Born in 1911 in Sialkot, Faiz Ahmed Faiz became one of Pakistan’s most prominent and beloved poets of all time. Faiz lead an interesting life from the very beginning – his education included religious studies from the age of four when he began memorising the Quran, attended the Scotch Mission High School while at the same time, learnt Persian and Arabic, taught as a lecturer in Amritsar and then enrolled in the army and served for five years.
Faiz is one of the most quoted poets in the country these days, which is a vindication for the gentle soul who was once decried on this very land as a traitor for siding with the oppressed. Today, he also gives expression to the aspirations of the very groups which had openly opposed his thinking, which was as pro-people back then as it is now.
Here, Dawn.com invites you to join the discussion on one of Pakistan’s greatest poets – which poetry of Faiz do you cherish most? Was the poetry of Faiz really ahead of his time?
according to J M, poet is a representative of society, he say, what he has seen in his time.it is open truth that faiz is a great poet of subcotinent.he always had written for the huminity,love and freedom.Faiz had gone to jail,but the walls of jail did not stop his concience voice. when we open the history of legends faiz and shaikh ayaz were two person who write the poems for their peoples(AWAM) and they encouraged them to come on roads for justice.
faiz says
Jab Arz-e-Khuda ke kabay se
Sab but Uthwaaiy Jain gay
Hum Ehl-e-Safa Mardood-e-Haram
Masnad pe Bithaaiy jain gay
Sab Taaj Uchalay jain gay
Sab Takht Giraaiy Jain gay
Bas Naam rahay Ga Allah ka
Jo Ghayab Bhi hai Hazir Bhi
Jo nazir bhi hai manzar bhi
Uthay ga Analhaq ka Naara
Jo Main bhi Hun aur Tumbhi ho
Aur Raaj karay gi khalq-e-Khuda
Jo main bhi hun aur tum bhi ho
Hum Dekhain Gay
Lazim Hai ke hum Bhi Dekhain Gay
Hum Dekhain Gag
Tribute to Great Faiz Ahmed Faiz!
mere dil mere musafir
hua phir se hukm sadir
k vatan badar hon ham tum
dein gali gali sadayen
karen rukh nagar nagar ka
k surag koi payen
kisi yar-e-namabar ka
har ek ajnabi se puchen
jo pata tha apne ghar ka
sar-e-ku-e-nashanayan
hamain din se rat karna
kabhi is se bat karna
kabhi us se bat karna
tumhen kya kahun k kya hai
shab-e-gam buri bala hai
hamain ye bhi tha ganimat
jo koi shumar hota
hamain kya bura tha marna
agar ek bar hota
Sharing one of my favourite !
mujh se pahalii sii mohabbat merii mahabuub na maang
main ne samajhaa thaa ki tuu hai to darakhshaan hai hayaat
teraa Gam hai to Gam-e-dahar kaa jhagadaa kyaa hai
terii surat se hai aalam mein bahaaroon ko sabaat
terii aankhoon ke sivaa duniyaa mein rakkhaa kyaa hai (*)
tuu jo mil jaaye to taqadiir niguun ho jaaye
yuun na thaa main ne faqat chaahaa thaa yuun ho jaaye
aur bhii dukh hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
raahatein aur bhii hain vasl kii raahat ke sivaa
mujh se pahalii sii mohabbat merii mahabuub na maang
anaginat sadiyo.n ke taariik bahimaanaa talism
resham-o-atalas-o-kam_Khvaab mein bunavaaye huye
jaa-ba-jaa bikate huye kuuchaa-o-baazaar mein jism
Khaak mein lithade huye Khuun mein nahalaaye huye
jism nikale huye amaraaz ke tannuuroon se
piip bahatii hu_ii galate huye naasuuroon se
lauT jaatii hai udhar ko bhii nazar kyaa kiije
ab bhii dil_kash hai teraa husn maGar kyaa kiije
aur bhii dukh hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
raahatein aur bhii hain vasl kii raahat ke sivaa
mujh se pahalii sii mohabbat merii mahabuub na maang
Faiz sahib was one of the great poets of the century, and a friend of my father. When he was in Jail he wrote one of his ghazals and send it to my father. I still have it to this day written in his own hand writting Gulloon me rug bahree bade’ nobahar chalee’. one of my treasures..
