri Zindagi Tera Pyar Hai
Bus Meri Zindagi Tera Pyar Hai
My life is only my love for you
My life is only my love for you
(Translation courtesy Ego Mag)
