The World for the lovers, is no less than the heavens (Duniya kisi ke pyar mein jannat se kam nahi)

Another gem in the ghazal world, rendered by non-other than the master of the masters in Ghazal singing: Mehdi Hassan saheb.

Translation:

Nightingale said it to flower,
and flower said it to spring,
what stars heard as a whisper
from night’s silver fling:

“The World for the lovers,
is no less than the heavens…
A beloved residing in heart
is no less than the angels…”

You’re monarch of beauty,
beauty of universe you’re.
You’re soul of integrity,
integral of true love you’re.
All splendor of your beauty,
is no less than galaxies.

Even by chance when you smile,
pearls fall like it’s raining.
Even at sight of your glance,
buds bloom like it’s spring.
Fragrance sunk in your tresses,
is no less than the florets.

– Dedicated of course to the beloved no less than the angels…

Bulbul ne gul se, gul ne baharon se keh dia
Ek chaudween k chaand ne sitaron se keh dia

Duniya kisi ke pyar mein jannat se kam nahi
ik dilruba hai dil mein jo huron se kam nahi

tum badshah-e-husn ho husn-e-jahan ho
jan-e-vafa ho aur muhabbat ke shan ho
jalve tumhare husn ke taron se kam nahi

bhule se muskurao to moti baras pade
palke utha ke dekho to kaliyan bhi hans pade
khushbu tumhari zulf ke phoolon se kam nahi

– Originally written by: Wahaj Muhammad Khan (popularly known as Dukhi Premnagri).

Urdu version:

  بلبل نے گل سے، گل نے بہاروں سے کہه دیا
ایک چودهویں کے چاند نے تاروں سے کہه دیا

دنیا کسی کے پیار میں، جنت سے کم نہیں
اک دلربا ہے دل میں، جو حوروں سے کم نہیں

تم بادشاه حسن ہو، حسن جہان ہو
جان وفا ہو اور محبت کے شان ہو
جلوے تمہارے حسن کے تاروں سے کم نہیں

بهولے سے مسکراؤ تو موتی برس پڑے
پلکهیں اٹها کے دیکهـو تو کلیاں بهی ہنس پڑے
خوشبو تمہاری زلف کی پهولوں سے کم نہیں

– دُکھی پریم نگری –

Trivia: “Lal Muhammad Iqbal was the composer of this song for the Pakistani film “Jaag Utha Insaan (1966)”. Shaikh Hassan, the director of the movie proposed Dukhi Saheb to write a song comparable with Shakeel Badayuni’s famous song :CHAUDHVEEN KA CHAND HO YA AFTAB HO…JO BHEE HO KHUDA KI KASAM LA’JAWAB HO… Dukhi Saheb reminisced “It was a very difficult challenge to me. Somehow, I sat down in a corner, scribbling aimlessly in a paper. Suddenly, the second Misra (Ek Dilruba Hai Dil Main Jo Hooron Sey Kum Nahin ) emerged from sub-conscious mind, I jotted it down. Meanwhile, Shaikh Hassan entered the room, he was glad to hear this Misra, he kept humming it. Within half an hour the first Misra flashed through my mind.” He completed the remaining song within 10 mins. Though it didn’t win, but this song was put up for Nigaar Award in Best Song category.”

Following version is covered very deliciously by a British singer, Tanya Wells: