(60 votes, average: 4.27 out of 5)
Loading ...5,998 views
husn-e-jaanaaN kii taariif mumkin nahiiN
It is not possible to praise the beauty of beloved.
aafriin aafriin
O the most beautiful one!
tuu bhii dekhe agar to kahe ham-nashiiN
Even if you see my beloved, you would also say
aafriin aafriin
O the most beautiful one!
aisaa dekhaa nahiiN Khuubsuurat ko’ii
jism jaise Ajanta kii muurat ko’ii
jism jaise nigaahoN pe jaaduu ko’ii
jism naGhmaa ko’ai jism Khushbuu ko’ii
jism jaise machaltii hu’ii raaginii
jism jaise mehakti hu’ii chaaNdnii
jism jaise ke khilta hu’aa ek chaman
jism jaise suuraj kii pahlii kiran
jism tarsha hu’aa dilkash-o-dil-nashiiN
sandalii sandalii
marmarii marmarii
I never saw anyone so beautiful
[her] body is like the images of Ajanta*
[her] body is like a spell on eyes
[her] body is like a song [and] perfumed
[her] body is like ecstatic music
[her] body is like sweet-smelling moon-light
[her] body is like a blooming garden
[her] body is like the first ray of the Sun
[her] body is like carved statue, eye-catching and arresting
like sandalwood
like marble.
Note: Caves in India containing beautiful murals.
chehraa ek phuul kii tarah shaadaab hai
chehraa uskaa hai yaa ko’ii mahtaab hai
chehraa jaise Ghazal, chehraa jaan-e-Ghazal
chehraa jaise kalii, chehraa jaise kaNval
chehraa jaise tasavvur kii tasviir bhii
chehraa ek Khvaab bhii chehraa tabiir bhii
[Her] face is like a fresh flower.
Is it her face or moon?
[her] face is like a Ghazal, [her] face is like heart of Ghazal
[her] face is like a bud, [her] face is like lotus
[her] face is like manifestation of imagination
[her] face is like a dream, and its interpretation too.
chehraa ko’ii alif lailavii daastaaN
chehraa ek pal yaqiiN, chehraa ek pal gumaaN
chehraa jaise ke chehraa ko’ii bhii nahiiN
maah-ruuh maah-ruuh
maah-jabiiN maah-jabiiN
[Her] face is like the tales of Alif Laila*.
One moment real, another moment imagination
[her] face is like no other face
[her] forehead is moonlike
so is her body.
Note: Arabian Nights.
aaNkheN dekhii to maiN dekhtaa rah gayaa
jaam do aur donon hii do aatishah
aankheN yaa maikade ke ye do baab haiN
aankheN inko kahuuN yaa kahuuN Khvaab haiN
aankheN niichii hu’iiN to hayaa ban gayiiN
aankheN uuNchii hu’iiN to du’aa ban gayiiN
aankheN jhuk kar uThiiN to adaa ban gayiiN
aankheN jin meN haiN qaid aasmaan-o-zamiiN
nargisii nargisii
surmayii surmayii
I could not keep off my eyes after seeing her eyes
they are like two cups of wine and that too, burning
are these eyes or two doors of wine-house
her downward glance is abashness
her upward glance is prayer
when eyes look up after downward glance, is like a style
eyes, in which arrested are the sky and the earth
like Narcissus
[and] greyish
zulf-e-jaanaN kii bhii lambii hai daastaaN
zulf ke mere dil par hai parchaiiyaaN
zulf jaise ke ummRii hu’ii ho ghaTaa
zulf jaise ke ho ko’ii kaalii balaa
zulf uljhe to duniyaa pareshaan ho
zulf suljhe to ye giit aasaan ho
zulf bikhre siyaah raat chhaane lage
zulf lahraaye to raat gaane lage
zulf zanjiir hai phir bhii kitnii hasiiN
reshmii reshmii
ambariiN ambariin
The story of the tresses of beloved is also long
tresses are like shadows on my heart
tresses are like over-cast clouds
tresses like some black spectre
when tresses are entangled, so also is the world
when tresses are straight, then writing this song becomes easy
when tresses spread apart then black night downs
when tresses sway then the night sings
tresses are chains, but so beautiful
silken
[and] perfumed
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
{ 1 trackback }
{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
the word is Zeest, not giit. zeest means life.
zulf suljhe to yeh zeest asaan ho.
excellent work. keep it up!
I love the song. Its fantastic
Brilliant song……and brilliantly sung by a legend…….this song makes me cry….its a heart touching song!!
Isn’t there another line?
aankheN jhuk kar uThiiN to adaa ban gayiiN
aakheN uthkar jhukiN to fazaa ban gayiiN
dear satyajeet ji, the word is kazaa means to win over. there is no word fazaa in urdu. fizaa means hawaa.
the lines are
“Ankhein uthh kar junkein to adaa ban gayein, Ankhein jhuk kar uthein to kazaa ban gaein”
to learn and understand the right meaning has the whole importance of poetry.
