Progressive · 1931–2008 · Kohat – Islamabad
Ahmad Faraz, born Syed Ahmad Shah in Kohat, brought the ghazal a direct, contemporary sweetness while never abandoning its classical craft. His couplets — "ranjish hi sahi" above all — are part of everyday speech across the subcontinent. Exiled for his opposition to military rule, he remained a poet of both tenderness and defiance until his death in 2008.
ek muddat se muqaddar hai ghareeb alotni
koi pardees mein naa khush ho toh ghar bhi jaae
apni hi aawaaz ko be shak kaan mein rakhna
lekin shahar ki khaamoshi bhi dhyaan mein rakhna
mere jhoot ko tolo bhi aur kholo bhi tum
lekin apne sach ko bhi meezaan mein rakhna
kal taareekh yaqueena khud ko dahraaye gi
aaj ke ik ik manzar ko pahchaan mein rakhna
bazm mein yaaron ki shamsheer ke jauhar dekho
razam mein lekin talwaaron ko meeaan mein rakhna
us dariya se aage ek samundar bhi hai
aur wo be saahil hai ye bhi dhyaan mein rakhna
us mausam mein gul daanon ki rasm kahan hai
logo ab phoolon ki aatish daan mein rakhna
sab log liye sang malaamat nikal aae
kis shahar mein ham ahal mohabbat nikal aae
ab dil ki tamannaa hai toh ai kaash yahi ho
aansoo ki jagah aankh se hasrat nikal aae
har ghar ka diya gul na karo tum ki na jaane
kis baam se khursheed quayaamat nikal aae
jo darpay pindaar hain un quatl gahon se
jan de ke bhi samjho ki salaamat nikal aae
ai ham nafso kuchh toh kaho ahad sitam ki
ik harf se mumkin hai hikaayat nikal aae
yaaro mujhe maslob karo tum ki mire baad
shaayad ki tumhaara quad w quamat nikal aae
kyoon na ham ahad rifaaqat ko bhulaane lag jaaein
shaayad us zakhm ko bharne mein zamaane lag jaaein
nahi aisa bhi ki ik umr ki qurbat ke nashe
ek do roz ki ranjish se thikaane lag jaaein
yahi naaseh jo hamein tujh se na milne ko kahin
tujh ko dekhein toh tujhe dekhne aane lag jaaein
ham ki hain lazzat aazaar ke maare hue log
chaara gar aaein toh zakhmon ko chhapaane lag jaaein
rabt ke seenakdon heele hain mohabbat na sahi
ham tire saath kisi aur bahaane lag jaaein
saaquiya masjid w maktab toh nahi mai khana
dekhna phir bhi ghalat log na aane lag jaaein
qurb achchha hai magar itni bhi shiddat se na mil
ye na ho tujh ko mire rog puraane lag jaaein