This evocative Kafi by Khwaja Ghulam Farid uses the imagery of the Rohi (desert) and the legend of Sassi to illustrate the soul’s longing for the Divine. The “High Red Date Palms” represent the unattainable height of the Beloved, while the poet’s own body bears the scars of a life spent in waiting. It is a masterpiece of Birha (longing) and spiritual surrender.
اُجیاں لمیاں لال کھجوراں تہ پتر جنہاں دے ساویں
جس دم نال سانجھ ہے اساں کوں او دم نظر نہ آوے
Ochiaan lamiaan laal khajooran te pattar jinhan de saaway
Jis dam naal sanjh hai asaan koon, o dam nazar na aaway
Tall and lofty are the red date palms, with leaves so vibrant and green;
But the One with whom my very breath is linked remains nowhere to be seen.
ننگے پنڈے مینوں چمکن مارے، میرے روندے نیں نین نمانے
جنیاں تن میرے تے لگیاں ، تینوں اک لگے تے توں جانے
Nangay pinday mainu chamkaan maaray, mere ronday nain nimany
Jinian tann mere te laggian, tainu ik laggay te toon janay
The lightning strikes my bare body, as my humble eyes weep in despair;
My body bears a thousand wounds—if you felt but one, you’d know the pain I bear.
گلیاں سنجیاں اُجاڑ دسن میں کو ،ویڑا کھاون آوے
غلام فریدا اُوتھے کی وسنا جتھے یار نظر نہ آوے
Galiaan sunjiaan ujaar disan mainu, veyrra khawan aaway
Ghulam Farida oothay ki wasna, jithay yaar nazar na aaway
The streets look desolate and barren, the courtyard feels like it will consume me;
O Farid! Why dwell in a place where the Beloved’s face I cannot see?
اندروں ہی اندروں وگدا رہندا ،پانی درد حیاتی دا
ساڈی عمراں تو وی لمبی عمر وے تیری،ہالے ناں وس وے کالیا
Andron hi andron wagda rehnda, paani dard hayati da
Sadi umran ton vi lambi umer ve teri, haalay naan was ve kaaliya
Deep within me, the river of life’s pain continues to flow and swell;
O dark cloud! Your life is longer than mine—do not rain upon me just yet.
عزرایل آیا لین سسی دی جان ہے
جان سسی وچ نظر نہ آوندی او تے لے گیا کیچ دا خان ہے
Izrael aaya lain Sassi di jaan hai
Jaan Sassi wich nazar na aondi, o te le gaya Kech da Khan hai
Azrael (the Angel of Death) came to take Sassi’s life away;
But her soul was no longer within her—the Prince of Kech had already stolen it away.
غلام فریدا میں تے دوزخ سرساں جے میں مکھ ماہی ولوں موڑاں
عمراں لنگھیاں پبھاں پار، عمراں لنگھیاں پبھاں پار
Ghulam Farida main te dozakh sarsaan, je main mukh mahi walon moraan
Umran langian pabhan paar, umran langian pabhan paar
O Farid! I would rather burn in hell than turn my face from my Beloved;
A whole lifetime has passed wandering over the burning desert dunes.
This masterpiece by Khwaja Ghulam Farid is a staple of Sufi music, famously popularized across the globe by Abida Parveen. However, the specific lyrical arrangement presented here—which includes the haunting folk chorus “Umran Langiyaan Pabbaan Paar”—is most beautifully captured in the rendition by Asad Amanat Ali Khan. His soulful performance perfectly mirrors the Dard (pain) of the Siraiki desert mentioned in these verses.
Watch the legendary performance by Asad Amanat Ali Khan:
Vocabulary Highlights
- Saway: Green / Vibrant.
- Sanjh: Partnership, connection, or shared bond.
- Veyrra: Courtyard.
- Nimany: Humble / Poor / Lowly.
- Chamkaan: Strikes (usually of lightning or a whip).
- Kech da Khan: Referring to Punnu, the Prince of Kech (Sassi’s beloved).
- Pabhan Paar: Across the sand dunes / on tiptoes through the desert.
Please wo wala qalam b ad kr dain khwaja ghulam fareed ka
Dil tang tang aay
Allah jor sang aay
Sajna da milna mushkil mahang aay
Koi ise hindi irdu mein translate kar de, to bahat meherbani hoga.
Are there any translations into English of all these? Also, are there any university programs in this field and where?
Sir yeh complete poem chahyay “Ghulam Farida Dil Outhay Deyay Jithay Agla Qadar Ve Janay!