“Sar Ta Ba Qadam Hai” is a masterpiece of poetic imagery by Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (Alahazrat). In this Sarapa, every physical attribute of the Holy Prophet ﷺ—from his smile to his perspiration—is described as a fragrant, blooming flower. Below are the complete Urdu lyrics, Roman Urdu, and English translation.
سر تا بقدم ہے تنِ سلطان زمن پھول
لب پھول، دہن پھول، زقن پھول، بدن پھول
Sar Ta Ba Qadam Hai Tan-e-Sultan-e-Zaman Phool
Lab Phool, Dahan Phool, Zaqan Phool, Badan Phool
From head to toe, the body of the Sultan of Time is a flower,
His lips, mouth, chin, and entire body are flowers.
صدقے میں ترے باغ تو کیا لائے ہیں بن پھول
اِس غنچہ دل کو بھی تو ایما ہو کہ بن پھول
Sadqay Mein Tere Baagh To Kya Laaye Hain Ban Phool
Is Ghuncha-e-Dil Ko Bhi To Eima Ho Ke Ban Phool
Not just gardens, even forests bloom in your honor,
Give a signal to this bud of a heart to bloom into a flower.
تنکا بھی ہمارے تو ہلائے نہیں ہلتا
تم چاہو تو ہو جائے ابھی کوہِ محن پھول
Tinka Bhi Hamaray To Hilaaye Nahi Hilta
Tum Chaho To Ho Jaaye Abhi Koh-e-Mihan Phool
We cannot move a straw by our own will,
But if you wish, the mountain of grief can turn into a flower instantly.
واللہ جو مل جائے مرے گل کا پسینہ
مانگے نہ کبھی عطر نہ پھر چاہے دلہن پھول
Wallah Jo Mil Jaaye Mere Gul Ka Paseena
Maangay Na Kabhi Itr, Na Phir Chahay Dulhan Phool
By Allah! If the perspiration of my Flower ﷺ is found,
A bride would never desire perfume or any other flowers.
دلِ بستہ و خوں گشتہ، نہ خوشبو نہ لطافت
کیوں غنچہ کہوں ہے مِرے آقا کا دہن پھول
Dil-e-Basta-o-Khoon Gashta, Na Khushboo Na Latafat
Kyun Ghuncha Kahoon Hai Mere Aaqa Ka Dahan Phool
My heart is bound and bleeding, lacking fragrance or delicacy,
How can I call it a bud? My Master’s mouth is the true flower.
شب یاد تھی دندانوں کی، شبنم کہ دَمِ صبح
شوخانِ بہاری کے جڑاؤ ہیں کرن پھول
Shab Yaad Thi Dandano Ki, Shabnam Ke Dam-e-Subha
Shokhan-e-Bahari Ke Jaraao Hain Kiran Phool
Last night I remembered his teeth; was it dew at dawn?
Or playful spring rays studded like flowers?
دندان و لب و زلف و رُخِ شاہ کے فدائی
ہیں دُرِ عدن، لعلِ یمن، مشکِ ختن پھول
Dandan-o-Lab-o-Zulf-o-Rukh-e-Shah Ke Fidayi
Hain Durr-e-Adan, Laal-e-Yaman, Mushk-e-Khutan Phool
Sacrificed upon the King’s features are:
The pearls of Eden, rubies of Yemen, and musk of Khutan.
بو ہو کے نہاں سو گئے تابِ رُخ شہ میں
لو بن گئے ہیں اب تو حسینوں کا دہن پھول
Bu Ho Ke Nahan So Gaye Taab-e-Rukh-e-Shah Mein
Lo Ban Gaye Hain Ab To Haseeno Ka Dahan Phool
Fragrance itself hid in the radiance of the King’s face,
Behold! The mouths of the beautiful have become flowers.
ہوں بار گنہ سے نہ خجل دوشِ عزیزاں
للہ مری نعش کر اے جان چمن پھول
Hoon Bar-e-Gunah Se Na Khijil Dosh-e-Azizan
Lillah Meri Naash Kar Aye Jaan-e-Chaman Phool
Let me not be shamed by the weight of sins on the shoulders of loved ones,
For God’s sake, O Soul of the Garden, make my corpse light as a flower.
دل اپنا بھی شیدائی ہے اُس ناخنِ پا کا
اتنا بھی مہِ نو پہ نہ اے چرخِ کہن پھول
Dil Apna Bhi Shaidai Hai Us Naakhun-e-Pa Ka
Itna Bhi Mah-e-Nau Pe Na Aye Charkh-e-Kohan Phool
My heart is enamored by his toenail,
Do not be so proud of the New Moon, O ancient Sky!
دل کھول کے خوں رو لے غم عارض شہ میں
نکلے تو کہیں حسرت خوں نا بہ شدن پھول
Dil Khol Ke Khoon Ro Le Gham-e-Aariz-e-Shah Mein
Niklay To Kahin Hasrat-e-Khoon Na Ba Shudan Phool
Weep tears of blood in grief for the King’s cheek,
So that the yearning to become a flower may emerge.
کیا غازہ ملے گردِ مدینہ کا جو ہے آج
نکھرے ہوئے جوبن میں قیامت کی پھبن پھول
Kya Ghaza Malay Gard-e-Madina Ka Jo Hai Aaj
Nikhray Hue Joban Mein Qayamat Ki Phaban Phool
What powder can compare to the dust of Madina applied to the face?
In its blossoming youth, the flower has a majestic elegance.
گرمی یہ قیامت ہے کہ کانٹے ہیں زباں پر
بلبل کو بھی اے ساقی صہبا و لبن پھول
Garmi Yeh Qayamat Hai Ke Kaantay Hain Zaban Par
Bulbul Ko Bhi Aye Saqi-e-Sahba-o-Laban Phool
The intense heat has placed thorns upon the tongue,
O Cupbearer of milk and wine, give the nightingale relief.
ہے کون کہ گریہ کرے یا فاتحہ کو آئے
بیکس کے اٹھائے تِری رحمت کے بھرن پھول
Hai Kaun Ke Girya Kare Ya Fatiha Ko Aaye
Bekas Ke Uthaye Teri Rahmat Ke Bharan Phool
Who is there to weep or come for Fatiha?
May your mercy lift the heavy load of this helpless one.
دل غم تجھے گھیرے ہیں، خدا تجھ کو وہ چمکائے
سورج ترے خرمن کو بنے تیری کرن پھول
Dil Gham Tujhay Ghairay Hain, Khuda Tujh Ko Woh Chamkaaye
Suraj Tere Kharman Ko Banay Teri Kiran Phool
O Heart! Though grief surrounds you, may Allah shine you so bright,
That the Sun becomes a harvest for you, and your rays become flowers.
کیا بات رضاؔ اُس چمنستانِ کرم کی
زہرا ہے کلی جس میں، حسین اور حسن پھول
Kya Baat Raza Us Chamanistan-e-Karam Ki
Zahra Hai Kali Jis Mein, Hussain Aur Hassan پھول
What can be said, O Raza, of that Garden of Generosity,
Where Fatima is the bud, and Hussain and Hassan are the flowers.
Hikmat-e-Raza: Sarapa-e-Noor
- Sar Ta Ba Qadam (سر تا بقدم): From head to toe; completely.
- Zaqan (زقن): The chin.
- Koh-e-Mihan (کوہِ محن): The mountain of grief or hardship.
- Dandan (دندان): The teeth.
- Khijil (خجل): Ashamed or embarrassed.
- Charkh-e-Kohan (چرخِ کہن): The ancient sky/universe.
- Sahba-o-Laban (صہبا و لبن): Wine (pure spiritual drink) and milk.
- Chamanistan-e-Karam (چمنستانِ کرم): The garden of generosity; refers to the Ahl al-Bayt.
Spiritual Echoes: The Universal Vision
The floral imagery and physical majesty of the Prophet ﷺ celebrated in this Naat resonate across these masterpieces:
Hafeez Taib : Mehek
Alahazrat’s claim that the Prophet’s ﷺ perspiration shames all perfumes finds a modern echo in Hafeez Taib’s description of the ‘Gul-e-Cheeda’ whose fragrance fills both worlds.
Pir Mehar Ali : Sarapa
The ‘Sar Ta Ba Qadam’ (Head to Toe) floral imagery is mirrored in Pir Mehar Ali Shah’s Punjabi masterpiece, where the ‘Mukh Chand Badr’ (Face like the full moon) radiates divine light.
Adeeb Raipuri : Shaidai
The heart enamored by the ‘Naakhun-e-Pa’ (toenail) in Alahazrat’s verse aligns with Adeeb Raipuri’s vision of millions of devotees (Shaydayi) sacrificed upon a single glance of the Master ﷺ.
Maulana Jami : Owais-e-Qarni
Alahazrat’s devotion to the ‘Dandan’ (teeth) finds its classical roots in Jami’s mention of Owais Qarni, who famously sacrificed his teeth in empathy for the Prophet ﷺ during Uhud.
Allama Iqbal : Bulbul
Alahazrat’s plea for relief for the ‘Bulbul’ (Nightingale) resonates with Iqbal’s philosophy, where the nightingale’s melody exists only because of the presence of the ‘Phool’ (The Prophet ﷺ).
Bedam Warsi : Ahl al-Bayt
The ‘Chamanistan-e-Karam’ where Zahra is the bud and her sons are the flowers is echoed in Bedam Warsi’s garden, where the Panjtan Pak represent the true colors of the Soul.
Poet of the Emerald Portal
Alahazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (اعلیٰ حضرت)
Master the depths of Ishq-e-Rasool through the scholarly and soul-stirring Kalam of the Mujaddid of the 14th Century.