Unki mehek ne dil ke ghunche kila diye he,
Jis raah chal diye he, kooche basa diye he.
His fragrance has caused the buds of my heart to blossom
Whichever road he has travelled, he has brought it to life!
Jab agayi he josh e rahmat pe unki ankhe,
Jalte bujha diye he, rote hassa diye he.
When his eyes have surged forth, ocean-like, with mercy
They have extinguished those on fire, brought smiles to those in tears
Ik dil hamara kya he, aazar uska kitna,
Tum ne to chalte phirte, murde jila diye he.
What is my heart alone? However much its harm
You have brought back to life the living dead!
Unke nisaar koyi kaise hi runj mein ho,
Jab yaad aagaye he, sab gham bhula diye he.
May I die for him! However much sorrow someone is in
When he is remembered, all one’s sorrows are forgotten!
Hum se faqir bhi ab pheri ko utthe honge,
Ab to Ghani ke dar par, bistar jama diye he.
Now even medicants hope to obtain something from us
Since we have lain our mattresses at the door of that generous One!
Asra mein guzre jis dam bere pe qudsiyon ke,
Hone lagi salaami, parchum jhuka diye he.
During the Ascension when he passed the angelic hosts
They began to salute him and lower their flags!
Aane do ya dabo do ab to tumhari janib,
Kashti tumhi pe chori, langar utha diye he.
Whether you let me cross or not, it is now up to your pleasure
I have left my ship in your hands, have lifted the anchor!
Dulha se itna kehdo pyaare sawari roko,
Mushkil mein he baraati, purkhar la diye he.
Say this much to the bridegroom: Beloved, halt your steed
The wedding guests are in difficulty, their way strewn with thorns!
Allah re kya Jahannam ab bhi na sard hoga,
Ro ro ke Mustafa ne dariya baha diye he.
Allah! Have the fires of Jahannam still not frozen over?
Beloved Mustafa has wept oceans of tears!
Mere kareem se gar qatra kisi ne maanga,
Dariya baha diye he, durbe baha diye he.
If one asked a mere drop from my gracious master
He has given him rivers in return, whole oceans instead!
Mulk e sukhan ko shahi tum ko Raza musallam,
Jis simt agaye he, sikke bitha diye he.
Congratulations on being crowned King of verse, Raza!
Wherever you have gone, coins have been struck in your name! *
(*This verse was not written by Imam Ala Hazrat himself. It was written as an ode to him by a famous poet in Delhi.
The story is that his younger brother, Imam Hassan Raza Khan, would often send his own poetry to be reviewed by Janaab Daagh Delhwi, who was a famous and distinguished poet of his time. One day, as he was about to leave for Delhi, Imam Ala Hazrat presented one of his Naats to Imam Hassan Raza Khan and said, “Ask Daagh Delhwi to rectify this kalaam.” The Naat, which Imam Ala Hazrat sent, begins with the following stanza:
Unki mehek ne dil ke ghunche kila diye he,
Jis raah chal diye he, kooche basa diye he.
When Imam Hassan Raza Khan reached Delhi and presented the Naat to Daagh Delwhi, he looked at it and said, “This does not seem like the poetry of Mawlana Hassan Raza Khan. Whose is it?” Imam Hassan Raza Khan replied that it was written by Imam Ala Hazrat. On hearing this, Daagh Delhwi said, “You have brought the kalaam of Ala Hazrat to me for correction? This is the kalaam of such a poet who holds no place for correction. But since it is incomplete, I would like to write the final verse on my behalf. Please ask the Imam not to change it, as I am aware that he does not like anything written in his praise.”nAfter saying this, he wrote the verse:
Mulk e sukhan ko shahi tum ko Raza musallam,
Jis simt agaye he, sikke bitha diye he.
Indeed, such a noble personality as Imam Ala Hazrat Ahmad Raza Khan had no love for praise, let alone self-praise. His legacy speaks for itself, alhamdulillah.)