Aj Ki Raat

By Faiz Ahmad Faiz

Aj ki raat saz-e-dard na chhed;
Duukh se bhar-pur din tamaam hu'e,
Aur kal ki khabr kise ma'lum?
Dosh o farda ki mith-chuki hain hudud?
Ho no ho ab sahar, kise ma'lum?
Zindagi hech! Lekin aaj ki raat--
Izadiyat hai mumkin aaj ki raat--

Aaj ki rat saz-e-dard na chhed;
Ab na duhra fasanaha-e-alam,
Apni qismat pe sogwar na ho,
Fikr-e-farda utar-de dil se,
'Umr-e-rafta pe ashkbar na ho;
'Ahd-e-gram ki hikayaten mat puchh;
Aay ki rat saz-e-dard na cheed;

Tonight (Translation)

Tonight do not pluck the lyre of pain;
The grief-filled days have been accomplished,
And to whom is known the news of tomorrow?
The frontiers of last night and tomorrow have been wiped out:
To whom is known whether or not there will be dawn?
Life is nothing--but tonight!
Godhood is possible tonight!

Tonight do not pluck the lyre of pain;
Do not repeat now the stories of anguish--
Do not be mournful over your fate--
Lift from the heart cares of tomorrow,
Do not be tearful over the age gone by;
Do not ask for tales of the time of sorrow;
All lamentations are finished--ask no more;
Tonight do not pluck the lyre of pain!