Shamas Ud Doha, Badar Ud Doja

This qawwali is in praise of Prophet Muhammad. Such poetic compositions are known as naat. Prophet is addressed by many titles, two of them are Shams-ud-duha and Badr-ud-duja.

yaa Khudaa jism meN jab tak ye mere jaan rahe

tujh pe sadqe, tere mehbuub pe qurbaan rahe

kuch rahe yaa na rahe, par ye du’aa hai ke “Ameen”

nizaa ke vaqt salaamat meraa iimaan rahe

O Lord! Till the time there is life in my body

it should be devoted to you and an offering to your beloved [Muhammad].

It doesn’t matters if I have anything or not, but I pray “Ameen”

that at the time of death, my faith is safe.

Note: “Ameen” is the name of the poet.

taaziim se letaa hai Khudaa naam-e-Muhammad

kyaa naam hai ai salle-alaa naam-e-Muhammad

Allah kare usko haraam aatish-e-dozaKh

jis shakhs ke dil pe likhaa ho naam-e-Muhammad

God remembers the name of Muhammad with deference

such is the name of Muhammad, peace be upon him.

May God prohibit the fire of hell

on anyone whose heart is written the name of Muhammad.

jis dil meN Muhammad kii muhabbat nahiiN hotii

us par kabhii Allah kii rahmat nahiiN hotii

meraa ye aqiidaa hai agar zikr-e-Khudaa meN

ye naam na shaamil ho ibaadat nahiiN hotii

On the heart that doesn’t love Muhammad

Allah never has mercy.

It is my belief that while remembering God

if this name [Muhammad] is not included then prayers wouldn’t be answered.

rabb ne farmaayaa merii qudrat kii hadd ko’ii nahiiN

aur mere mehbuub kii rahmat kii hadd ko’ii nahiiN

jab malak samjhe nahiiN to aadmii samjhegaa kyaa

Amina ke laal kii azmat kii hadd ko’ii nahiiN

God said that His power has no limits

and my beloved’s [Muhammad] mercy has no limits.

When even angels couldn’t understand then how can men understand?

The greatness of the son of Amina has no limits.

Khudaa kaa nuur tujh meN huu-ba-huu hai

Khudaa pinhaaN magar tuu ruu-ba-ruu hai

terii azmat kaa andaazaa ho kis ko

Khudaa hai aur Khudaa ke baad tuu hai

The light of God is reflected in you

God is hidden but present are you.

Who can imagine your greatness, when

there is God and thereafter you.

Shams-ud-duhaa Badr-ud-dujaa terii baRii tauqiir hai

suurat terii shaah-e-umam, Allah kii tasviir hai

O the bright sun!, O the moon in darkness!, you are revered greatly.

O the king of mankind!, your face is an image of God.

aisii suurat terii kamlii vaale*

Such is your appearance, O the blanket draped one!

Note: Prophet used to drape himself in a black blanket sometimes. Hence, the salutation.

Allah ne paas bulaa hii liyaa*

bin dekhe Khudaa bhii rah na sakaa

Eventually God called you to Him

even He could not resist seeing you.

Note: Refers to the journey of Prophet to God, called as ‘meraaj’ or the ascent.

tumhaaraa saanii risaalat-mu’aab ho na sakaa

tumhaaraa ko’ii kahiiN bhii javaab ho na sakaa

rasuul aur bhii aaye jahaan meN lekin

ko’ii bhii saahib-e-ummul kitaab ho na sakaa

There is no one like you, O the respected Prophet

[and] there is no answer to you, anywhere.

Other messengers [of God] came to this world too

[but] nobody could become the one with the book for mankind.

meraaj* meN Jibriil se kahne lage shaah-e-umam

tuune to dekhe haiN hasiiN, batlaao to kaise haiN ham

ruuh-ul-Khudaa kahne lagaaa, ai naazniiN haq kii qasam

(I am not sure about this line, somebody please help!)

On the night of ascension, King of the people [Muhammad] asked Jibriil [Gabriel]

You have seen the beautiful ones, tell me how am I?

The soul of God replied, O the beautiful one, by God!

Note: Refers to the journey of Prophet to God, called as ‘meraaj’ or the ascent.

mere sohne kamlii vaalaRyaa, teraa aashiq kul zamaanaa ve

tere husn kii kyaa taariif karaaN, rabb aap teraa diivaanaa ve

O my beloved draped in blanket! The whole world loves you.

What to say of your beauty, even the Lord is mad in your love.

royaa shab-e-hijraaN meN bahut ashq bahaayaa

itne meN musavvir ko zaraa rahm jo aayaa

naqshe ka’ii tasviiroN ke saamne vo laayaa

bola, ke ye Yusuf haiN, ye Isaa haiN, ye Musaa

maine kahaa inmeN se kisii par nahiiN shaidaa

jab saamne laayaa vo shabiih-e-shah-e-vaalaa

be-saaKhtaa us vaqt zubaaN se merii niklaa

(There are some lines in Punjabi after this which I couldn’t understand, somebody please help!)

Cried in the night of separation and shed tears in plenty.

Then the painter had a little mercy

and brought [before me] some sketches.

He said, this is Yusuf [Joseph], this is Isaa [Jesus] and this is Musaa [Prophet Moses].

I replied that I am not possessed by anyone of these.

When he brought the image of the King [Muhammad]

my tongue started reciting spontaneously

duniyaa se kyaa, roz-e-jazaa unkaa hai mujhko aasraa

maiN huuN Ghulaam-e-mustafaa kaisii merii taqdiir hai

vallail ho yaa kah-kashaaN, zulf-e-nabii par hai fidaa

ismeN baNdhe haiN do-jahaaN, kitnii hasiiN zanjiir hai

What have I to do with the world when I have his refuge on the Day of Judgement

I am the slave of Mustafaa*, how lucky I am!

Note: Another name of Prophet Muhammad.

dushman bhii kahte haiN yahii, kyaa baat hai sarkaar kii

na aaNkh meN qahr-o-Ghazab, na haath meN shamshiir hai

Even his enemies accept too, what to say of the Master [Muhammad]

Neither his eyes are violent or [filled with] anger, nor there is a sword in his hands.