Why Makhfi (Hidden)?

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ


در سخن مخفی شدم مانند بو در برگ گل
هر که خواهد دیدنم گو در سخن بیند مرا

در سخن مخفی شدم مانند بو در برگ گل

هر که دارد میل دیدن، در سخن بیند مرا


Meaning:

Within my poetry, hidden I dwell,  like fragrance within rose petals
All who wish to catch a glimpse of me, can do so (only) within my poetry

 Alternatively:


Within my poetry, hidden I dwell, like fragrance within rose petals
 Anyone desiring to see me, may do so (only) within my poetry


Language:

 Persian/Farsi of South Asia
Transliteration:
Dar Sukhan Makhfi Shudam, Manand e bu Dar Barg e Gul
Har ke Khwahad deedanam goo, Dar Sukhan Beenad Mera


Dar Sukhan Makhfi Shudam, Manand e bu Dar Barg e Gul ,
Har Ke Darad Mayl Deedan, Dar Sukhan Beenad Mera

 Video/Audio:





Brief Explanation:

An artist, poet, writer or any other form of expert in arts and literature should be primarily known by their work. Since I am not either of them, I chose to remain hidden while sharing wisdom that I come in contact with, across ages and cultures.
 
Background:
 
This couplet attributed to Zeb un Nissa, the daughter of Aurangzeb inspired me to choose the name مخفي which means "hidden" in Arabic, Persian and Urdu.


The story goes that her poetry was well-regarded and her fame reached far and wide, but people did not know the true identity of the poet with the nom de plume مخفي.

One day a neighbouring king requested Aurangzeb to have the poet (مخفي) sent out to his kingdom so that he may have an audience with him and get to know the poet better. This put him in a quandary as on the one hand a generous king cannot refuse this request, but he could not also send his daughter as it would violate the cultural and religious norms, and also he did not want to be the one who reveals her identity which she had chosen to keep secret.

Failing to find a solution, he asked for her help. She told him to send these verses in response to the neighbouring king's request thus solved the problem in a beautiful manner deserving that of a wise and literate poet that she was.

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for choosing to comment.

Popular posts from this blog

Shoo Away

Image
      بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ   از سر بالین من برخیز اے نادان طبیب  دردمند عشق را دارو بجز دیدار نیست Meaning:   O ignorant physician! Shoo away from my bed side There is no remedy for a love afflicted person except a vision of the Beloved  Language: Persian/Farsi Transliteration: Az sare baleene man barkheez ae nadan tabeeb Dardmande isqh ra, daroo bejuz deedar neest       Video/Audio:   Brief Explanation: True lovers find relief from affliction only in the presence of the Beloved. Background: This is from one of the controversial poems of hazrat Amir Khusrau  indicating his choice of a religion of Love over all forms of formal religions, and also his indifference to the reaction of the common folk to his choice.  Although Amir Khusrau is extremely well known as a Sufi and a pious person, it is often seen that he would use shocking terminology to promote the idea of love, prioritizing it over other asp...
Read more

Do not sully his name

Image
    بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ    چون بنام مصطفی خوانم درود  از خجالت آب می گردد وجود   عشق میگوید که ای محکوم غیر  سینهٔ تو از بتان مانند دیر   تا نداری از محمد رنگ و بو   از درود خود میالا نام او Meaning:   Whenever I recite durood(salawat) in the name of Mustafa ﷺ, shame pervades my entire existence  (it is as if) Love says (to me): “O slave of others, your breast is full of idols, much like a temple    So long as you are devoid of the fragrance and the hue of Muhammad ﷺ do not pollute his name by your (empty) salutations. Language: Persian/Farsi Transliteration: choon bnaame Mustafa khwanam darood Az khajalat Aab mi gardad wujood Ishq migoyad ki ae mehkoome ghair Seenae tu az butan manand dair ta nadaree az Muhammad Rang o bu Az daroode khud mayaala naame oo   Video/Audio: Brief Explanation: Our hearts should be devoid of worldly objects if we truly love the Prophet ﷺ and we should not merely ...
Read more

The foundational brick

Image
        بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ  چون گذارد خشت اول بر زمین معمار کج گر رساند بر فلک، باشد همان دیوار کج Meaning:   If an architect/builder sets the brick of the foundation incorrectly in a crooked manner Even if he manages to make the wall reach up to the sky, it will still be a crooked wall Language: Persian/Farsi Transliteration: Choon Guzarad Khishte Awal Bar Zameen Ma'imar Kaj Gar Rasanad Bar Falak, Bashad Haman Deewar Kaj     Video/Audio: Brief Explanation: The verses means that in anything, our fundamentals must be right from the beginning. No "ends justify the means", but rather the intention of doing something must be correct, and the steps and the means to achieve the same must be righteous, otherwise whatever we do will be tainted no matter how successful it seems. Background: These verses are from one of the famous poems of Mīrzā Muḥammad ʿAlī Ṣāʾib , also known as Saib Tibrizi . The verses have inspired a well known...
Read more