I stay in Kolhapur India. Don’t know if people have heard of this place. I was introduced to Faiz’s heavenly poetry thru his gazals sung by another great Mehdi Hasan. The poetry even without understanding Urdu sounds so beautiful and a treat for ears. Since Urdu not being my language of daily usage here I sat with a dictionary and tried to understand the poetry and yes it did come thru to a great extent and the whole experience became what we call in spiritual terms an “Anubhuti” . The richness of and within expression and uski “najakat” is simply beyond words. But we don’t get to see many books of Urdu poetry here if anybody could direct me accordingly I will be grateful.
ye daag daag ujala, ye shabgajida sahar
vo intezar tha jis ka, ye vo sahar to nahin
ye vo sahar to nahin jis ki aarzoo lekar
chale the yaar ki mil jayegi kahin n kahin
falak ke dasht men taron ki aakhiri manzil
kahin to hoga shab-e-sust mauj ka sahil
kahin to ja ke rukega safina-e-gham-e-dil
javan lahu ki pur-asraar shahrahon se
chale jo yaar to daman pe kitne hath pade
dayar-e-husn ki be-sabr khwab-gahon se
pukarti rahin bahen, badan bulate rahe
bahut azeez thi lekin rukh-e-sahar ki lagan
bahut karin tha hasinan-e-noor ka daman
subuk subuk thi tamanna, dabi dabi thi thakan
suna hai ho bhi chuka hai firaq-e-zulmat-o-noor
suna hai ho bhi chuka hai visal-e-manjil-o-gaam
badal chuka hai bahut ahal-e-dard ka dastoor
nishat-e-vasl halal-o-ajaab-e-hizr-o-haraam
jigar ki aaga, najar ki umanga, dil ki jalan
kisi pe chara-e-hijran ka kuchh asar hi nahin
kahan se aaee nigar-ye-saba, kidhar ko gaee
abhi charag-e-sar-e-rah ko kuchh khabar hi nahin
girani-e-shab men kami nahin aaee
nizaat-e-deed-o-dil ki ghadi nahin aaee
chale chalo ki vo manzil abhi nahin aaee
Faiz was, undoubtedly, a great revolutionary-romantic poet. ” Loh-kalam schin gai to kaya Khoone dil main duboli hain ungalian main ne zuban par mohar lagi hai to kaya rakh di har halqai zanger main zuban main ne” shows the intense and unwavering commitment of the poet for a fundamental transformation of the society on the basis of egalitarian and democratic principles. He will be read and remembered as long as poetry lives.
Like Javed Akhter said” Panchee, Nadya, Pawan ke jhonke” There is no boundary for Poetry as well. Faiz Sahab has been acclaimed as one of the greatest Poets of our time.
Hum khasta tanon se mohtasibo, kiya maal manal ka poochhte ho
Jo umr se hum ne bhar paya sab samne laye detay hain
Daman me hay musht-e-khake-jigar, saghar me hay khoon-e-hasrat-e-me
Lo hum ne daman jhar diya, lo jam ultaye detay hain.
bol ke lab azaad hai tere
bol zubaan ab tak teri hai
tera sutwa jism hai tera
bol ke jaan ab tak teri hai
bol…bol ke lab azaad hai tere
bol…bol yeh thora waqt bahut hai
jism zubaan ki maut se pehle
bol ke sach zinda hai ab tak
bol jo kuch kehna hai keh le
bol jo kuch kehna hai keh le
Meer,Ghalib,Josh,Jigar,Faiz ,AHMAD faraaz,they brought inner richness to all of us.We are lucky and I was fortunate to meet the last four.I feel blessed.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was a great progressive writer of Urdu language.He worked hard for freedom of thought and expression in Urdu poetry,He loved democracy.He always condemned non democratic forces who destroy public opinion and break constitution.He had to suffer many hardships during his life but he remained firm on his ideas and thoughts. His poetry is a ray of hope for poor ,helpless and oppressed people of the world.He is the most prominent and beloved poet of Urdu language and is respected all over the world His poetry will keep him alive .He is quite immortal.May his soul rest in peace in heaven.
I love to read Faiz Sahib.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz is a great poet. He loved and valued humanity.
I would love to describe him in this way.
ghazal ki dunia mein darukhshan sitara hai Faiz
sheir o sukhan kay khazanay ka anmol hai raz
Gohar
FAIZ AHMAD FAIZ was a leading Urdu poet of the 20th century. Faiz sahib presented an ideology through his poems regarding the life of an ordinary people. He captured the essence of social and political challenges for the world, says his daughter, Moneeza Hashmi. She derives hope from her father’s poetry, adding that it’s fascinating that his work continues to be relevant even 26 years after his death. According to Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi, a respectable intellectual writer, “The ideas of Ghalib and Iqbal were brought forward by Faiz in his poetry. Faiz preferred class struggle to enlightenment in the discipline of knowledge and gave preference to artistic sense in the area of art. Such characteristics gave his poetry energy,”.
Iftikhar Arif, scholar and Urdu poet of great repute has this to say about Faiz sahib: “Faiz has made great impact on our national literary history as the most popular poet who enjoyed the status of legend in his life. It has been the period of two decades when Faiz left us but if one feels he seems to be more loved, strengthened, popular before. The amount of written material on Faiz, after Iqbal is distinct and different in every respect”. FAIZ AHMAD FAIZ was awarded the International Lenin Peace Prize in 1962.
A glimpse of some of FAIZ AHMAD FAIZ’S poems:
The Incarceration Of Loneliness
On the far horizon waved some flicker of light
My heart, a city of suffering, awoke in a state of dream
My eyes, turning restless, still dreaming,
the morning, dawning in this vacuous abode of separation
In the wine-cup of my heart, I poured my morning wine
Mixing in the bitterness of the past, the poison of the present
On the far horizon waved some flicker of light
far from the eye, a precursor to some morning
Some song, some scent, some unbelievably pretty face
went by unknowingly, carrying a distressful hope
Mixing in the bitterness of the past, the poison of the present
I proposed a toast to the longings on this day of prison-visit
To the fellow drinkers of my homeland and beyond
To the beauty of the worlds, the grace of beloved’s lip and cheek
======================================================
Some Lover To Some Beloved!
Down the memory lanes, on which
you’ve strolled since ages past
They will end if you walk farther a step or two
Where exits the turn towards the wilderness of forgetfulness
beyond which, there isn’t any Me, nor any You
My eyes hold their breath, for any moment you
may turn back, move ahead, or at least turn to look back
Although my sight knows that the wish is just a farce
For if ever it were to run across your eyes again
right there will spring forth another pathway
Like always, where ever we run into, there will begin
another journey of your lock’s shadow, your embrace’s tremor
The other wish is also in error, for my heart knows
There is no turn here, no wilderness, no mountain-range
beyond whose horizon, my perpetual sun-of-your-Love can set
May you continue walking these pathways, its better this way
If you don’t even turn to look back, it is okay
======================================================
gulo.n me.n rang bhare, baad-e-naubahaar chale
chale bhii aao ki gulshan kaa karobaar chale
qaffas udaas hai yaro, sabaa se kuchh to kaho
kahii.n to bahr-e-Khudaa aaj zikr-e-yaar chale
kabhii to subh tere kunj-e-lab se ho aaGaaz
kabhii to shab sar-e-kaakul se mushkabaar chale
ba.Daa hai dard kaa rishtaa, ye dil Gariib sahii
tumhaare naam pe aaye.nge Gam_gusaar chale
jo ham pe guzarii so guzarii magar shab-e-hijraa.N
hamaare ashk terii aaqabat sa.Nwaar chale
huzoor-e-yaar huii daftar-e-junuu.N kii talab
girah me.n leke garebaa.N kaa taar taar chale
maqaam ‘Faiz’ koii raah me.n jachaa hii nahii.n
jo kuu-e-yaar se nikale to suu-e-daar chale
fikr e sood o zia to chutay gi
minnat e ain o aan to chutay gi
khair dozaq mein mai millay na millay
sheikh sahib se jaan to chutay gi
Tujh ko kitnon ka lahu chahie ae arz-e-watan
Jo tere arz-e-berang ko gulnaar karein
Kitni aahon se kaleja tera thhanda hoga
Kitney ansoo tere sehraon ko gulzar karein
–
The blood of how many do you need O motherland;
That which will brighten your colourless earth;
How many sighs will soothe your heart;
How many tears will cause your deserts to bloom.
