Main To Piya Se Naina Laga Aayi Re Translation: Hey, I’ve just had an affair with my darling, Don’t care what the neighbourhood girls say; Just had an affair with my darling. Oh, his beautiful face, charming like an idol, I’ve just made a place in the bottom of his heart. I, Khusrau, give…
It’s Spring Again!
Amir Khusro wrote several poems about Basant, a pre-Islamic Panjabi/South Asian/Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring by flying kites, wearing yellow, carrying yellow flowers. A legend goes that Amir Khusro’s shaykh, Nizamuddin, was mourning the death of his nephew when Amir Khusro came with a whole Basant procession to cheer him up. Chisti Sufis have…
Hazrat ‘Alī in Nusrat’s Qawwals
Many of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s greatest qawwal performances feature lyrics about ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, probably originally deriving from the song, “Man Kuntu Mawla,” attributed to Amir Khusrow (d. 1325). Bulleh Shah (d. 1757) is said to have modified this song to create the popular qawwal “Mast Qalandar” in honor of the Sufi saint…
How many nights…
Translation: By God, how many nights I have spent in the sweetness of life, apart from the watchman Drinking my wine with the beloved as my companion as the glasses of love’s joys go ’round I reached by goal, beyond whatever I had hoped Longing, though it be perfect, for this pleasure to stay…
The path to the well is rough…
Two more gems from Amir Khusrau, Bahut kathin and Tori Surat: Bahut kathin Translation: The path to the well is too rough How can I fill my pitcher? When I went to fill my pitcher with water In my rush, I broke my pot. Khusro has given his whole life to you, O Nizam. Would you…
Clouds cry
Transliteration (first lines) Abr mi barad-o man shovm-e az yar-e judaa Choon kunam dil becheneen roz zedildar judaa. Abr baraan wa man-o yar satadah ba-widaa’ Man judaa girya kunaan, abr judaa, yaar judaa Translation: The cloud weeps, and I become separated from my friend – How can I separate my heart from my heart’s friend…
Every night, every day
https://vimeo.com/70399018 Lyrics and Translation Har shab manam futada, Ba girde sarai e tou Har roz ah o nala kunam az barai e tou Every night have I fallen, around the circle of Thy tavern every day, do I wail and cry, in yearning of Thee Jana ba iin shakista dil-bewafa ma shou Umre…
Two Ghazals from Hafez
I’ve quoted from these before, but here are two of my favorite ghazals in their entirety: (If the videos on the other pages on this site don’t appear for you, try emptying your cache and reloading the page) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0CRm37FQr4 Translation: The outward ascetic has no knowledge of our state …
Fire on the mountain
Ibn al-Fāriḍ Translation: Don’t consider me to be a pretender in love my affection for you is natural, without affectation Even if my spirit were in my hands, I would hand it over to the one who announces your arrival, and it’d still be a bargain You are my duties and my voluntary prayers…
Envy of the ancient idols…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqSS7O7zKsM Translation: O you whose beautiful face is the envy of the idols of Azar (Abraham’s father and famous idol maker); However I describe you, your beauty is still lovelier. All over the world have I traveled; many a maiden’s love have I tasted; Many a beauty have I seen; but you are…