Sher on Dua
There are many words
in Urdu poetry that have been treated in entirely different ways and contexts to create unusual kinds of meaning. A number of such words can be found in the domain of faith. Dua, or prayer, is one such word that has been used quite creatively and in multiple contexts. Here, you would find a lover praying for union and his prayers returned unanswered. Sometimes, being disappointed, he even prays for his release from love that brings only suffering. This and many other conditions of this kind can be found in this selection for the curious readers.
hayā nahīñ hai zamāne kī aañkh meñ baaqī
ḳhudā kare ki javānī tirī rahe be-dāġh
There is no modesty left in the eyes of the world anymore.
May God grant that your youth remains unstained.
The couplet laments a society where shamelessness has become normal, as if the world’s very “eye” no longer recognizes modesty. Against this moral decline, the speaker turns to prayer, wishing the addressee’s youth to stay clean and uncorrupted. “Stain” becomes a metaphor for moral blemish and compromise. The emotional core is concern, protective love, and ethical hope.
haya nahin hai zamane ki aankh mein baqi
KHuda kare ki jawani teri rahe be-dagh
There is no modesty left in the eyes of the world anymore.
May God grant that your youth remains unstained.
The couplet laments a society where shamelessness has become normal, as if the world’s very “eye” no longer recognizes modesty. Against this moral decline, the speaker turns to prayer, wishing the addressee’s youth to stay clean and uncorrupted. “Stain” becomes a metaphor for moral blemish and compromise. The emotional core is concern, protective love, and ethical hope.
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Tags : Hayaand 1 more
abhī zinda hai maañ merī mujhe kuchh bhī nahīñ hogā
maiñ ghar se jab nikaltā huuñ duā bhī saath chaltī hai
abhi zinda hai man meri mujhe kuchh bhi nahin hoga
main ghar se jab nikalta hun dua bhi sath chalti hai
jaate ho ḳhudā-hāfiz haañ itnī guzārish hai
jab yaad ham aa jaa.eñ milne kī duā karnā
jate ho KHuda-hafiz han itni guzarish hai
jab yaad hum aa jaen milne ki dua karna
abhī raah meñ ka.ī moḌ haiñ koī aa.egā koī jā.egā
tumheñ jis ne dil se bhulā diyā use bhūlne kī duā karo
abhi rah mein kai moD hain koi aaega koi jaega
tumhein jis ne dil se bhula diya use bhulne ki dua karo
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Tags : Diland 2 more
duā ko haat uThāte hue laraztā huuñ
kabhī duā nahīñ māñgī thī maañ ke hote hue
dua ko hat uThate hue larazta hun
kabhi dua nahin mangi thi man ke hote hue
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Tags : Auratand 1 more
auroñ kī burā.ī ko na dekhūñ vo nazar de
haañ apnī burā.ī ko parakhne kā hunar de
auron ki burai ko na dekhun wo nazar de
han apni burai ko parakhne ka hunar de
jab bhī kashtī mirī sailāb meñ aa jaatī hai
maañ duā kartī huī ḳhvāb meñ aa jaatī hai
TRANSLATION
Whenever my boat comes amidst tempest,
Mother comes praying in my dreams.
Sagar Akbarabadi
jab bhi kashti meri sailab mein aa jati hai
man dua karti hui KHwab mein aa jati hai
TRANSLATION
Whenever my boat comes amidst tempest,
Mother comes praying in my dreams.
Sagar Akbarabadi
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Tag : Mother
maraz-e-ishq jise ho use kyā yaad rahe
na davā yaad rahe aur na duā yaad rahe
he who is stricken by love, remembers naught at all
no cure will come to mind, nor prayer will recall
Whoever is afflicted by the sickness of love retains no other memory.
They recall neither the medicine to cure them nor the prayer to save them.
Zauq depicts love as an all-consuming malady that erases the lover's connection to the ordinary world. The absorption in the beloved is so intense that the sufferer forgets both material remedies (medicine) and spiritual pleas (prayer), indicating a state of total surrender and self-forgetfulness.
maraz-e-ishq jise ho use kya yaad rahe
na dawa yaad rahe aur na dua yaad rahe
he who is stricken by love, remembers naught at all
no cure will come to mind, nor prayer will recall
Whoever is afflicted by the sickness of love retains no other memory.
They recall neither the medicine to cure them nor the prayer to save them.
