“Khiyal e Ghair Mitey” is a powerful Naat-e-Rasool (ﷺ) by Khawar Soharwardy that serves as a spiritual petition. The poet yearns for a state of Fana (annihilation) where the heart is cleansed of all worldly distractions, allowing the life to pass in the singular devotion of the Prophet (ﷺ). It touches upon the essence of prayer, the reality of life’s tests, and the ultimate success of Marifat (Divine Knowledge).
Thematic Connections: Total Surrender
The plea to erase ‘the other’ and live only for the Beloved is a hallmark of the Greats:
خیالِ غیر مٹے دور این و آں گزرے
الہیٰ عشق محمد ؐ میں میری جاں گزرے
Khiyal-e-Ghair Mitey Daur-e-In-o-Aan Guzray
Ilahi Ishq-e-Muhammad (ﷺ) Mein Meri Jaan Guzray
May the thought of ‘the other’ vanish, and this era of distraction pass
O Lord! May my life be spent in the Love of Muhammad (ﷺ).
یہی ہے رمز محبت یہی ہے رازِ حیات
فریب سودوذیاں سے یہ جسم و جاں گزرے
Yahi Hai Ramz-e-Muhabbat Yahi Hai Raaz-e-Hayat
Fareb-e-Sood-o-Ziyan Se Yeh Jism-o-Jaan Guzray
This is the secret of Love, this is the mystery of life—
That this body and soul pass beyond the illusions of profit and loss.
خدا وہ وقت نہ لائے کہ میرا کوئی قدم
خلافِ جادہ سیاحِ لا مکاں گزرے
Khuda Woh Waqt Na Laaye Ke Mera Koi Qadam
Khilaf-e-Jaada-e-Sayyah-e-La-Makan Guzray
May God never bring the time where any step of mine
Goes against the path of the Traveler of the Infinite (ﷺ).
یہی ہے اصلِ قیام و رکوع و درورد صٰلوۃ
کہ زندگی تری الفت میں جاوداں گزرے
Yahi Hai Asl-e-Qiyam-o-Ruku-o-Durood-o-Salat
Ke Zindagi Teri Ulfat Mein Javidan Guzray
This is the true essence of standing, bowing, and all prayers—
That life passes eternally within the embrace of Your affection.
فقظ وہی ہے زمانے میں صاحب مقصود
جو معرفت میں تری ہو کے کامراں گزرے
Faqat Wahi Hai Zamane Mein Sahab-e-Maqsood
Jo Marifat Mein Teri Ho Ke Kaamran Guzray
Only he truly achieves his life’s purpose in this world
Who passes successfully through the depths of Your Gnosis (Marifat).
Beyond the Illusion of Sood-o-Ziyan
Khawar Soharwardy highlights a core Sufi tenet: “Fareb-e-Sood-o-Ziyan” (The illusion of profit and loss). He suggests that as long as a person is trapped in worldly calculations, they cannot achieve Marifat. True success lies in the Prophet’s (ﷺ) love, which the poet calls the Asl (essence) of all worship, including Salat and Ruku.
The phrase “Sayyah-e-La-Makan” (The Traveler of the Infinite) refers to the Miraj (Ascension), reminding us that the Prophet (ﷺ) is the guide to the Divine Presence beyond time and space.
Vocabulary: Khiyal e Ghair Mitey
- In-o-Aan: This and that; worldly distractions and duality.
- Sood-o-Ziyan: Profit and loss; material interests.
- Sayyah-e-La-Makan: The traveler of the place-less realm (Prophet ﷺ).
- Harim-e-Shauq: The sanctuary of longing/desire.
- Kaamran: Successful; one who achieves their goal.