Mushafi's ghazal: Is maikada-e-jahaan mein yaaro...

Ghulam Hamdani Mus'hafi [1750-1824] was one of the masters of classical Urdu ghazal. He hailed from Amroha and later settled in Lucknow. Renowned poet Aatish was his disciple.

Mus'hafi is also recalled for his literary feuds with another legend Insha. Their disciples also lampooned each other. Read Mushafi and admire his simplicity of language over two centuries ago.

Now read his ghazal:

है माह कि आफताब क्या है?
देखो तो तह-ऐ-नकाब क्या है?

मैंने तुझे, तूने मुझको देखा
अब मुझसे तुझे हिजाब क्या है?

आए हो तो कोई दम तो बैठो
ऐ क़िबला ये इज़्तिराब* क्या है?

इसमें हमें जागते ही गुजरी
जाना न ये हम कि ख्वाब क्या है?

इस मैकदा-ए-जहां में यारो
मुझ सा भी कोई खराब क्या है?

गुलाम हमदानी मुसहफ़ी 

Now read the ghazal in Roman English script:

hai maah ki aaftaab kyaa hai
dekho to tah-e-naqaab kyaa hai

maiNne tujhe, tuu ne mujhko dekha
ab mujh se tujhe hijaab kyaa hai

aaye ho to koii dam to baiTho
aye qiblaa, ye iztiraab* kyaa hai

is meN hameN jaagte hii guzrii
jaana na yeh ham ki Khwaab kyaa hai

is maikadae-e-jahaaN meN yaaro
mujh saa bhii koii Kharaab kya hai

Ghulam Hamdaani Mus'hafi

Mini dictionary

maah=moon, aaftaab=sun
*restlessness, turbulence