tere gham ko jaan ki talash thi, tere jaan-nisaar chale gaye
teri raah mein karate the sar talab, sar-e-rahgujar chale gaye
yeh hamin the jinke libaas par sar-e-raih siyahi likhi gayi
yahi dagh the jo sajaa ke ham, sar-ebazm-e-yar chale gaye
Na raha junun-e-rukhe-wafa, ye rasan-o-dar karoge kya
jinhe jurm-e-ishq pe naz tha, wo gunahgar chale gaye
I like the sound of it…Because I can recite it…I hope that this is reason enough to like a poem
Faiz sahab has been a great inspiration to the pakistani population for the youth and the old alike. Faiz personified what a true liberal should be like, what a true patriot should be like…he was just a man …but his existence was much more then that….This poem I believe is one of his greatest works.
nisaar mai.n terii galiyo.n ke ae watan, ki jahaa.N
chalii hai rasm ki koii na sar uThaa ke chale
jo koii chaahanewaalaa tawaaf ko nikale
nazar churaa ke chale, jism-o-jaa.N bachaa ke chale
hai ahl-e-dil ke liye ab ye nazm-e-bast-o-kushaad
ki sang-o-Khisht muqayyad hai.n aur sag aazaad
bahot hai.n zulm ke dast-e-bahaanaa-juu ke liye
jo cha.nd ahl-e-junuu.N tere naam levaa hai.n
bane hai.n ahl-e-hawas muddaii bhii, mu.nsif bhii
kise wakiil kare.n, kis se mu.nsifii chaahe.n
magar guzaranewaalo.n ke din guzarate hai.n
tere firaaq me.n yuu.N subh-o-shaam karate hai.n
bujhaa jo rauzan-e-zi.ndaa.N to dil ye samajhaa hai
ki terii maa.ng sitaaro.n se bhar gaii hogii
chamak uThe hai.n salaasil to hamane jaanaa hai
ki ab sahar tere ruKh par bikhar gaii hogii
Garaz tasavvur-e-shaam-o-sahar me.n jiite hai.n
giraft-e-saayaa-e-diwaar-o-dar me.n jiite hai.n
yuu.N hii hameshaa ulajhatii rahii hai zulm se Khalq
na unakii rasm naii hai, na apanii riit naii
yuu.N hii hameshaa khilaaye hai.n hamane aag me.n phuul
na unakii haar naii hai na apanii jiit naii
isii sabab se falak kaa gilaa nahii.n karate
tere firaaq men ham dil buraa nahii.n karate
Gar aaj tujhase judaa hai.n to kal baham ho.nge
ye raat bhar kii judaaii to koii baat nahii.n
Gar aaj auj pe hai taala-e-raqiib to kyaa
ye chaar din kii Khudaaii to koii baat nahii.n
jo tujhase ahd-e-wafaa ustavaar rakhate hai.n
ilaaj-e-gardish-e-lail-o-nihaar rakhate hai.n
Faiz sahab was and still one of the greatest poet in the world, and I am not only his great fan but also great admirer of his poetry.Faiz sahab is still alive in the heart of those who love his poetry.We are proud on Faiz sahab.
“Jab Arz-e-Khuda ke kabay se
Sab but Uthwaaiy Jain gay
Hum Ehl-e-Safa Mardood-e-Haram
Masnad pe Bithaaiy jain gay
Sab Taaj Uchalay jain gay
Sab Takht Giraaiy Jain gay
Bas Naam rahay Ga Allah ka
Jo Ghayab Bhi hai Hazir Bhi
Jo nazir bhi hai manzar bhi
Uthay ga Analhaq ka Naara
Jo Main bhi Hun aur Tumbhi ho
Aur Raaj karay gi khalq-e-Khuda
Jo main bhi hun aur tum bhi ho
Hum Dekhain Gay
Lazim Hai ke hum Bhi Dekhain Gay
Hum Dekhain Gay”
Gulo main rang bhare baad-e-no bahar chale
Chale bhi aao ke gulshan ka karobaar chale.
qaffas udas hai yaro, saba se kuch to kaho
kahin to bahr-e-khuda aj zikr-e-yar chale
kabhi to subh tere kunj-e-lab se ho agaz
kabhi to shab sar-e-kakul se mushkabar chale
bara hai dard ka rishta, ye dil garib sahi
tumhare nam pe ayenge gamgusar chale
jo ham pe guzari so guzari magar shab-e-hijran
hamare ashk teri aqabat sanwar chale
huzoor-e-yar hui daftar-e-junun ki talab
girah main le k gareban ka tar tar chale
maqam ‘Faiz’ koi rah main jacha hi nahin
jo ku-e-yar se nikle to su-e-dar chale
There will be no other Faiz. He has touched the hearts of our nation like no one else. I deeply regret the way our dictators treated him.
