Every so often, a song comes along that completely throws me off my feet. This is one of them.
If ever I have thought about my life and a reason for being on this spinning piece of rock, this song encompasses it all.
Her silken voice singing those words. It’s the closest I’ve ever come to feeling god’s presence.
Surely, this could only have been god’s handiwork.
I have always been awed and been insanely jealous of people who can put their emotions into words. The deepest, purest part of our being, wrenched off and put on paper. These words, spoken. Sung. Beautiful pieces of my mind, imagined by someone, centuries ago.
The search for god, for love, for a decent reason to go on living.
I wish I could experience this kind of love.
I can feel my heart trying to get to grips with it. I don’t think it’s built to handle this.
Every line I write to describe it, it eludes me, slipping thorough my fingers.
So without any more of my laboured prose, here is the subject of my immense joy and misery:
Abida Parveen – Nigah-e-Darwaishaan
(Words by Bulleh Shah)
Maula… maula… maula… ho maula
O God!
Na khuda maseehtay labda
God is not found in mosques
(repeat)
Na khuda vich kaabay
Nor in the Kaaba
Na khuda quraan kittabaan
God is not in the Holy Scripture
Na khuda namazay
Nor in prayers
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
(repeat)
Sanu pyaar da, dildaar da
The Beloved, the very dear
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
(repeat)
Na rab arsh mu allah uttay
God is not in the skies
(repeat)
Na rab khanay kaabay hoon
Nor in Kaaba
Na rab ilm kittabi labhaa
God is not in books about religion
Labhaa, na, na, na… labhaa
I could not find him anywhere…
Na rab ilm kittabi labhaa
God is not in books about religion
Na rab wich mehraab-e ho
Nor in the minarets
Gaanga teerath mool na milya
God is not on the banks of Ganges
Painday baihisaab-e ho
The pilgrimages have all been in vain
Jab da murshid milya baaho
When the Beloved is in my embrace, Baahu
(Baahu – was a 17th century Sufi poet)
Chutti sab azab-e ho
All miseries disappear
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
Sanu pyaar da, dildaar da
The Beloved, the very dear
Maula… Ali, ali, ali, da
(repeat)
Bulleh Shah, Bulleh Shah kaun hai
Who is Bulleh Shah?
Bulleh Shah, au kaun hai
Who is Bulleh Shah?
Uttam tera yaar
Who is your supreme friend?
(repeat)
Us key haath Quran…
In one hand, he holds the Quran
Us key gal zonaar
In his neck, he wears the holy thread
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
Sanu pyaar da, dildaar da
The Beloved, the very dear
(repeat)
Maula da, maula, maula da, maula da
God…
Kalaay maidayy kapray, tay kala maida bhais
My clothes are black and so is my appearance
(repeat)
Ghunaah hi bharya mein phirain, log kahain dervish
I am full of sins but these people call me a mystic
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
(repeat)
Uth Faridon suttya, uth Farida
Farid, wake up from your sleep
Duniya vaikhan jaa
Go see the world
Jai koi mil jaye bakhshiya tey too vi bakhsha jaye
If perchance you encounter the forgiven to be forgiven
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
(repeat)
Masjid dhaa dey
Tear down the mosques
Mandir dhaa dey
Tear down the mandirs
Dhaa dey jo kuch dhaindha
Tear down whatever can be brought down
Par kisi da dil naa dhaa
But don’t break anyone’s heart
Rab dilon vich rainda
For God resides there
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
Sanu pyaar da, dildaar da
The Beloved, the very dear
(repeat)
Dil ki bisaat kya thee
But then what is the worth of this heart
Nigah-e-jamal mein
In front of the Beloved’s eyes
Ik aina tha toot gaya dekh baal mein
It’s like a mirror that broke whilst caring
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
(repeat)
Raati jaagay sheikh sada mein
You keep awake at night and consider yourself pious
Tey raati jagan kuttay tain thee uttay
But (Bulleya) even dogs stay awake the whole night,they are better than you!
Dar malik da mool na chadhtay, pawain sau sau pawnday juttay, tain thee uttay
They do not leave the door of the master, even if beaten, they are better than you!
Rukhi sukhi roti khandain, attay jagray tai suttay, tain thee uttay
They eat the leftovers and stale food, they are better than you!
Chal way miyan Bulleya, chal yaar mana lay
Come on Bulleya, let’s go and pacify Him
Nahin tay baazi lay gaye kuttay, tain thee uttay
Otherwise the dogs steal the game, they are better than you!
Sanu ishq laga hai pyaar da
I am smitten by the Beloved
(repeat)
Maula maula … pyaar da
Maula, maula, ali, ali
Yaari yaari, yaari, yaari
God….
(Translation by A.H. Akhund, a few changes by me)
