Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a true rebel poet was an atheist but is often noted for mentioning God in his poems. One such instance which had me elated and moved was in the poem which follows
ham par tumhaarii chaah kaa ilzaam hii to hai
dushnaam to nahii.n hai ye ikaraam hii to hai
karate hai.n jis pe taa’n, koii jurm to nahii.n
shauq-e-fuzuul-o-ulfat-e-nakaam hii to hai
[taa’n=satire]
dil muddaii ke harf-e-malaamat se shaad hai
ae jaan-e-jaa.N ye harf teraa naam hii to hai
[harf-e-malaamat=word of criticism]
dil naa-ummiid to nahii.n, na-kaam hii to hai
lambii hai Gam kii shaam, magar shaam hii to hai
dast-e-falak me.n, gardish-e-taqadiir to nahii.n
dast-e-falak me.n, gardish-e-ayyaam hii to hai
[dast-e-falak=God’s hand, gardish-e-taqadiir=difficulties/sorrows of fate, gardish-e-ayyaam=difficulties/sorrows of common/everyday things]
aaKhir to ek roz karegii nazar wafaa
wo yaar-e-Khush_Khasaal sar-e-baam hii to hai
[Khush_Khasaal=virtuous]
bhiigii hai raat ‘Faiz’ Gazal ibtidaa karo
waqt-e-sarod dard kaa ha.ngaam hii to hai
~~ Faiz Ahmed Faiz
In the highlighted couplet the poet very casually says that God at the most controls only the most banal common day things but you have the control of your destiny!!
This poem was written when he was in jail in the year 1954 – which gives a context to what and which love he is talking about in the first couplet.
Swati has written about Faiz Ahmed Faiz often in her blog.