by Maulana Rumi
Singing: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Qawwaals
Translated by Huma Dar
نه من بيهوده گرد کوچه و بازار می گردم
مذاق عاشقی دارم پئ ديدار ميگردم
خدايا رحم کن بر من پريشان وار می گردم
خطا کارم گناھگارم به حال زار می گردم
شراب شوق می نوشم به گرد يار می گردم
سخن مستانه می گويم ولے هوشيار می گردم
گھےخندم گھے گريم گھے افتم گھے خيزم
مسيحا در دلم پيدا و من بيمار می گردم
بیا جانا عنایت کن تو مولانای رومی را
غلام شمس تبریزم قلندروار می گردم
Pakistan’s legendary artist, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, rendered this ghazal of Rumi, in his inimitable style of qawwaali, above. Here is an attempt at translation:
Not frivolously, around the alleys and bazaars, I whirl.
Lover’s temperament, I have — to have one glimpse of my Beloved, I whirl.
O, God! Have mercy on me! Distracted, I whirl.
I am guilty, I am sinful: in this wretched state, I whirl.
Desire’s wine I imbibe; around the Friend, I whirl.
Intoxicated speech, I utter, even while soberly, I whirl.
Sometimes I laugh, weep sometimes; sometimes I fall, rise sometimes.
Messiah, in my heart, I bear; and I, the infirm, whirl.
Come, O Beloved! Indulge Maulana Rumi!
Shams Tabrizi’s slave I am; like a qalandar, I whirl.
“The hand that sends jupiter into orbit
Curls the hair of a little girl.
Round and round, whirling.”
Thanks Huma, for the beautiful translation.
the poem is not from ” Hazrat moulana”, although, its a sufi style poem. the word “Rumi” is used much later for ” moulana” . you can not find this poem in ” Divan e Shams”.