This write up is first among the series of Forty or so articles to be published on this blog where I will try to transliterate as well as translate Chahal Asrar, the forty Poems of Amer Kabir in devotion of GOD, Prophet, Faith, Sprituality and Philosophy.
"Hazrat Ameer Kabeer Mir Syed Ali Hamadani", His majesty's name was Ali, and today is also known as Amer Kabir, Ali Saani, Shah Hamadan et al.
His Lineage is traced to Hazrat Ali paternally and from his mothers side, Syeda Fatimah, with seventeen links, to the Prophet of Islam.
Born in Iran in 1314, he preached monotheism in Central and South Asia including our Kashmir. He died in Khatlan, Tajikistan in 1384.
The saint is credited for bringing Iranian crafts and industries into Kashmir along with 700 followers, which resulted in economic boom in valley vis a vis Arts, Crafts, Textiles, Horticulture, Forestry, Literature as well as cultural integration.
In the book written by S A R Hamdani namely Salar-e-Ajjam, the author lists 68 Books and 23 articles written by the saint. Those include Risalah Nooriyah, Risalah Maktubaat, Dur Murifati Surat wa Sirat Insaan, Risalahai Qiyafah, Manazilus Saaliqin, Zakhiratul Muluk, and Kashmirs' own favourite Awraad-ul-Fatehah, gives a conception of the unity of God, which your will find them reverberating every dawn post "Fajr" prayers across mosques and Chahal Asraar, the collection of forty poems in praise of Allah and Muhammad (SAW), Sprituality, Faith and Philosophy.
According to a legend, many a dozen disciples of saint invited his majesty to their homes for dinner on the same day. It is said that the saint refused to none. In the morning, one of the disciple exclaimed that the saint visited his home last night and wrote Poetry in glorification of God and Prophet (SAW).
Meantime, his other disciple claimed the same and put forth another poem as an evidence that the Saint visited his home rather.
This started a cascade and forty odd followers adduced forth the poems, which they claimed to have been written by Saint Hamadani (R.A) the previous night while on visit to their homes instead.
These Forty poems are the epitome of love for God and Prophet (SAW) and have been assembled togather into what is now known as CHAHAL ASRAAR, literally meaning THE FORTY SECRETS.
Where as new generation of Kashmiris' don't understand Persian which once had an honor of being official languages of Kashmir and the language in which huge cache of literary works in valley have been conducted. As a matter of fact, we even feel discomfort understand our own kashur language as well.
Where as we must recognize it as our duty to do, howsoever minute we could, to bridge the gap between this generations to come with the humongous rich literature out there dying to be explored in light of modern perspectives.
So In a series, With all due respect to the Saint Hamadani (RA), I humbly wish to transliterate as well as translate all forty poems of Chahal Asrar from Persian to Englishnized persian and into english.
Before starting, I would like to state that it will be an intellectual dishonesty if I do not give due credit to Dr M.M Masoodi whose book I have taken as reference.
POEM NUMBER ONE
His Lineage is traced to Hazrat Ali paternally and from his mothers side, Syeda Fatimah, with seventeen links, to the Prophet of Islam.
Born in Iran in 1314, he preached monotheism in Central and South Asia including our Kashmir. He died in Khatlan, Tajikistan in 1384.
In the year 1372, the saint visited the valley of Kashmir for the first time, and stayed here for six months. In 1379, he returned to valley and stayed for two and a half years. His third sojourn to Kashmir in 1383 was brief because of deteriorating health.
The saint is credited for bringing Iranian crafts and industries into Kashmir along with 700 followers, which resulted in economic boom in valley vis a vis Arts, Crafts, Textiles, Horticulture, Forestry, Literature as well as cultural integration.
In the book written by S A R Hamdani namely Salar-e-Ajjam, the author lists 68 Books and 23 articles written by the saint. Those include Risalah Nooriyah, Risalah Maktubaat, Dur Murifati Surat wa Sirat Insaan, Risalahai Qiyafah, Manazilus Saaliqin, Zakhiratul Muluk, and Kashmirs' own favourite Awraad-ul-Fatehah, gives a conception of the unity of God, which your will find them reverberating every dawn post "Fajr" prayers across mosques and Chahal Asraar, the collection of forty poems in praise of Allah and Muhammad (SAW), Sprituality, Faith and Philosophy.
According to a legend, many a dozen disciples of saint invited his majesty to their homes for dinner on the same day. It is said that the saint refused to none. In the morning, one of the disciple exclaimed that the saint visited his home last night and wrote Poetry in glorification of God and Prophet (SAW).
Meantime, his other disciple claimed the same and put forth another poem as an evidence that the Saint visited his home rather.
This started a cascade and forty odd followers adduced forth the poems, which they claimed to have been written by Saint Hamadani (R.A) the previous night while on visit to their homes instead.
These Forty poems are the epitome of love for God and Prophet (SAW) and have been assembled togather into what is now known as CHAHAL ASRAAR, literally meaning THE FORTY SECRETS.
Where as new generation of Kashmiris' don't understand Persian which once had an honor of being official languages of Kashmir and the language in which huge cache of literary works in valley have been conducted. As a matter of fact, we even feel discomfort understand our own kashur language as well.