He was the Dawn for our nation.
There has never been a day in my adult life that I did not read Faiz sahib. The verses changed their meaning as I grew older. But one message has been permenant for the last three decades. That hope is the only thing we have to cling to. And that message is more pertinant today.
I agree entirely. Hope (and it is always with a capital H with Faiz) is one quality, one virtue that shines out. Who else could have said:
Jalwa gah-e-wisaal ki shamein woh bujha bhi chuke agar to kya?
Chand ko gul karein to hum jaanain!
Jan baqi hai to karne ko buhat baqi hai
Ab woh jo kuch k meri jaaN nahi karne detey
Though born in India post 1947 and that too in an orthodox Brahm in family I learnt reading and writing Urdu in my early childhood, thanx to my late father who consideredd knowledge of urdu as the first and foremost condition for any claim to being literate. Each and every word written by Faiz is superb par excellence and it is difficult for any one having read Faiz’s poetry to single out any specific piece. Nevertheless the compositions meriting , special mention are, ‘…ye wo sahar to nahin’,…..aaiye composition,….hum dekhenge’. And how can one forget the most melodious almost divine phraseology of ‘Dasht e tanhai mein……made immortal by Iqbal bano sahiba and Faiz sahab jointly…..
It is not a question of being ahead or behind his times; Faiz like ……well like no one else really transcended the time barrier; he was a friend, philosopher, guide, preacher and a messiah of the Awaam who dreamt for a bright future for those whose present was dark, who spoke on behalf of those whose voice was stiffled by poverty and oppression and who raised his own hands in dua for those whose hands were crippled by tyranny of circumstances. In the process he saw a future when, ‘sab taj uchhale jayenge sab takht ukhade jayenge’. We call it being ‘ahead of his times’. We also forget that Faiz put the onus for bringing the sunshine into the lives of the down trodden on each one of us, on the awam on the aam admi. Remember his words,, utthega analhaq ka nara JO TUM BHI HO AUR MAE BHI HUN and jab raj karega khalq e khuda JO TUM BHI HO AUR MAE BHI HUN…….each one of us is Faiz’s ‘TUM BHI’…let us honor the responsibility Faiz had given us and the trust he reposed in each one of us.
Ojha,
Very well said. He inspired us, he made us cry, he made us look for hope and he challenged the most cruel amongst us. He did it in such a style that it left indelible mark. Every time I read his poetry, it rejuvenates me. People who like Faiz must also like Iqbal.
Sir you have written excellent comments about Faiz. The poems you selected and the end you wrote is simply superb. You touched my heart. Thank you again for such a wonderful description of Faiz.
i cant seem to find the 32 pages Faiz Centenary special on Dawn.com
Can anyone else is able to connect feelings with colors, with this beauty, other than Faiz? I don’t think so.
“Rang hey Dil Ka mere”
Tum na aaiy thay to har cheez wohi thi ke jo hai
aasman had’nazar , rahguzar, rahguzar, sheesha’e mae sheesha’e mae
aur ab sheesha’e mae, rahguzar rang’e falak
rang hai dil ka marey khoon’e jigar honay tak
champa’ee rang kabhi rahat’e deedar ka rang
sorma’ee rang ke hai saat’e bezaar ka rang
zard patoon ka khas’o khaar ka rang
surkh phoolon ka dehaktay hoey gulzar ka rang
zehar ka rang , lahoo rang , shab’e taar ka rang
aasman , rahguzar, sheesha’e mae
koyee bheega huwa daman koyee dukhti hoyee rag
koyee har lehza badalta aaina hai
ab jo aaiy ho to tehro ke koyee rang, koyee rut, koyee shai,
phir se ik baar har ik cheez wohi ho ke jo hai
aasman had’e nazar , rahguzar rahguzar, sheesha’e mae sheesha’e mae