Kafis by KhuwajahGhulam Farid

Kafi No. 1

(Upon return from Hajj around 1889AD)

Today, dark-skin dear bid me farewell

My head bears plenty of pain, in trouble

This cube (Ka’ba) is sacred, grand, tall

Devoid of any deficiency, it’s never dull
Here every high-n-low disciple pays call
Whatever one wishes or seeks, gets it all

The House of God is a place so peaceful

It’s holy sanctuary, forbidden is any evil
Abode of Allah, all stand in it respectful
Bounties lie abundant from the Merciful

This black structure emits lights eternal

Congregation-centre for all the faithful
Free of fear and safe became every soul
Thatenter’d in its precincts,so powerful

As I remember that Sanctuary spiritual

The old wound erupts, becomes painful
I feel for taking poison, as the remedial
Life is listless, in vain, full of lies, trivial

Caravan must re-orient to abode eternal

But I’m facing many a hurdle and trouble
Love-sick heart engaged in love perennial
God! Be that I see beloved, his union real

Longing for love; heart screams, does yell

Finds no peace at home, in crowds as well
Ritual runs around Ka’ba, it yearns to avail
If luck so lets it, good fortune shall prevail

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Sans beloved Farid! I’ll consume, turn frail
I will shed blood in tears, shriek loud-n-yell
Bearing sorrow I’ll die, this much I can tell
Passion-pain burnt my liver like fire of hell

Kafi 2
Guru told me each and every secret
Logic, reason, thought all made exit
Taught me sanity in an ecstatic state
Upward journey- explained its tract

I saw Unity with my eyes so clear cut

Realized ‘annihilation stage’- its state
Whatever hidden became so manifest
Comprehended I subtleties, every fact

I did understand hitherto subtle point

Opened in-depth issues, came in light
Hidden or manifest, all turned bright
Distance of far or near did obliterate

Many a tale we were told so intimate

Deep secrets and many a strange fact
Vanished my ‘self’, full of lies, deceit
Who’s sovereign-the day of Judgment

Cup of unadulterated wine they taste

Sans senses, lovers became inebriate
Prayers, fasting; all obligations forget
Drink endless, session they celebrate

How can understand disciple ignorant

That pure path or that practice perfect
One must turn Unity-believer absolute
In every image He is visible-n-present

Of Unity, as I acquired just one secret

Ritual acts, my heart said I must quit
Farid turned solo and began to narrate
To himself the secret of soul and spirit
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Kafi No. 3
He appeared in the world like sweetheart
In every form-n-shape, appeared manifest

Like Adam, at times like Sheith Prophet

As Noah, took the shape of the tempest
As Abraham, the friend of the Lord Great
Or like Joseph who later ruled the Egypt

Like Jesus or like Ilyas- another Prophet

In Lachhman, Ram or Kirshan- His trait
Like Zakaria, Yahya- came on the planet
Musa son of Imran- too added in this list

Abu Bakr, Umar-n-Uthamn-persons great

Came God’s lion Ali- earned great respect
Hasan-n-Husain got martyred, so their fate
Came world’s pride; mentor-n-last Prophet

Ahmad leads assembly of apostles ever sent

He is beloved of all, him all eagerly accept
Teacher of angels even, up in the firmament
Leader of kings-n-rulers of whatever might

At times as revelation by archangel’s descent

See contents of Torah, old-n-new Testament
See the verses, see how these one does recite
Came distinction-maker b/w falsehood-n-fact

In everything His presence is clearly manifest

He is beautiful, visible, in everything replete
In coquetry, subtlety and secrecy He is adept
At times gives pain, at times Himself its treat

At places, in shape of lover and sweetheart

At times lovesick wanderer in strange tract
At times long hair on shoulder, gypsy trait
With dishevelled hair, seen in ecstatic state

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At places pundit, foreteller or claire-voyant
At times a Sami- cut from the environment
At times pious, sinner or at times a patient
At times thinker, or scribe of religious text

Farid! At this secret you better keep quiet

No non-sense talk, it is better to stay silent
But, from the beloved, never stay ignorant
‘No doubt’- this is Quran’s commandment

Kafi 4
Even if all creation becomes sub-ordinate
What a difference does it make? So what?
Actual aim is attain’das one turns extinct

If y’r sermons reach to Arabs and the rest

What a difference does it make? So what?

Ye read scripture, learn literature and art

What a difference does it make? So what?

Ye command entire world, get empire seat

What a difference does it make? So what?

By worship earn reward as ye contemplate

What a difference does it make? So what?

Here honours ye get, hereafter to y’r taste

What a difference does it make? So what?

Sunni buHanif follower, ye adopt Sufi sect

What a difference does it make? So what?

In signs, act, trait if love ye found ultimate

What a difference does it make? So what?

Ghous, Qutb, Sheikh, you turn high saint

What a difference does it make? So what?

Farid’s word reached Hind, Daccan, West

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What a difference does it make? So what?

Kafi 5
Your eyes cast arrows everywhere
Your subtleties make a big uproar

Many a ecstatic soul ye slaughter

Through ye lost life, many a lover

Ibrahim was made to burn in fire

He took love’s trial with big cheer

Ayub’s body bore many a caterpillar

At Sinai, Musa light couldn’t endure

Zakaria’s body chopped with cutter

Bridegroom Yahyakill’d by butcher

Yunus; a whale so easily did devour

Noah had that great tempest to suffer

Hasan thru poison, life did surrender

Husain killed at Kerbala with dagger

Shams’ skin peeled in an act barbar

Sarmad was beheaded, like a traitor

Mansur rode on gallows sans fear

In ecstasy of love,of highest order

Laila born as beloved, Majnu as lover

Her coquetry to Majnu, of kill-nature

King Khusro or Farhad- minedigger

To test these two, Shirin did appear

Each one had share of pain to endure

Everyone play’d his role as performer

Farid! Quit life, your head you offer!

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Y’r turn, bow down head, surrender!

Kafi 6
Arrange for me bangles of Jaisalmir
My scarf specially dyed from Ajmir

Scarf be from the region of Marwar

And be it original not of fake matter

It must come quick, delay can’t bear

Late I will not tolerate in this desire

I seek bangle of love, scarf of amour

As souvenir of fidelity of Kaak river

Ankle chains I am insisting I’ll wear

On left-n-right side, they shall glare

Happily I wear, expose my grandeur

Even I’ll seek brother-in-law’s favour

Farid! Love will fulfil what I implore

Why I’d worry about others’ rancour

Kafi 7
Ugly, pretty- all His attributes’ manifest
Sans colour yet in every colour so Sweet

“We are close”- it is very strange secret

“He is with you”- so blows the trumpet
O people!Ye must comprehend this fact
In every scene is His image, His imprint

“In Your souls”- bears divine subtle edict

“If you seek Him”- clearly does illustrate
In every shape or form Beloved is present
His gestures are versatile, unique, different

That eternal beauty acts in ways that tempt

These are alluring, rapturing, easily attract
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He is Lover, Himself becomes sweetheart
As beloved entices entire world so prompt

At places singer, at places song, instrument

At places worshipper, in prayer to prostrate
Somewhere you see solo, sufi, ecstatic state
In tavern, find Him in company of inebriate

Whether angels, humans or the four element

Whether present, absent or conversationalist
At every place, that eternal light does reflect
Of His attributes Farid is too naïve to narrate
‫ودليتمبحبإللىاألرضالسابعةلوقععلىاهلل‬

Kafi 8
Deep within, I suffer intense agitation
I am tormented by this immense pain
Cast at me now, arrows of separation
My heart’s in anguish, deep confusion

Love is the joy for a heart full of pain

Love is the guide, mentor and kingpin
Love is our Pir- highly esteemed one
Love,for us, every secret did explain

Wretch’d heart in bad shape, condition

Since birth in your love acts bondsman
Eternally hit by arrow, is in expectation
Beloved!Well entrenched is this weapon

Coquetry, smile, humour, hints hidden

Tricks, tactics, dodging and deception
These four princes of beauty’s domain
Made everyone bow in every direction

Everywhere the vast, expecting plain

Sand turns wet, goes green from rain
Rohimeadows envied by Malir region
Fleein’ fortune, these waters did return

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Farid’s abode also became lush green
Parched grass swings after saturation
See grazing cattle gain milk umpteen
On Marwar Lord showered so big rain

Kafi 9
Our heartiest friend Kh. Noor Muhammad
Kh. Noor Muhammad favourite, fast friend

My entire dignity and honour, even pride

Its reign is in your hand, on you I depend

Your’s is Arabland, your’s is foreign land

You are the Raja of Punjab, our heartland

In all corners of the earth, cries the herald

Of your spiritual dole out sings every bard

Your feet auspicious, their moves I laude

Kindly show gracious presence in our yard

You are like prophet Yousuf, my beloved!

Come! Show your countenance so blessed

O bridegroom of Mahaar’s neighbourhood

I am longing for you, in arms get my hold!

Longing for union, Farid is looking forward

Come! Don’t take long, ye I want to behold

Kafi 10
Ye are always by me, next to me is y’r seat
Keep smiling, cheering, snatching my heart

My head suffers pain, mind stays inebriate

My eyes shedding tears of blood constant
My liver is in burns, my heart is in torment
Pain of sorts, badly to my body does inflict

Unreliable- so is his friendship sans trust

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Unfair- and so his injustice sans any limit
First steals our heart in a manner discreet
Then flees away like a thief- quiet retreat

Save separation, I earned no other profit

I pulled my hair in anguish, temper I lost
Implored I galore, my head I did prostrate
Nose I rubbed on the floor, it shrank petite

He who logic and reason did contemplate

‘Perhaps’, ‘if’- indulged in such a debate
Gladly in gratitude, if head he didn’t quit
In love such person a ‘lost case’ they treat

Farid! Wild weeds will become my treat

Home I quit, jungle as home I will adopt
Tract of Kirrar trees becomes my habitat
Nowadays desert ponds by rain are replete

Kafi 11
Tan-skinn’dPunhu, on his home journey gone
I am in distress, my head is afflicted with pain

Hillocks hurt me, I am so much grief-stricken

Monsters, witches hovering in groups umpteen
Sans beloved, relatives and in-laws I hate even
To me home and hearth looks strange and alien

Of happiness, my wretched soul has no concern

Blames I did earn, suffer in longing-n-separation
Belovedruthless, on the other hand love uneven
My eyes entangled me in a useless affair, in vain

Gift of grief, souvenir of sorrowsSasui did earn

OfKech came bridegroom’s band in procession
In love’s arena, there emerged hardships unseen
Heart suffers heavily, yet loyal in love I’ll remain

Youth’s pride, panache passed, those days gone

Wedding garlands dried, solitary seems station
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I’m eaten by grief, this fact to beloved unknown
Heart hit hard, helpless I roam, sans destination

All hopes, aspirations up into flames are gone

Baloch beloved in love made no compensation
Never graciously at me, his eye he ever did open
Fareed! Troubled times upon me suddenly fallen

Kafi 12
Beloved, tan-skin’d suddenly quit
I suffer from this painful torment

Alone I am burning, lying on a cot

Dart of separation hits at my heart
Burnt my liver, my heart did waste
Bearing this fire of love is difficult
Some strange pain this love has sent
I’m enduring this pain every minute

Roam I in hills, winds blow in torrent

Small arrows of pain at me ever cast
Pains accumulate, beloved so distant
Liver is burning as if on a fire-plate
Hardship seeks me, I find no resort
Every minute does grow my ailment

River deep, swim-unaware, I am lost

Gloom and despair killed me almost
Pain piercing, love gives no comfort
Rather on breaking relation he is bent
Body in aches, from eye flows torrent
I only got what was written in my fate

Hills haunt, sores appeared in my feet

Wretched me, suffer several accident
Eye-tears in torrent, burn at their best
Wounds of liver are ever fresh and wet
Love unrequited, plays tricks-n-deceipt
Separation-pain has added to my angst

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He snatches comfort, shares no secret
Now and then escapes or stays distant
All neighbourers laugh at me, in jest
In-laws too quarrel with me frequent
Multiplies grief, I’m in helpless state
In vain, I did engage in love my heart

Thick are mountains, paths difficult

My beloved lives at a distant habitat
Mother scolds, brothers ambivalent
Mother, sisters-in-law ever confront
Come to my hut, now coquetry quit!
Give up commotion and this tumult!

All day-n-night, deep sighs I do emit

Fire of love flares up, grows in height
Love badly hit, I find no other resort
Stumble I sans direction in the forest
Houses, habitats are ruined, desolate
Behold Farid! Beloved isn’t back yet

Kafi 13
When in love I fell, home I forgot
Pelf I pitched, with spouse I’d part

Flair-n-panache; since long I quit

Jewels, makeup, attire I threw out

Lipstick, mascara, myrtle all went

Nose-pin, ear-ring wearing I can’t

Pain, apprehension is my only asset

Now devoid of all other skills-n-wit

Temple, lectern or church’s precinct

I forgot mosque-n-preacher’s pulpit

For the sake of One, I swear explicit

I forgot what’s upright or malevolent

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He’s in our thoughts for very minute
Mom! I forgot all others, all the rest

To Kech I go, return can’t contemplate

Farid! Fear of desert? I won’t vacillate

Kafi 14
A messenger has come from the friend
Bearing message, at door he does stand

It’s not love; an arrow with sharp blade

It strikes cruelly, causes many a wound

Coquetry, one cannot for long withstand

Suffer separation, obey love’s command

Ogles, gestures, hidden smiles or errand

Love-pain does bestow many a dividend

Burning and pain, suffering and solitude

Burn in love’s fire my body and soul bad

Heart cannot suffer all this with fortitude

This torture, only love can let it withstand

Farid! Parting punctured my heart to bleed

Yet applies not an ointment my cruel friend

Kafi 15
How I narrate my heart’s condition
To share secret I find no companion

My head-n-mouth is in dust swollen

I have lost my dignity, all reputation
To inquire my state approached none
I became laughing stock for everyone

Separation pain places heavy burden

Disgraced I’ve become in entire town
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All life spent shedding tears umpteen
I found no clue about my destination

Heart cries out for the beloved in vain

It hurts me, I am in anguish, deep pain
Sorrows surround me, tormented I turn
Such sorry is this wretched’s condition

Many doctors are working on medicine

Sachets and pills I have taken umpteen
No one realizes in heart I harbour pain
No recovery, health improvement seen

Punhu Hoat didn’t say good bye even

Proceeded to Ketch leaving me alone
Knowingly he ditched me in sand dune
Sleep served false pretext of separation

O Laila! Here cries one and does moan

Your Majnoo does wail, in lamentation
Even if for once, please lift the curtain
Come out from the sedan of the caravan

My heart covets for the love’s station

Its path tortuous, many an obstruction
Farid! There’s no passage or indication
Journey is tough one, on rugged terrain

Kafi No. 16
My sweet Maroo has hidden his face
Sorrows torment me, pain is immense

Longing annoys, unease does depress

Pain pricks, love makes me loose face

Spin-wheel spot I hate, mates disgrace

Slanderers around, love lends no solace

Sad Sasui made to roam in wilderness

Punhoo never returned to Sasui’s place
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Concerns consume, heart they suppress
Old pangs so intense I lost mind’s peace

When love left, gone is all my happiness

My youth went in vain Farid! It’s useless

Kafi 17
Pride of Shepherds so is my amour

Every time sit around in my corner!

I’ll purify heart, as amulet ye I rever
In embrace I’ll keep ye holding ever

Nights I spend in wail, crying galore

Day does break, sunlight does appear
You never hug me, rub cheeks never

Merry monsoon arrives, clouds pour

Now has approached the union hour
Love burns heart, excited is my liver

Pain makes me vent cold sighs severe

I am crying constant, loud and in roar
Pain pressing, deep within I can’t bear

With Farid! true word you didn’t share

You’d mentioned to come back sooner
You had told lie, you came back never

Kafi 18

Putting Mussag on lip, passed entire day

Applying make-up, passed my entire day
(Mussaag: teeth-cleansing twig from walnut branches)

On lip stick, on eye mascaras, I spray

Beloved ignored utterly, stayed away

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Sent messages by crows, all life I did try
My beloved never came, much I did pray

In mountains, passes-n-jungles, far away

My craze for beloved kept me ever astray

Not a second I rested in peace or had joy

Luck favoured not, on my side didn’t play

In God’s name, head I gave up so happily

Accepted I willingly Love’s all indemnity

I belong to Ranjhan, Ranjhan is my family

So was resolved from day one, in eternity

Farid! Separation sparked flame and frenzy

I was consumed by fire, life went in futility

Kafi 19

For God’s sake! Please O wayfarer!

Take my message to love as courier

Tell him, quit trickery, don’t conspire

Bring no stain or disrepute to amour

You showed us your back, set on tour

Now turn face to us and make a detour

Cruel! With bad intent, harm ye incur

Do not indulge in betrayal, take care!

Tricks and tact or fraudulent gesture

Sweetheart! quit this sort of manner

Now you’ve befriended the stranger

Found solace, seeking in it pleasure

For me poor, none is helper, O dear!

