'ظفرؔ' آدمی اُس کو نہ جانِیے گا
'Zafar' aadmī us ko na jāniyegā
'Zafar', do not consider that person a (true) human
بہادرشاہ ظفر
'ظفرؔ' آدمی اُس کو نہ جانِیے گا وہ ہو کیسا ہی صاحِبِ فہم و ذَکا
'Zafar' aadmī us ko na jāniyegā vo ho kaisā hī sāhab-e-fahm-o-zakā
'Zafar', do not consider that person a (true) human, no matter how much a master of intellect and understanding they may be;
جِسے عیش میں یادِ خُدا نہ رہی جِسے طیش میں خَوفِ خُدا نہ رہا
jise aish meñ yād-e-ḳhudā na rahī jise taish meñ ḳhauf-e-ḳhudā na rahā
The one who, in times of comfort, did not remember God, (and) the one who, in times of rage, had no fear of God.
📖Metaphorical & Poetic Meaning
This couplet is not a romantic ghazal but a piece of profound wisdom (hikmat). Zafar gives a clear definition of what constitutes a 'true human' (aadmī).
Line 1:
He states that mere intelligence—even genius (sāhab-e-fahm-o-zakā)—is not what defines humanity. A person can be brilliant, clever, and knowledgeable, but this alone does not make them a complete person.
Line 2:
He presents the two ultimate tests of a person's character, which lie at the extremes of emotion:
Aish (Comfort/Prosperity):
When life is easy, filled with pleasure and success. A person who forgets God (yād-e-ḳhudā) in these good times, showing ingratitude and arrogance, has failed the test.
Taish (Rage/Adversity):
When a person is overcome with anger, passion, or is under duress. A person who loses all sense of morality and compassion, and has no 'fear of God' (ḳhauf-e-ḳhudā) to restrain them, has also failed the test.
In essence, Zafar teaches that true humanity is defined by moral character, not by intellect. The true human is one who remains humble and grateful in good times, and restrained and just in bad times.