Hum Tou Majboor-e-Wafa Hain | Poetry by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Hum to majboor-e-wafa hain (translation: we are bound by love) is an Urdu nazm by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, from his book Kulliyat-e-Faiz. It blends love and devotion to homeland with political anguish. The poem is addressed to the motherland (arz-e-watan), questioning the heavy price exacted from its loyal citizens and lovers.
VERSE 1 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
تجھ کو کتنوں کا لہو چاہیئے اے ارضِ وطن
جو ترے عارضِ بے رنگ کو گلنار کریں
[Tujh ko kitnoun ka lahu chahiye ae arz-e-watan
Jo tere aariz-e-be-rang ko gulnaar karein]
How much more of our blood do you require, O homeland,
To paint your pale cheeks rosy
VERSE 2 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
کتنی آہوں سے کلیجہ ترا ٹھنڈا ہوگا
کتنے آنسو ترے صحراؤں کو گل زار کریں
[Kitni aahon se kaleja tera thanda hoga
Kitne aansoo tere sehraaon ko gulzaar karein]
How many sighs will it take to soothe your heart?
How many tears must fall to your deserts into blooming gardens?
VERSE 3 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
تیرے اعوانوں میں پرزے ہوئے پیماں کتنے
کتنے وعدے جو نہ آسودۂ اقرار ہوئے
[Tere aiwanon mein parze hue paiman kitne
Kitne waade jo na aasooda-e-iqraar hue]
How many pledges were torn to shred in your parliaments
How many promises that were never fulfilled
VERSE 4 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
کتنی آنکھوں کو نظر کھا گئی بد خواہوں کی
خواب کتنے تری شہ راہوں میں سنگسار ہوئے
[Kitni aankhon ko nazar kha gayi badkhwaahon ki
Khawab kitne teri sheh-raahon mein sangsaar hue]
How many eyes fell victim to the evil gaze of foes
How many dreams turned to stone on your boulevards?
VERSE 5 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
بلا کشانِ محبت پہ جو ہوا سو ہوا
جو مجھ پہ گزری مت اس سے کہو، ہوا سو ہوا
[Bala-kashaan-e-mohabbat pe jo hua so hua
Jo mujh pe guzri mat us se kaho, hua so hua]
Whatever befell the sufferers of love, but what’s done is done
Whatever transpired with me, do not announce it, what’s done is done.
VERSE 6 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
مبادا ہو کوئی ظالم ترا گریباں گیر
لہو کے داغ تو دامن سے دھو، ہوا سو ہوا
[Mubada ho koi zaalim tera gareban gir
Lahu ke daagh to daaman se dho, hua so hua]
Lest some tyrant seize you by the collar
But wash off the blood from your shirt; what’s done is done
VERSE 7 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
ہم تو مجبورِ وَفا ہیں مگر اے جانِ جہاں
اپنے عشاق سے ایسے بھی کوئی کرتا ہے
[Hum to majboor-e-wafa hain magar ae jaan-e-jahan
Apne aashiqon se aise bhi koi karta hai]
I am bound by love but oh beloved,
Does anyone treat their true lovers like this?
VERSE 8 – Hum tou majboor-e-wafa hain by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
تیری محفل کو خدا رکھے ابد تک قائم
ہم تو مہماں ہیں گھڑی بھر کے ہمارا کیا ہے
[Teri mehfil ko Khuda rakhe abad tak qaim
Hum to mehmaan hain ghari bhar ke, hamara kya hai]
May your gatherings flourish till eternity by God’s grace
I am but a guest of this fleeting moment, what do I matter
