Aarif Naqshbandi

Aarif Naqshbandi was born on April 15, 1923 in Bikaner, Rajasthan. His real name was Muhammad Usman and he wrote under the pen-name Aarif. Over his lifetime he emerged as a thoughtful Urdu poet whose work often engages with spiritual sensibility, introspection, and the subtle rhythms of everyday emotion.

In his poetry Aarif blends traditional form with personal reflection. He writes ghazals, nazms, and devotional verse that carry a gentle tension between longing and contentment. Many of his lines speak of inner restlessness, the search for truth, and the quiet layering of memory and hope. His language remains clear and modest, allowing emotion to surface without being forced or dramatic.

One of his memorable couplets expresses the idea of moving past the sea of existence and feeling the tremor of yearning within. That kind of image appears in his work often: a calm surface hiding deep currents, or two states of being co-existing in a single moment. His poetry invites the reader to pause, to listen, not just to the words, but the silence around them.

Aarif belonged to the cultural world of mid-20th-century North India, when Urdu poetry was shifting in tone, theme, and audience. He remained respectful of the ghazal’s heritage yet did not shy away from bringing contemporary concerns into his writing. He addressed both love and devotion, personal and universal, and he did it with an economy of language that often surprises with its depth.

Though not as famous as some of the major stars of Urdu literature, Aarif Naqshbandi holds a valued place among those who seek poetry that resonates quietly, not loudly. His work shows that poetry can be a gentle companion in life, something to come back to and find understanding rather than spectacle.