Zauq depicts love as an all-consuming malady that erases the lover's connection to the ordinary world. The absorption in the beloved is so intense that the sufferer forgets both material remedies (medicine) and spiritual pleas (prayer), indicating a state of total surrender and self-forgetfulness.
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Tags : Ishqand 1 more
mujhe zindagī kī duā dene vaale
hañsī aa rahī hai tirī sādgī par
mujhe zindagi ki dua dene wale
hansi aa rahi hai teri sadgi par
maiñ kyā karūñ mire qātil na chāhne par bhī
tire liye mire dil se duā nikaltī hai
main kya karun mere qatil na chahne par bhi
tere liye mere dil se dua nikalti hai
duā karo ki maiñ us ke liye duā ho jā.ūñ
vo ek shaḳhs jo dil ko duā sā lagtā hai
dua karo ki main us ke liye dua ho jaun
wo ek shaKHs jo dil ko dua sa lagta hai
hotī nahīñ qubūl duā tark-e-ishq kī
dil chāhtā na ho to zabāñ meñ asar kahāñ
hoti nahin qubul dua tark-e-ishq ki
dil chahta na ho to zaban mein asar kahan
koī chārā nahīñ duā ke sivā
koī suntā nahīñ ḳhudā ke sivā
TRANSLATION
There’s no option but to pray with piety,
As no one listens, except the Almighty.
Sagar Akbarabadi
koi chaara nahin dua ke siwa
koi sunta nahin KHuda ke siwa
TRANSLATION
There’s no option but to pray with piety,
As no one listens, except the Almighty.
Sagar Akbarabadi
maañg luuñ tujh se tujhī ko ki sabhī kuchh mil jaa.e
sau savāloñ se yahī ek savāl achchhā hai
mang lun tujh se tujhi ko ki sabhi kuchh mil jae
sau sawalon se yahi ek sawal achchha hai
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Tags : Ishqand 3 more
hazār baar jo māñgā karo to kyā hāsil
duā vahī hai jo dil se kabhī nikaltī hai
Even if you keep asking a thousand times, what do you really gain from it?
A true prayer is the one that rises from the heart on its own.
The couplet says that repetition alone does not make a request effective. Prayer is portrayed as something living and spontaneous: it must come from genuine feeling, not mere habit or display. The emotional core is a gentle criticism of mechanical worship and a call for inner sincerity. What matters is the heart’s truth, not the count of words.
hazar bar jo manga karo to kya hasil
dua wahi hai jo dil se kabhi nikalti hai
Even if you keep asking a thousand times, what do you really gain from it?
A true prayer is the one that rises from the heart on its own.
The couplet says that repetition alone does not make a request effective. Prayer is portrayed as something living and spontaneous: it must come from genuine feeling, not mere habit or display. The emotional core is a gentle criticism of mechanical worship and a call for inner sincerity. What matters is the heart’s truth, not the count of words.
māñgā kareñge ab se duā hijr-e-yār kī
āḳhir to dushmanī hai asar ko duā ke saath
to be parted from my dearest I will pray now hence
as after all prayers bear enmity with consequence
From now on, I will actually pray to be separated from my beloved.
Because in the end, the effect (acceptance) is hostile to a prayer’s aim.
The speaker flips the usual logic of prayer: since prayers may “take effect” in a way that defeats one’s own desire, he decides to ask for separation itself. The word “enemy” suggests a bitter distrust of fate—what you want and what happens stand opposed. The emotional core is irony mixed with helplessness: even devotion turns into a strategy to protect oneself from disappointment.
manga karenge ab se dua hijr-e-yar ki
aaKHir to dushmani hai asar ko dua ke sath
to be parted from my dearest I will pray now hence
as after all prayers bear enmity with consequence
From now on, I will actually pray to be separated from my beloved.
Because in the end, the effect (acceptance) is hostile to a prayer’s aim.