“Ankhein jhuk kar uthein to kazaa ban gaein”
that line has been left in the translation
Fantastic imagination. Really a complete thing. COMPLETE.
…amazing stuff, thanks for the translation!
I love this poem, Javed Akther is a wonderful poet and Nusrat Fateh ali Khan’s voice and singing has done magic and wonders to this poem. No other would have sung it this beautifully nor would have written this beautifully.
I LOVE THIS SONG.
THE LYRICS ARE BEUTIFUL AND IT HAS BEEN WONDERFULLY SUNG BY FATEH ALI SAHAB.
THANS FOR THE TRANSLATION.
I love this song even though I didn’t completely understand but with the translation I was able to understand thanku. I’d like to ask if u can translate “ishq da rutba” I luv this song as well but unfortunetly can’t understand
. I would REALLY appreciate if you transtate it 
. Even if you can’t, I thanku.
lovely song…….a heart touching song….for a lovely romantic occasion for 2….!!!
This is one of the many beautiful works of Ustad.He has used numerous expression to pronounce a word.I have heard many versions of this evergreen song of Ustad,but i like all his LIVE VERSION,where he had sung differently with great zeal.
We all miss you Ustad,May your soul rest in Peace.
Amen
fuckin beautifull!!! luvv this track! work of a master! truely ustaad!
No body can difine beauty like this
simply speechless…..fateh ali sahab is maestro….
one of the best singer of this world.
Can you please provide translation for ‘jism dhamakta’. Please mail me when you do.
Warm Regards
Kabir
It is the best ever songs to describe the beauty of a women, great work by javed sahab and Nusrat fateh ali sahab. really a pleasure to hear this song and if u use this poerty I sure she will get flattered.
Thank you Sameer. But if possible can you direct me to the translation. That would make the song much more beautiful.
awesome song and usdaat nusrat fateh ali khan ji is d best singer
we’ll never forget u sir
I know a lot of you have already appreciated the song, but I still appreciate it once more, because no amount of appreciation is enough for the two legends.
Thank You Nusrat Sahab and Javed Sahab
Amazing Song, and understanding the meaning makes it even more prestigious.
Thanks
simply awesome…!
GHazal mein doob jaane ka man karta hai, afreen afreen.
Kya taareef karun us ghazal ki jo khud hi sarapa taareef hi taareef ho…..
hi i want to download this song tell me how to do it and which site i have to go pls reply
i love so mcuh so that i want to make it my ringtone so pls i am not able to download this
one of the most beautiful imaginations of the poet, incarnated in equally beautiful rendering by the legend… indeed marvallous!
it is marvallous , according to me . i really love this song
speechless….
Fantastic…!
Nusrat sahab, well he’s a god to me. I have a number of collection of his great work & this is for sure that god sends angels like him only once.
I am 31 now & my greatest disappointment in life is that i was not able to see him performing live. I am based in New Delhi & would appreciate if someone please let me know where i can find his visual collection.
I have no words to say how beautiful this song is and hw beautifully is this sung.Enchanting
Hats of 2 nusrat saheb n javed saheb…..they r d real legends…..
Unke tarif mein kitne v alfaz kaho,shayad kam honge……Ye khuda k bande hai…..aur kya kahu.
” zulf suljhe to ye giit aasaan ho ”
its not giit, its “zeest”, zeest means life as u would know.
plz make the necessary correction, for benefit of others.
good work, keep it up!
this song can be used to describe women’s beauty……………..
Ultimate song i love this song last 2yrs. what i say abt nusrat fateh ali khan ji
was a ultimate singer & afreen song…………..superb
jism jaise ajanta kimurat koi.
A real salute to both legends.
Wording touches to heart.
A good one to propose a girl with praising beauty of her eyes, face, hair…..
Truly OUTSTANDING…
its an excellent song. no comparison REALLY AFREEN AFREEN………….
This is the one of the most beautiful songs…………just listen it!!!!!!!!
Hi Husanbir,
Just to let you know….the word is Qazaa…and it does not mean winning over…it means end or death.
AAJA WE NUSRAT PA TENU AKHIYAN UDEEK DIYAN
Does this song have anything to do with Love for God? Or praise of His Beauty?
What a beautiful song it is.I really love it.I m a big Fan of him.
I cant hear it often enough… extremely beautiful thoughts, beautifully portrayed… such deep meaning in such simple words… Very romantic… Its a surreal composition.
Salutes to Javed Akhtar Sahab and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sahab…
i think that there is no one in this world like nusrat till now and no one in future
i need to play afreen on harmonium.can anyone tell me the notes or provide me a link to it.its urgent.please.
I think Nargisi has the meaning “sleepy” in this context, not “like narcissus”. “Sleepy grey eyes” makes sense
. Lisa Ray was so apt for the picturization; she has sleepy gey eyes indeed, and a body like a scuplture from ajanta 
i really like this song when i am lonely