ایسا بننا سنورنا مبارک تمہیں
Aisā Banñā Sañvarnā Mubārak Tumheñ
Congratulations on Such Beauty and Adornment
فنا بلند شہری
ایسا بننا سنورنا مبارک تمہیں کم سے کم اِتنا کہنا ہمارا کرو
Aisā banñā sañvarnā mubārak tumheñ kam se kam itnā kahnā hamārā karo
Congratulations on such beauty and adornment, (But) at least grant this one request of mine:
چاند شرمائے گا چاندنی رات میں یوں نہ زلفوں کو اپنی سنوارا کرو
chāñd sharmā.egā chāñdnī raat meñ yuuñ na zulfoñ ko apnī sañvārā karo
The moon will be put to shame on a moonlit night; Do not style your tresses in such a way.
یہ تبسم یہ عارض یہ روشن جبیں یہ ادا یہ نگاہیں یہ زلفیں حسیں
ye tabassum ye aariz ye raushan jabīñ ye adā ye nigāheñ ye zulfeñ hasīñ
This smile, these cheeks, this radiant forehead, This grace, these glances, these beautiful tresses;
آئینے کی نظر لگ نہ جائے کہیں جانِ جاں اپنا صدقہ اُتارا کرو
aa.ine kī nazar lag na jaa.e kahīñ jān-e-jāñ apnā sadqa utārā karo
Lest you catch the evil eye of the mirror itself, My love, please perform a charity (to ward it off).
شیخ صاحب! کبھی آئیے تو ہمارے مَے خانے میں
Sheikh Sāhab! Kabhī aa.ie to hamāre mai-khāne meñ
O Sheikh! Do come sometime to our tavern;
دیکھیے کیسے مستوں کو ہم نے سنوارا کرو
Dekhie kaise mastoñ ko ham ne sañvārā karo
See how we have adorned the intoxicated ones.
دیکھ کر اُن کی صُورت کوئی بھی نہیں رہتا
Dekh kar un kī sūrat koī bhī nahīñ rahtā
Upon seeing their faces, no one remains (unchanged);
آپ بھی آئیے اور اپنا اعتبار کرو
Aap bhī aa.ie aur apnā e'tibār karo
You too come and test your own resolve.
دیکھ کر اُن کی صُورت کوئی بھی نہیں رہتا
Dekh kar un kī sūrat koī bhī nahīñ rahtā
Upon seeing their faces, no one remains (unchanged);
آپ بھی آئیے اور اپنا اعتبار کرو
Aap bhī aa.ie aur apnā e'tibār karo
You too come and test your own resolve.
دیکھ کر اُن کی صُورت کوئی بھی نہیں رہتا
Dekh kar un kī sūrat koī bhī nahīñ rahtā
Upon seeing their faces, no one remains (unchanged);
آپ بھی آئیے اور اپنا اعتبار کرو
Aap bhī aa.ie aur apnā e'tibār karo
You too come and test your own resolve.
📖Metaphorical & Poetic Meaning
This ghazal by Fana Bulandshahri is a beautiful example of how Urdu poetry seamlessly blends adoration of the beloved with Sufi mysticism. The poem can be read on three levels: as a romantic address to a beautiful beloved, as a Sufi allegory about the Divine Beloved, and as an invitation to spiritual ecstasy.
Part 1: Adoration of the Beloved (Couplets 1-3)
The opening couplets are filled with hyperbolic praise of the beloved's beauty. The poet congratulates them on their adornment but playfully warns them not to style their hair too beautifully, lest even the moon be put to shame. The third couplet lists the beloved's features—smile, cheeks, forehead, grace, glances, tresses—and warns that even the mirror might cast an evil eye (nazar lagnā) on such beauty. The poet advises the beloved to perform a sadqa (charity or protective ritual) to ward off this danger.
Part 2: Invitation to the Sheikh (Couplets 4-5)
The tone shifts dramatically. The poet addresses a Sheikh (a religious scholar or spiritual guide) and invites him to visit the mai-khāna (tavern/wine-house). In Sufi poetry, the mai-khāna is a metaphor for the place of spiritual ecstasy and divine love, and the mast (intoxicated ones) are the lovers of God who have abandoned worldly concerns. The poet challenges the Sheikh to come and see how beautifully the 'intoxicated ones' have been adorned—implying that true spiritual beauty and transformation happen not in the mosque but in the tavern of love.
Part 3: The Cynical Conclusion (Couplet 6)
The final couplet is a direct challenge to the Sheikh's piety. The poet says that upon seeing the faces of these intoxicated lovers, 'no one remains'—meaning no one can maintain their composure, their orthodoxy, or their sense of self. The poet invites the Sheikh to come and 'test his own resolve' (apnā e'tibār karo), implying that even the most pious will be swept away by the power of divine love and beauty.
📖Glossary of Highlighted Words
▶️Listen to the Poem
Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan