Ahmad Faraz, the name that resonates with poetry enthusiasts, stands as a towering figure in the realm of Urdu literature. Born as Syed Ahmad Shah in Kohat, British India, on January 12, 1931, Faraz became one of the most celebrated and beloved poets of his time. His profound words, rich metaphors, and poignant expressions captured the hearts and minds of countless readers, cementing his legacy as a master poet.

Faraz's poetry is characterized by its depth, intensity, and the ability to touch the deepest recesses of the human soul. His verses delve into themes of love, loss, longing, revolution, and social justice, reflecting the trials and tribulations of the society he lived in. Faraz possessed an uncanny talent for weaving together words that evoked strong emotions, often stirring a sense of longing, melancholy, or hope within his readers.

One of the distinctive aspects of Faraz's poetry is his mastery of the ghazal form. He revitalized this traditional poetic form, infusing it with his unique style and contemporary sensibilities. His ghazals are replete with captivating imagery, thought-provoking symbolism, and a lyrical quality that sets them apart. Faraz had an innate ability to capture the nuances of human relationships, particularly the bittersweet nature of love, with remarkable finesse.

Throughout his poetic journey, Faraz remained a voice of dissent and resistance. His verses became a powerful medium to criticize social and political injustices, and he fearlessly confronted the prevailing power structures of his time. He spoke for the downtrodden, the marginalized, and the voiceless, embodying the spirit of a true poet-activist.

Faraz's poetry not only resonated within the confines of his native Pakistan but transcended borders, touching the hearts of Urdu poetry enthusiasts worldwide. His words became an integral part of the cultural fabric, inspiring generations and leaving an indelible mark on the literary landscape.

Ahmad Faraz breathed his last on August 25, 2008, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day. His verses remind us of the power of words, the beauty of language, and the profound impact that poetry can have on society.

In the realm of Urdu poetry, Ahmad Faraz's name shines like a radiant star, forever illuminating the hearts of those who seek solace, inspiration, and an unfiltered expression of the human experience. His legacy remains an eternal testament to the enduring power of poetry to touch the very core of our existence.

Suna hai log ussay aankh bhar ke dekhtay hain
So us ke shehar mein kuch din thehar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai rabt hai us ko kharaab haloon se
So apne aap ko barbaad kar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai dard ki ghaahak hai chashm-e-naaz us ki
So hum bhi us ki gali se guzar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai us ko bhi hai shair-o-shaeri se shaguf
So hum bhi moujazzay apne hunar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai bolay tu batoon se phool jhartay hain
Yeh baat hai tu chalo baat kar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai raat ussay chaand takta rehta hai
Sitaaray baam-e-falak se uttar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai din ko ussay titleyaan sataati hain
Suna hai raat ko jugnoo thehar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai hashar hain us ki ghazaal si ankhain
Suna hai us ko hiran dasht bhar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai raat se barh kar hain kaaklain us ki
Suna hai shaam ko saaye guzar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai us ki seyaah chashmagi qayaamat hai
So us ki surma farosh aah bhar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai us ke laboon se gulaab jaltay hain
So hum bahaar pe ilzaam dhar ke dekhtay hain
suna hai aaenaa tamsaal hai jabeen us ki
Jo saada dil hain ussay ban sanwar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai jab se hamaayal hain us ki gardan mein
Mizaaj aur hi laalo-gohar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai chashm-e-tassavur se dasht-e-imkaan mein
Pallang zaweyey us ki kamar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai us ke badan ki taarash aisi hai
Ke phool apni qubaayain qattar ke dekhtay hain
Bas ek nigaah se lut'ta hai qaafila dil ka
So reharwaan-e-tamanna bhi dar ke dekhtay hain
Suna hai us ke shabistaan se muttasil hai behisht
Makeen idhar ke bhi jalway udhar ke bhi dekhtay hain
Rukay tu gardishain us ka tawwaaf karti hain
Chalay tu us ko zamaany thehar ke dekhtay hain
Ahmad Faraz
(rabt=closeness/relation)
(gaahak=customer)
(shagaf=passion)
(zaaviye=angles)
(Palang=panther, cheeta)
(sarv-qad=tall and graceful; shaguufe=bud; samar=fruit)
(rah_ravaaN=travellers)
(shabistan=bedroom; muttasil=near, attached; makiin=tenant)
(be-pairahan=without clothes)
(mubaalaGe=beyond one's limits)

us ko juda hue bhi zamana bahut hua
ab kya kahen ye qissa purana bahut hua
Dhalti na thi kisi bhi jatan se shab-e-firaaq
ai marg-e-naagahaaN teraa aanaa bahut huaa
ham Khuld se nikal to gaye hain par ai Khudaa
itne se vaaqye kaa fasaanaa bahut huaa
ab ham hain aur saare zamaane ki dushmani
us se zaraa rabt baDhaanaa bahut hua
ab kyon na zindagi pe muhabbat ko vaar den
is aashiqi men jaan se jaanaa bahut hua
ab tak to dil ka dil se ta-arruf na ho sakaa
maanaa ki us se milnaa milanaa bahut hua
kya kya na ham Kharab hue hain magar ye dil
ai yaad-e-yaar teraa Thikanaa bahut huaa
kahta thaa naasehon se mere muNh na aa_io
phir kyaa thaa ek huu ka bahanaa bahut hua
lo phir tere labon pe usi bevafaa ka zikr
ahmad 'Faraz' tujh se kaha naa bahut hua
By : Ahmad Faraz

Barson ke baad dekha, Aik shakhs Dilruba saa
Ab zehen mein naheen hai , per naam tha bhala saa
Ubroo khichey khichey sey, Aankhain jhuki jhuki see
Baatein ruki ruki see,Lehja thaka thaka saa
Alfaaz thay ke Jugnoo, awaaz ke safar mein
Bun jaaey jungalon mein jaisey ke Raasta saa
Khawabon mein khawab Uss ke,Yaadon mein yaad uss ki
Neendon mein ghul gaya ho jaisey ke rat-jaga saa
Pehley bhi zindagi mein, kitney hee loug aaey
Woh her tarha sey lekin, auron sey tha juda saa
Agli muhabboton ne, woh na-muraadian deen
Taaza Rifaaqaton sey, Dil tha dara dara saa
Kuch yeh ke muddaton se, Hum bhi nahi thay roey
Kuch zeher mein bujha tha, ahbaab ka dilaasa
Ab such kahein tou yaaro, Hum ko khaber naheen thi
Bun jaaey ga qayamat, Aik waaqaya zara saa
Tewer thay berukhi key, andaaz dosti key
Woh ajnabi tha laikin, lagta tha Aashna saa

tuu paas bhii ho to dil beqaraar apnaa hai
ke ham ko teraa nahii.n intazaar apnaa hai
mile ko_ii bhii teraa zikr chhe.D dete hai.n
ke jaise saaraa jahaa.N raaz_daar apanaa hai
vo duur ho to bajaa tark-e-dostii kaa Khayaal
vo saamane ho to kab iKhtiyaar apanaa hai
zamaane bhar ke dukho.n ko lagaa liyaa dil se
is aasare pe ke ik Gam_gusaar apanaa hai
"Faraz" raahat-e-jaa.N bhii vahii hai kyaa kiije
vo jis ke haath se siinaa_fiGaar apanaa hai ...!!

zaKhm ko phuul to sar sar ko sabaa kahate hain
jaane kyaa daur hai kyaa log hain kyaa kahate hain
kyaa qayaamat hai ke jin ke liye ruk ruk ke chale
ab vahii log hamen aabalaapaa kahate hain
ko_ii batalaao ke ik umr kaa bichhaDaa mahabuub
ittefaaqan kahiin mil jaaye to kyaa kahate hain
ye bhii andaaz-e-suKhan hai ke jafaa ko terii
Gamzaa-o-ishvaa-o-andaaz-o-adaa kahate hain
jab talak duur hai tuu terii parastish kar len
ham jise chhuu na saken us ko Khudaa kahate hain
kyaa ta'ajjub hai ke ham ahl-e-tamannaa ko 'Faraaz'
vo jo maharuum-e-tamannaa hain buraa kahate hain

ye tabiyat hai to Khud aazaar ban jaayenge ham
chaaraagar royenge aur Gham_Khaar ban jaayenge ham
ham sar-e-chaak-e-vafaa hain aur teraa dast-e-hunar
jo banaa degaa hamen ai yaar ban jaayenge ham
kyaa Khabar thi ai nigaar-e-sher tere ishq men
dil_baraan-e-shahar ke dil_daar ban jaayenge ham
saKht jaan hain par hamaarii ustavaarii par na jaa
aise TuuTenge teraa iqaraar ban jaayenge ham
aur kuchh din baiThane do kuu-e-jaanaaN men hamen
raftaa raftaa saayaa-e-divaar ban jaayenge ham
is qadar aasaaN na hogii har kisii se dostii
aashnaa_ii men teraa mayaar ban jaayenge ham
mir-o-Ghaalib kyaa ke ban paaye nahin faiz-o-firaaq
zam ye thaa ruumi-o-ataar ban jaayenge ham
dekhane men shaaKh-e-gul lagate hain lekin dekhanaa
dast-e-gul_chiin ke liye talvaar ban jaayenge ham
ham chiraaGon ko to taariikii se laDanaa hai 'Faraz'
gul hue par subah ke aasaar ban jaayenge ham

tere hote hue mahafil men jalaate hain chiraaGh
log kyaa saadaa hain suuraj ko dikhaate hain chiraaGh
apanii maharuumiyon pe sharmindaa hain
Khud nahiin rakhate to auron ke bujhaate hain chiraaGh
bastiyaaN chaaNd sitaaron pe basaane vaale
kurraa-e-arz bujhaate jaate hain chiraaGh
kyaa Khabar hai un ko ke daaman bhii bhaDak uThate hain
jo zamaane kii havaaon se bachaate hain chiraaGh
aisii taariikiiyaaN aaNkhon men basii hain 'Faraz'
raat to raat ham din ko jalaate hain chiraaGh