Published by Hachette, on Amazon.in and in bookstores across India.

This is such an amazing initiative! This is a great collection of Urdu poetry which has been made accessible to everybody.

— Aditi Rao Hydari, Actor

4 Urdu couplets and shers with sirf

sirf: only

Description of sirf: Sirf is an Urdu adverb meaning "only," "just," or "merely," used to indicate exclusivity or limitation. Unlike broader qualifiers like "basically," it strictly confines the scope to a single element without implying approximation. Differs from "sirf hi," which intensifies the exclusivity for stronger emphasis. In Urdu poetry, sirf evokes poignant isolation, as in verses lamenting love's singular torment.

1 / 4: sirf

jo baat lab se na nikli woh dil mein dard bani

jo alfaaz mein aayi

woh sirf kahaani ban gayi

words that didn't find voice

settled in the heart as hurt

those that did

turned into just tales

Momin Khan Momin (6)

lab (m) (19)

lip, lips

dil (m) (109)

heart

dard (m) (21)

pain

alfaaz (m) (5)

words

sirf (4)

only

kahaani (f) (3)

story, sob story

Theme: Voice, Expression, & Language (78)

2 / 4: sirf

ek pal ke rukne se duur ho gayee manzil

sirf hum nahin chalte

raaste bhi chalte hain

by pausing for a moment

the goal slipped farther away

it is not only we that move,

the paths are moving too

Shahid Siddiqui (3)

pal (m) (7)

moment, nurture

rukne (m) (1)

tostop

duur (7)

distant, far away

manzil (f) (24)

goal, destination

sirf (4)

only

chalte (4)

move, go

raaste (m) (4)

path, paths

Theme: Quest, Journey, & Destination (54)

2.8K

3 / 4: sirf

tu sirf dashna-e-nafrat hi laharaata raha

tu ne kabhi dushman se

lipaT kar nahi dekha

you have only been waving

this dagger of hate

you haven't tried ever

embracing your enemy

Ahmad Faraz (21)

sirf (4)

only

dashna (m) (1)

dagger

nafrat (f) (1)

hate

kabhi (26)

on occasion

dushman (m) (7)

enemy

Theme: Friends, Family, & Community (139)

2.5K

4 / 4: sirf

aql se sirf zehn raushan tha

ishq ne dil mein

raushni ki hai

reason just

lit up the mind

love filled my

heart with light

Naresh Kumar Shad (3)

ishq (m) (34)

love

sirf (4)

only

aql (m) (6)

reason, intellect

zehn (m) (4)

mind

raushan (m) (5)

brightness, light up

Theme: Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (40)

4.8K

Featured Themes

Grit, Resilience, & Courage (58)

Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

Love, Passion, and Longing (113)

Religion, Reason, & Tradition (70)

Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (118)

Life, Learning, & Living (127)

Quest, Journey, & Destination (54)

Beauty, Charm, & Union (109)

Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

Miscellany (44)

Friends, Family, & Community (139)

Voice, Expression, & Language (78)

Heart, Mind, & Memory (66)

Nature, World & Universe (50)

Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (40)

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.

Quick Links

sirf: only

Featured Shaayars

See All Shaayars

Featured Themes