Beautiful lines in traditional Urdu Qawwali

I found a soothing statement in a traditional Urdu ode -- or qawwali -- and I sometimes play it on repeat on my computer.

"Decree for me a life of internal stillness and calm //

And decree that the ship that I float across life on never sinks."

I am a complete beginner in Urdu I'm not even sure I translated it right; I ran across it because I purchased "The Sabri Brothers - Tajdar-e-Haram." online.

Can anyone recommend similar beautiful lines?

Najeeb (Team Member)

Original Urdu Version:

Qismat mey meree chaaynd sey jeenaa likhday //

Doobay na kabee mayraa safeena likhday.

Attachments:

Tajdar-e-Haram Excerpts.mp3, 759 KB

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Naveeda Shaikh on October 28, 2011 at 10:02am

Thank you for beautiful lines.

I am sorry I never heard any Qawali, even of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Broadly speaking, I was busy in my childhood with Ainak Wala Jin and then, with Bob, Dora, Barbie and my most favourite even today The Lion King. In my Sixteens, I was busy in filling the documents of Intermediate and studying all the time (God promise, I am lying). Today I do have time which I spend in Newspapers. Silly thing to do. I am with you. I am gonna try some Qawwalis. It would be better than listening to the all in one fabricated speeches of feuds who turned to be politicians, tried to be democratic and but remained tyrants. MAN! I wanna break things, I wanna go to upstairs and roar in aggression. Why Pakistani people can not understand and again assemble and again and so on.

Is that crazy? Lemme listen some Qawalis, since I am better in Urdu, ONLY I reckon.

Permalink Reply by Najeeb Ahmed on November 5, 2011 at 2:30pm

Naveeda,

I have to admit, I am a foreigner to Pakistan and its culture. I only know Urdu because it is spoken in my home--and recently, since I had been living with my parents, I had the oppurtunity to learn more about it.

Thank you for your response!

Najeeb

Permalink Reply by Farwa Manekia on November 6, 2011 at 2:31am

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is a glorious name in the Qawalli saga. However, Urdu (being my favourite language) is promoted by several ironic personalities who have contributed their talents to uphold it. Yes! these lyrics are correct and touching.

Seeing your youth, I pine for wine.
Everyday I repent [and] everyday my desires tempt [me].

am enjoying the breeze of the tresses of the cup-bearer
and I am swaying in this breeze.

O dreariness of thoughts, I leave the result in your hands
I am pitting the cup (of wine) against the world

With such spiritlessness, I go to the day of judgment
that as if I am going to one of my rivals.

URDU VERSION!

dekh kar aap kii javaanii ko aarzuu-e-sharaab hotii hai
roz taubaa ko toRtaa huuN maiN, roz niyyat Kharaab hotii hai

saaqii ke gesuon kii havaa khaa rahaa huuN maiN

aur is havaa ke saath uRaa jaa rahaa huuN maiN

ai vahshat-e-Khyaal, natiijaa tere supurd
saaGhar ko qaynaat se takRaa rahaa huuN maiN

jaataa huuN bazm-e-hashr meN is be-dilii ke saath
jaise kisii raqiib ke ghar jaa rahaa huuN maiN

I am extremely fond of it! :) Good Luck with progressing urdu.

Farwa Manekia

Permalink Reply by Najeeb Ahmed on December 16, 2011 at 12:44am

Today at the Department of State:

"Pakistani singer Salman Ahmad shares Sufi music with the State Department and discusses how music can bring about peace by connecting people." http://ow.ly/818Z3

Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA)

Permalink Reply by Naveeda Shaikh on December 16, 2011 at 6:13am

Thanks Najeeb for posting the video here. I enjoyed the most watching it, felt like I was there and applauding for him.

Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Farwa Manekia on January 14, 2012 at 1:53am

Just saw the video, commendable indeed!

Permalink Reply by Syed Sabih Naqvi on December 22, 2011 at 11:02am

Did you experience sufi music of Abida Parveen, I bet You'll love every bit of it.

http://youtu.be/beP-c-W7Ue8

Permalink Reply by Najeeb Ahmed on January 21, 2012 at 6:50pm

"..[W]hen I came here I immediately started listening to 'qawwali' music. And I'm really an addict now. I have it ... in my study where I listen to it. Two of my favorites are, of course everyone's favorite, Abida Parveen and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan--and so I listen to them all the time."

~Dr Marilyn Wyatt, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter at the Sufi Folk Music Evening at the U.S Embassy Islamabad

Permalink Reply by iqra zafar on February 8, 2012 at 6:21pm

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, His Qawwali works are great too.
Urdu is beautiful. I am glad you're trying it.
Ma'am Noor Jahan, known as (Malka-e-tarannum) "The Queen Of Melody" had been ruling hearts for years in her life time. She had lots of beautiful Urdu poetry and rhythmic works.
I hope you'll enjoy her voice and the indepth meaning of the poetic expressions.

Permalink Reply by Zahid Hussein on February 9, 2012 at 11:45am