Where as we must recognize it as our duty to do, howsoever minute we could, to bridge the gap between this generations to come with the humongous rich literature out there dying to be explored in light of modern perspectives.
Last but not least, using such platform, we ought to transcend the literature onto web in understandable interface keeping in mind the larger world population in general.
So In a series, With all due respect to the Saint Hamadani (RA), I humbly wish to transliterate as well as translate all forty poems of Chahal Asrar from Persian to Englishnized persian and into english.
Before starting, I would like to state that it will be an intellectual dishonesty if I do not give due credit to Dr M.M Masoodi whose book I have taken as reference.
POEM NUMBER ONE
1.
"AE GIRIFTARANI ISHQAT FAREG AZ MAAL WA MANAAL"
" WALIHANI HAZRATAT RAA AZ KHUD WA JANATI MALAL"
Those in Love with the God, Care Not for wealth;
Love of his existance has made life and Paradise insignificant for them.
2.
2.
"MUFLISANI KOI SHOWKAT RAA GULAMI KARDA CHARAK"
"SAALIKANI RAHI WASLAT RADU AALAM PAAYE MAAL"
In their quest, the poor wanderers have searched for you in the heavens;
For a union with you, they have renounced both the worlds.
3.
3.
"AARIFANI WASF TU MAGBOOT ASHRAFE MULQ"
"MADBIRANI DARGAHAT SARGASHTA DAR TAHIYE ZALAL"
Angels envy you for your extraordinary qualities;
Those who turned away from your sanctury are wallowing in pit of denegeration.
4.
4.
"SHAMAYE AZ FAIZ LUTFAT BOYE BARDA NA FALAQ"
"GAST SARGARDAN BAGARDI AASTANAT MAH WA SAAL"
A little fragrance of your benevolence has stirred the nine skies;
Therefore skies revolve around the sanctury through out the year.
5.
" AATISHAY AZ LUTFAT GULISTAAN GHAAST DAR PEESHI KHALEEL"
"KHURDA NIMROODI BA KAHAR AZ NEEM PASHI GOSHMAL"
Your blessings turned the fire into garden for Prophet Khalil;
And Nimrood was undone by a small mosquito.
6.
6.
"BULBULAN NAGMA TASBI DAR BASTANAY GAYEEB"
"WAHDA GOYAN BAA ZARE GULBAN BAAGAY VISAAL"
In the garden of joy of unknown under the rosy tent;
Your lovers are chanting the songs of your being absolute.
7.
7.
"TOTAYAN TARUM ALVAY BAR AVARDA ZAJAN"
" NARA HAI MA ARAFNAL IE QADEEMAY ZULJALAL"
Parrots in your lofty skies are chanting the songs.
They claim to recognize your infinity with full devotion.
8.
" PARTAVI AAZ AQSI RUYAT TAFATA BAR RUYE KHAK"
"KHAKI AZAN POSHIDA CHANDI KHILATI HUSNO JAMAL"
Why the radiance of your face lit the surface of your earth,
It wore the variegated garments of beauty and splendour.
9.
9.
"KHANAYE SANAAT CHU BAST EEN NAKSHE TAMSAALI VAJOOD"
"MEHARSHUD BAR TAKHTAY GAYEEB AYN MISAL AZ BE MISAAL"
While drawing the contours of this world;
It was You who Put the original stamp on it from the unknown.
10.
10.
"HAR KI BAR KHAKI DARAT RAYAFT IZAT YAFTA AW"
" KAZ BAYAN WASFE AW FARSUDA SHUD SIRE MAQAL"
He who passed by your threshold was elevated;
The revelation of your high qualities rendered all wise sayings irrelevent.
11.
11.
"PEESH MUJRUHANI HIJRAT NESH NOSHI PUR SHIFA"
"TASHNAGANI VASAL RAHIR AATISH CHUN SAD ZULAL"
Even the wounds of seperation work as a balm for the wounded;
Fire and water are embers of immortality for those restless for your union.
12.
12.
"KHUSHTGANI TEG ISHQAT ZINDAGANI JAVEEDAN"
"SAYIDI SHAHEEN GAMAT SHAHANI MULK BE ZAWAAL"
Those who were killed by the sword of love for you are immortal.
The Hawks victimized by sorrow, have become everlasting kings of immortal.
13.
"BADAH NUSHANE GAMAT DAVOOD VA MAROOF VA JUNAID"
"JAAN FIROSHAN DARAT AMAR VA SALMAN VA BILAL
The wine of sorrow was drunk by David, Maroof and Junaid,
Those who sacrificed their lives at your threshhold included Amaar, Salman of Persia and Bilal of Africa.
14.
14.
"DURDE DARDI TU DAARAVI DIL HAR BA KHABAR"
"ZEEVAR ZIKR TUU ZABAYE HAALI HAR SAHIBI KAMAL"
The piercing of pain for you is the balm for any concious being,
Your remeberence is beautiful and elegent dress for every perfect quester.
15.
15.
"DHAR TAMANAYE VISALAT SHUD ALAYE JAAFISHAN"
" TAA CHI KWAHAD DEED AKIR ZAIN TAMANAYE MAHAAL"
In his quest, Alaie even sacrificed his life for them;
Will this quest ultimately bear fruit or not.
P.S: Thanks to Dad who helped in Transliteration.
You can view other poems of Chahal Asrar Here
