Jahane Rumi In search of the unsearchable: O, my soul! where would you find your house?

Abida Parveen’s magic – Sufi music at its best

Someone once said Abida Parveen is not a singer or an artist... she is an experience..... her voice and expression takes you to a different universe... when she collaborated with India's ace filmmaker, poet, artist, revivalist, musician and activist Muzaffar Ali the result had to be something divine ... something out of ordinary, something that transcends all boundaries... it was purest of the pure Raqs-e-Bismil (dance of the injured)... totally unforgettable and soulful ... In Abida's own words Raqs-e-Bismil has the glow of Almighty in it...one can become wali by listening to it.... sufi poetry has a magic that is beyond any explanation, any comprehension ... it fascinates me as each time it takes me into a new realm of discovery.

I am sharing my favorite ghazal from the album with translation... although each piece is a priceless gem yet this ghazal has the power to take you beyond yourself. Abida is at her best here.

The English translation is done by Muzaffar Ali himself.

Hairat mara ze har do jahan be niaz kard
Een khab kaare daulat e bedaar meekunad
(Rumi)

Bewilderment has absolved me of both the worlds
This is the consequence of awakening from my dreams

Khuli jab ki chashm e dil e hazeen,
to vo nam raha na teri rahi
Hui hairat aisi kuch aankh par ki asar ki be asari rahi
Pari goshe jaan mein ajab nida ki jigar na bejigari rahi
Khabare tahhayyur e ishq sun na junoon raha na pari rahi
Na to tu raha na to main raha jo rahi bekhabari rahi...
(Khamsa by Nazeer Akbarabadi for Siraj Aurangabadi)

The eyes of an anguished heart open...
No longer moist.. Bereft of tears
The perplexed vision
Remained unmoved.. Devoid of response
The soul heard.. An unusual sound
That took the pluck of life away
As wondrous love revealed itself
The fairy vanished..The ecstasy lost
Nor you remained.. Nor I was found
mere oblivion was all there was...

Mujhe bekhudi ye tune bhali chashni chakhayi
Kisi aarzoo ki dil mein nahi ab rahi samayi

O surrender in love,
You have given me a taste that pales all worldliness
No desire remains
In the heart filled with submission

Na hazar hai na khatar hai, na raja hai ne dua hai
Na khayaal e bandagi hai na tamana e khudai

Neither distance nor fear...
neither hope nor prayer
neither thoughts of subjugation
nor desire of godliness

Na muqqam e guftagu hai na mahhall e justaju hai
Na wahan havaas pahunche na khirad ko hai rasai

No place for exchange of words...
no occasion for further quest
Where neither consciousness reaches
nor thoughts transcend its realm

Na makin hai ne makan hai na zameen hai ne zaman hai
Dil e be nava ne mere jahan chhavni hai chayi

No one resides..Neither habitation exist...
Is where this wandering heart has come to camp

Na visaal hai na hijraan na suroor hai na gham hai
Jise kahiye khwab e ghaflat so woh neend mujh ko aayi

Where there is no union... No separation
no sorrow... no joy
What is said to be an endless oblivion
I enter such a slumber

(Hazrat Shah Niaz)

Another video below