The speaker flips the usual logic of prayer: since prayers may “take effect” in a way that defeats one’s own desire, he decides to ask for separation itself. The word “enemy” suggests a bitter distrust of fate—what you want and what happens stand opposed. The emotional core is irony mixed with helplessness: even devotion turns into a strategy to protect oneself from disappointment.
duā.eñ yaad karā dī ga.ī thiiñ bachpan meñ
so zaḳhm khāte rahe aur duā diye ga.e ham
duaen yaad kara di gai thin bachpan mein
so zaKHm khate rahe aur dua diye gae hum
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Tag : Bachpan
āḳhir duā kareñ bhī to kis mudda.ā ke saath
kaise zamīñ kī baat kaheñ āsmāñ se ham
aaKHir dua karen bhi to kis muddaa ke sath
kaise zamin ki baat kahen aasman se hum
māñgī thī ek baar duā ham ne maut kī
sharminda aaj tak haiñ miyāñ zindagī se ham
Once upon a time for death I did pray
I am ashamed of life my friend to this very day
mangi thi ek bar dua hum ne maut ki
sharminda aaj tak hain miyan zindagi se hum
Once upon a time for death I did pray
I am ashamed of life my friend to this very day
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Tags : Mautand 1 more
tum salāmat raho qayāmat tak
aur qayāmat kabhī na aa.e 'shād'
tum salamat raho qayamat tak
aur qayamat kabhi na aae 'shad'
duur rahtī haiñ sadā un se balā.eñ sāhil
apne maañ baap kī jo roz duā lete haiñ
dur rahti hain sada un se balaen sahil
apne man bap ki jo roz dua lete hain
kyuuñ maañg rahe ho kisī bārish kī duā.eñ
tum apne shikasta dar-o-dīvār to dekho
kyun mang rahe ho kisi barish ki duaen
tum apne shikasta dar-o-diwar to dekho
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Tag : Barish
is liye chal na sakā koī bhī ḳhanjar mujh par
merī shah-rag pe mirī maañ kī duā rakkhī thī
is liye chal na saka koi bhi KHanjar mujh par
meri shah-rag pe meri man ki dua rakkhi thi
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Tag : Mother
vo baḌā rahīm o karīm hai mujhe ye sifat bhī atā kare
tujhe bhūlne kī duā karūñ to mirī duā meñ asar na ho
wo baDa rahim o karim hai mujhe ye sifat bhi ata kare
tujhe bhulne ki dua karun to meri dua mein asar na ho
jab lageñ zaḳhm to qātil ko duā dī jaa.e
hai yahī rasm to ye rasm uThā dī jaa.e
jab lagen zaKHm to qatil ko dua di jae
hai yahi rasm to ye rasm uTha di jae
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Tags : Famous shayariand 1 more
maiñ zindagī kī duā māñgne lagā huuñ bahut
jo ho sake to duāoñ ko be-asar kar de
main zindagi ki dua mangne laga hun bahut
jo ho sake to duaon ko be-asar kar de
maiñ ne din raat ḳhudā se ye duā māñgī thī
koī aahaT na ho dar par mire jab tū aa.e
main ne din raat KHuda se ye dua mangi thi
koi aahaT na ho dar par mere jab tu aae
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Tags : Aahatand 2 more
koī to phuul khilā.e duā ke lahje meñ
ajab tarah kī ghuTan hai havā ke lahje meñ
koi to phul khilae dua ke lahje mein
ajab tarah ki ghuTan hai hawa ke lahje mein
duā karo ki ye paudā sadā harā hī lage
udāsiyoñ meñ bhī chehra khilā khilā hī lage
dua karo ki ye pauda sada hara hi lage
udasiyon mein bhi chehra khila khila hi lage
sunte haiñ jo bahisht kī tārīf sab durust
lekin ḳhudā kare vo tirā jalva-gāh ho
praises of paradise we hear are all true, I agree
but I wish that God ordains, your parlour that it be
Whatever praises we hear regarding Paradise are all absolutely correct.
But I pray to God that it turns out to be the place where You reveal Your presence.
Ghalib concedes to the traditional descriptions of Heaven's beauty but adds a lover's stipulation. He implies that the material delights of Paradise are meaningless unless it becomes a venue for the Beloved's manifestation. The poet elevates the sight of the Beloved above the intrinsic rewards of Heaven itself.
sunte hain jo bahisht ki tarif sab durust
lekin KHuda kare wo tera jalwa-gah ho
praises of paradise we hear are all true, I agree
but I wish that God ordains, your parlour that it be
Whatever praises we hear regarding Paradise are all absolutely correct.
But I pray to God that it turns out to be the place where You reveal Your presence.
