تھا تَخَيُل جو ہم سفر ميرا
آسماں پر ہوا گزر ميرا
Tha Takhiyyul Jo Hum Safar Mera
Asman Par Huwa Guzr Mera
As only imagination was my fellow‐traveler
My path happened to pass through the sky
اڑتا جاتا تھا اور نہ تھا کوئی
جاننے والا چَرخ پر ميرا
Urta Jata Tha Aur Na Tha Koi
Jan’ane Wala Charakh Par Mera
I was flying constantly and no one
Was acquainted with me in the sky
تارے حيرت سے ديکھتے تھے مجھے
رازِ سَر بَستہ تھا سفر ميرا
Tare Hairat Se Dekhte The Mujhe
Raaz-e-Sar Basta Tha Safar Mera
The stars were staring at me in surprise
My journey was a well guarded secret
حلقہِ صبح و شام سے نکلا
اس پُرانے نظام سے نکلا
Halqa-e-Subah-o-Shaam Se Nikla
Iss Purane Nizam Se Nikla
I escaped from the alternation of day and night
I escaped from this ancient order of things
کيا سناؤں تمہيں ارم کيا ہے
خاتم ِآرزوئے ديدہ و گوش
Kya Sunaon Tumhain Irm Kya Hai
Khatam-e-Arzoo-e-Didah-o-Ghosh
What can I tell you what Paradise is
It is the climax of material longings
شاخ ِ طوبی! پہ نغمہ ريز طُيُور
بے حجابانہ حور جلوہ فَروش
Shakh-e-Tooba Pe Naghma Raiz Tuyoor
Be-Hijabana Hoor Jalwa Farosh
Birds were singing in the branches of Tubah
Unabashed Houri’s beauty was present all around
ساقيانِ جميل جام بدست
پينے والوں ميں شورِ نوشانوش
Saqiyan-e-Jameel Jaam Badast
Peene Walon Mein Shor-e-Nosha Nosh
Beautiful cup‐bearers with wine‐cups in hand
The audience was crying drink more and more”
دور جنت سے آنکھ نے ديکھا
ايک تاريک خانہ، سرد و خموش
Door Jannat Se Ankh Ne Dekha
Aik Tareek Khana, Sard-o-Khamosh
Far from the Paradise the eye observed
There was a dark house, cold and silent
طالعِ قيس و گيسوئے ليلی
اس کی تاريکيوں سے دوش بدوش
Taala’e Qais Wa Gaisu-e-Laila
Uss Ki Tareekiyon Se Dosh Ba Dosh
Countenance of Qais and Layla’s material form
Were shoulder to shoulder with its darkness
خُنک ايسا کہ جس سے شرما کر
کرہ زَمَہرِير ہو روپوش
Khunk Aesa Ke Jis Se Sharma Kar
Kurra-e-Zamhareer Ho Ru-Posh
It was so cold that being embarrassed by it
The Arctic Circle was concealing its face
ميں نے پوچھی جو کيفيت اس کی
حيرت انگيز تھا جوابِ سَروش
Main Ne Puchi Jo Kaifiat Uss Ki
Hiarat Angaiz Tha Jawab-e-Sarosh
When I inquired about its condition
The reply of the angel was strange
يہ مقام ِ خُنَک جہنم ہے
نار سے ، نور سے تہی آغوش
Ye Maqam-e-Khunak Jahanum Hai
Naar Se, Noor Se Tehi Agosh
“This cold place is called Hell
It is deprived of fire and light
شعلے ہوتے ہيں مُستَعار اس کے
جن سے لرزاں ہيں مرد ِعبرت کوش
Shaole Hote Hain Musta’ar Iss Ke
Jin Se Larzan Hain Mard-e-Ibrat Kosh
The heat of its flames which is borrowed
Terrifies the people seeking admonition
اہل دنيا يہاں جو آتے ہيں
اپنے انگار ساتھ لاتے ہيں
Ahl-e-Dunya Yahan Jo Ate Hain
Apne Angaar Saath Late Hain
When the earth’s people come here
They bring their embers with them”.