1 / 25 : Featured
ki lagaaye na lage
aur bujhaaye na bane
we have no power over love,
it is a burning fire, ghalib
lights up without being lit, and
once lit, can’t be extinguished
Theme: Love, Passion, and Longing (120)
1
0
4
4.6K
2 / 25 : Featured
kuchh hum se kaha hota
kuchh hum se suna hota
you spoke to strangers,
you lent them a patient ear
wish you had a word with me,
heard me out too
Theme: Friends, Family, & Community (144)
0
0
0
3.9K
3 / 25 : Featured
kooche ke us ke baashindon ne
sab ko yahin se salaam kiya
which sanctum? what holy direction?
what is sacred? which rituals?
we from the lane of the beloved
greeted everyone from here itself
holy mosque in Mecca
direction of prayer
pilgrimage attire
street
residents, inhabitants
greeting, farewell
Theme: Religion, Reason, & Tradition (73)
0
0
0
1.8K
4 / 25 : Featured
saaya bhi juda ho gaya
jab waqt paDa hai
for ages
it has been this way
even your shadow leaves
when bad times fall
0
0
0
2.6K
5 / 25 : Featured
kab tak naqaab
rukh se uThaayi na jaayegi
god has given us eyes
to view the beauty of the beloved
how long will the veil
not be lifted from the face
0
0
1
2.2K
6 / 25 : Featured
kya jaane kya ho
parda jo uThe naqaab ka
even without seeing
if there is such restlessness
not sure what would happen
if the veil were to be lifted
1
0
0
3.7K
7 / 25 : Featured
barg-e-gul ki tarah
har naakhun moattar ho gaya
what body it must be
when i untie the drawstrings
like the petals of a flower
my nails smell of perfume too
1
0
3
1.9K
8 / 25 : Featured
jahaan talak ye sitam ki
siyaah raat chale
keep putting lamps of heads
on the pillars of the gallows
as long as this dark night
of tyranny continues
2
0
3
3.8K
9 / 25 : Featured
har baat mein lazzat hai
agar dil mein mazaa ho
loyalty and tyranny,
both are equals in love
when there is joy in the heart
every word is delightful
1
0
4
2.7K
10 / 25 : Featured
ishq ne dil mein
raushni ki hai
reason just
lit up the mind
love filled my
heart with light
1
0
2
4.8K
11 / 25 : Featured
bemohabbat
khuda nahin milta
keep your worship to yourself,
o priest
without love,
god can’t be got
worship
priest, pious person
without love
god
Theme: Religion, Reason, & Tradition (73)
0
0
1
3.6K
12 / 25 : Featured
ab jigar thaam ke baiTho
meri baari aayi
you laughed listening to
nightingale’s passionate lament
now hold your heart and listen
for my turn has come
0
0
1
3.9K
13 / 25 : Featured
lekin ye kya ki chain se
soya na tu na main
in breaking up
neither you nor i did cry
but with peace
neither you nor i can sleep
2011: Pride of Performance
Theme: Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (121)
0
0
7
3.0K
14 / 25 : Featured
bichhaaya hai qamar ne
chaandni ka farsh mehfil mein
whose radiant, beautiful face
has arrived in this get-together
the moon has spread a carpet
of moonlight in this gathering
1
0
0
2.7K
15 / 25 : Featured
ab sukh ke sapne kya dekhen
jab dukh ka sooraj sar par ho
those nights have gone with the moon
those words have gone with the moon
how can i now see dreams of happiness
with the searing sun of sorrow on my head
Theme: Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (121)
0
0
0
3.8K
16 / 25 : Featured
fikr-e-insaan ke sajaaye hue
bazaar to dekh
every shop in its own place
is a wonder to behold
look at the bazaar decorated
with concern for humanity
shop
Theme: Home, Country, & Belonging (30)
0
0
1
4.1K
17 / 25 : Featured
ek tera husn
ek mera ye ishq
both are essential
and both everlasting
one, your beauty
and this love of mine
Anonymous
necessary
Theme: Beauty, Charm, & Union (113)
0
0
0
3.2K
18 / 25 : Featured
khaana-e-yaar ka
tawaaf karo
in this revered heart
is the temple and mosque
worship by going around
this abode of the beloved
1
0
1
1.9K
19 / 25 : Featured
is dil mein aag thi?
mere talve jhulaas gaye
after trampling me
she asks amusedly
was your heart on fire?
for my soles are seared
trample, trodden
style, grace
soles
seared, burnt
Theme: Beauty, Charm, & Union (113)
0
0
1
4.5K
20 / 25 : Featured
ham ne khud apni
tamannaaon ko jeene na diya
to whom will i complain, hayat,
about this life of desolation
i myself did not let my
aspirations live and thrive
Theme: Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (38)
1
0
5
4.8K
21 / 25 : Featured
na ho nigaah mein shokhi
to dilbari kya hai
only through the eyes
the heart is swayed
without a playful glance,
where is the charm
0
0
0
1.7K
22 / 25 : Featured
ye haadsa tha ki main
umr bhar safar mein raha
i knew that those at home
were waiting for me
the misfortune was that i spent
my whole life out traveling
Anonymous
0
0
2
2.0K
23 / 25 : Featured
jis dil pe naaz tha mujhe
woh dil naheen raha
no longer worthy
of the blessings of love
the heart i was once proud of,
that heart is no more
0
0
0
3.9K
24 / 25 : Featured
sar itna mat jhukaao ki
dastaar gir pade
what harm is there
in bowing respectfully, but
don’t bend so much
that your hat falls off
0
0
2
3.4K
25 / 25 : Featured
lub oopar oopar hanste hain
dil andar andar rota hai
what use complaining of friends, when
what’s visible and hidden are different
their lips seem to smile
while they are weeping inside
0
0
1
2.6K
Ashaar (couplets) on other themes
Ashaar (couplets) by others
Alfaaz Ki Mehfil is a curated space for timeless poetry celebrating words, emotions, and the enduring beauty of expression. From classic Urdu couplets to modern reflections, it brings together generations of poetic voices that speak of love, longing, hope, and the human soul.
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