Ghalib concedes to the traditional descriptions of Heaven's beauty but adds a lover's stipulation. He implies that the material delights of Paradise are meaningless unless it becomes a venue for the Beloved's manifestation. The poet elevates the sight of the Beloved above the intrinsic rewards of Heaven itself.
hai duā yaad magar harf-e-duā yaad nahīñ
mere naġhmāt ko andāz-e-navā yaad nahīñ
hai dua yaad magar harf-e-dua yaad nahin
mere naghmat ko andaz-e-nawa yaad nahin
baaqī hī kyā rahā hai tujhe māñgne ke baad
bas ik duā meñ chhūT ga.e har duā se ham
baqi hi kya raha hai tujhe mangne ke baad
bas ek dua mein chhuT gae har dua se hum
na chārāgar kī zarūrat na kuchh davā kī hai
duā ko haath uThāo ki ġham kī raat kaTe
na chaaragar ki zarurat na kuchh dawa ki hai
dua ko hath uThao ki gham ki raat kaTe
buland hāthoñ meñ zanjīr Daal dete haiñ
ajiib rasm chalī hai duā na māñge koī
buland hathon mein zanjir Dal dete hain
ajib rasm chali hai dua na mange koi
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Tag : Karbala
kisī ne chuum ke āñkhoñ ko ye duā dī thī
zamīn terī ḳhudā motiyoñ se nam kar de
kisi ne chum ke aankhon ko ye dua di thi
zamin teri KHuda motiyon se nam kar de
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Tag : Eyes
ġham-e-dil ab kisī ke bas kā nahīñ
kyā davā kyā duā kare koī
gham-e-dil ab kisi ke bas ka nahin
kya dawa kya dua kare koi
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Tags : Diland 1 more
guzishta saal koī maslahat rahī hogī
guzishta saal ke sukh ab ke saal de maulā
guzishta sal koi maslahat rahi hogi
guzishta sal ke sukh ab ke sal de maula
na jaane kaun sī manzil pe ishq aa pahuñchā
duā bhī kaam na aa.e koī davā na lage
na jaane kaun si manzil pe ishq aa pahuncha
dua bhi kaam na aae koi dawa na lage
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Tags : Anjamand 2 more
dushman-e-jāñ hī sahī dost samajhtā huuñ use
bad-duā jis kī mujhe ban ke duā lagtī hai
dushman-e-jaan hi sahi dost samajhta hun use
bad-dua jis ki mujhe ban ke dua lagti hai
haa.e koī davā karo haa.e koī duā karo
haa.e jigar meñ dard hai haa.e jigar ko kyā karūñ
hae koi dawa karo hae koi dua karo
hae jigar mein dard hai hae jigar ko kya karun
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Tag : Dard
abhī diloñ kī tanāboñ meñ saḳhtiyāñ haiñ bahut
abhī hamārī duā meñ asar nahīñ aayā
abhi dilon ki tanabon mein saKHtiyan hain bahut
abhi hamari dua mein asar nahin aaya
ye mo.ajaza bhī kisī kī duā kā lagtā hai
ye shahr ab bhī usī be-vafā kā lagtā hai
ye moajaza bhi kisi ki dua ka lagta hai
ye shahr ab bhi usi be-wafa ka lagta hai
ye bastiyāñ haiñ ki maqtal duā kiye jaa.eñ
duā ke din haiñ musalsal duā kiye jaa.eñ
ye bastiyan hain ki maqtal dua kiye jaen
dua ke din hain musalsal dua kiye jaen
kaun detā hai mohabbat ko parastish kā maqām
tum ye insāf se socho to duā do ham ko
kaun deta hai mohabbat ko parastish ka maqam
tum ye insaf se socho to dua do hum ko
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Tag : Mohabbat
mire liye na ruk sake to kyā huā
jahāñ kahīñ Thahar ga.e ho ḳhush raho
mere liye na ruk sake to kya hua
jahan kahin Thahar gae ho KHush raho
dene vaale tujhe denā hai to itnā de de
ki mujhe shikva-e-kotāhī-e-dāmāñ ho jaa.e
dene wale tujhe dena hai to itna de de
ki mujhe shikwa-e-kotahi-e-daman ho jae
maut māñgī thī ḳhudā.ī to nahīñ māñgī thī
le duā kar chuke ab tark-e-duā karte haiñ
maut mangi thi KHudai to nahin mangi thi
le dua kar chuke ab tark-e-dua karte hain
us dushman-e-vafā ko duā de rahā huuñ maiñ
merā na ho sakā vo kisī kā to ho gayā
us dushman-e-wafa ko dua de raha hun main
mera na ho saka wo kisi ka to ho gaya
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Tag : Mehboob