Now my burden and concern ye bear!
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Mother/sisters-in-law taunt-n-torture
Reproach I earn from my own mother

Come dear! In my eye ye stay forever

Make my heart your abode and shelter

Don’t curse me, nor foul talk you utter!

Be careful to what from mouth ye pour

Friendship ye did, loyalty was nowhere

Ye knew not, in friendship how to steer?

Tension, concern, my life is in danger

My flesh dried, frail turned my feature

Unless I see ye, courage I can’t muster

Pierced in my bones deep love’s fervour

Do not reproach me in vain, my amour!

Hold sense, some face-saving ye spare!

Beauteous ones liked by all everywhere

See who is faithful to me- ugly creature

Come hurriedly, no more late I can bear

Can’t trust terminal breath, soon to expire

Extend arm at headside, embrace I savour

Make it nuptial bed, its prestige you augur

I myself rushed to your side with pleasure

On head took my heart, to ye I did deliver

If there’s no harmony, why to live together

To hell! Fictitious friendship’s composure

Stay till the end, quit not mid-path this poor

My services, loyalty you always remember!

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At Farid’s arbour, O my sweet beloved dear
Gladly enter! put your auspicious feet forever

Kafi 20

Lo! My beloved has what a conduct

In every figure, He is Omni-present
At some place He hires love on rent
At other, His great beauty He’s lent

He is Master, I’m His dog insolvent

In every shape He appears so sweet
Me only? Everyone He does attract
Everyplace His renown is manifest

I am in despair, He is hope’s minaret

All-n-sundry, Him everyone to covet
A tough friend, naïve may seem in act
Yet everyone does love Him by heart

Whoever resolves puzzle as I did act

He becomes well-versed in the secret
Nothing is subtlety, none can interact
Rest sure; of Him- all scenes reflect

Bow your head at your mentor’s feet

Whatever his order, obediently submit
Endeavour all toil, every burden ye lift
Getting close union is your big target

Be a true disciple of your mentor great

Step not back, never waver or vacillate
Love’s cauldron is burning in full heat
Burn, annihilate! Ana slogan ye chant!

Whoever can adopt these four attribute

Vigil, selfcontrol, dole out, contemplate
At lord’s door, happiness him will meet
To worldly affairs, he’ll turn indifferent

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Wakeful, sleepy or an in-between state
For your delight all this they did create
Whoever slipped in recognition correct
He will wander, none can guide, direct

In no case ye quit this recognition-n-wit!

In hell or heaven, your place you create
Shun not yourself nor from it ye deviate!
Entire things are your stuff, your reflect

Four Veds* so clearly, explicitly indicate

Whether Om**, Bram+ or Narain++ narrate
The soul in its form that is superior-most
Farid! duality is just ruse, a lie so blatant
*Four Veds are Vakh Ved, Jajar Ved, Shiam Ved & Utri Ved
**Om= Absolute Lord or Allah
+Bram= Creator of the World
++ Narain=Controlling/covering everything

Kafi 21

Alas! Lo! my Baloch sweetheart

No pity on me even for a minute
Helpless I- to me in lurch he left
Taking me, he didn’t contemplate

From eternity separation’s goblet

Swallowed this soul unfortunate

The day my beloved actually left

Sorrows spread, pleasure did part

Pain so pathetic, in a form worst

In my veins it poured to circulate

How he ignored me, easily forgot

After igniting love-fire at full heat

Farid! Now I do wander in desert

May devour me tiger- wild beast

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Kafi 22
Wretched me here on death bed
There he lives lux in Arab land

Always I’m longing for beloved

In dreary chest, lance he pierced
Sad heart seeks you, sans bound
Pain, agony in my heart abound

As gypsy I wander on every side

Roam in Mar, Hind, Punjab, Sind
In ruins or in markets I try to find
Perchance I find someday beloved

Eversince love’s lion gave wound

Joy jittered, pain’s lance hit hard
Gone is youth; its passion did end
Comfort quit, happiness hijacked

Though I stumble in love so blind

In your name everywhere I’m sold
I’m slave of your slaves, your maid
Dogs at your door, in esteem I hold

So beautiful, so gorgeous my friend

Tan-skinned, Hijaz is his homeland
Come and see Farid’s woeful abode
Lover from day one, his longing old

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