The revolutions in the Middle East are on my mind. Some ask if Pakistan too will rise up in a wave? Who do we rise up against? Ourselves- the tyranny of our own corrupt souls. If our hearts are oppressive and no one is safe from our tongues, hands, who will we overthrow?
I want to do something for the our brothers and sisters in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Kashmir, Algeria, all those who are protesting so I translated Faiz’s poem into English. There are similar translations on-line esp here (by Sister Ghazala, it is great), but when they took the name of Allah out of it, the poem was empty of the depth that Faiz put into his words.
Change comes from inside and out- from top to bottom- pray for change blessed by the Divine- and while you are praying for your people pray for Pakistanis, too.
Hum Dekhain Gay, Faiz Ahmed Faiz
We will see
It is certain that we too,will see
that day which is promised
written on His Tablet of Eternity
yes, we will see that day
When the heavy mountains of tyranny
like wisps of cotton will float in the air.
Under our feet- the feet of the oppressed-
the heart of the earth will throb with our passion
and on the heads of our oppressors
lightning will strike and strike and strike.
yes, we will see that day
when from the house of Allah, the Kaaba
all false idols will be removed,
we- the family of Safa’- the believers –
forbidden from Sacred places
will be asked to sit on seats of honor
all crowns thrown away,
all thrones broken down.
Only The name of Allah will survive
He who is unseen but present, both
Who is the Seeing and the Scene, both
the chant will rise, I am the Truth-
Which is me, and You too
rule will then the Creator’s creation
Which is me, and You too
It is certain we will see that day
hum dekhainge
lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhainge
hum dekhainge
woh din ke jis ka wada hai…hum dekhainge
jo loh-e-azal pe likha hai…hum dekhiange
jab zulm-o-sitam ke koh-e-giran,
rooyi ki tarah u\’dh jayenge
hum mehkoomon ke paoon tale,
yeh dharti gha\’dh gha\’dh gha\’dhke gi
aur ahl-e-hakam ke saron per,
jab bijli ka\’dh ka\’dh ka\’dhke gi
hum dekhainge
lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhainge
hum dekhainge
jab arz-e-khuda ke kaabe se,
sab butt uthwaye jayenge
hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-haram,
masnad pe bithaaye jayenge
sab taaj uchhaale jayenge,
sab takht gira ey jayenge
hum dekhainge
lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhainge
hum dekhainge
bas naam rahe ga Allah ka
jo gayab bhi hai hazir bhi
jo manzar bhi hai nazir bhi
uthe ga anal haq ka na\’ra
jo main bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho
aur raaj kare gi khalq-e-khuda
jo main bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho
hum dekhainge
lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhainge
hum dekhainge
woh din ke jis ka wada hai…hum dekhainge
jo loh-e-azal pe likha hai…hum dekhiange
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