Hum Dekhenge, or We Shall See – A Nazm by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Hum Dekhenge (We shall see) is a popular Urdu nazm, written by the Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Originally written as Va Yabqá Vajhu Rabbika (And the countenance of your Lord will outlast all), it was included in the seventh poetry book of Faiz – Mere Dil Mere Musafir.

The nazm was composed as a protest against Zia Ul Haq’s oppressive regime. It gained a rapid cult following as a song of resistance and defiance, after a public rendition by Iqbal Bano at Alhamra Arts Council on 13 February 1986, ignoring the ban on Faiz’s poetry.

In the Nazm, Faiz employs the metaphor of traditional Islamic imagery to subvert and challenge Zia’s fundamentalist interpretation of them; Qayamat, the Day of Reckoning is transformed into the Day of Revolution, wherein Zia’s military government will be ousted by the people and democracy will be re-installed. (Source: Wikipedia)

Here it is with transliteration (scroll down for my favorite renditions).


हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day
लाज़िम है कि हम भी देख़ेंगे
Lāzim Hai Ki Ham Bhī Dekheñge
Inevitably, we shall also see the day
वो दिन के जिस का वादा है
Vo Din Ki Jis Kā Va.Ada Hai
That was promised to us, decreed
जो लोह-ए-अज़ल में लिखा है
Jo Lauh-E-Azal Meñ Likhkhā Hai
On the tablet of eternity
हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day

जब ज़ुल्म-ओ-सितम के कोह-ए-गरां
Jab Zulm-O-Sitam Ke Koh-E-Girāñ
When dark peaks of torment and tyranny
रूई की तरह उङ जायेंगे
Ruuī Kī Tarah Uḍ Jā.Eñge
Will be blown away like cotton fluff;
हम महकूमों के पाऒं तले
Ham Mahkūmoñ Ke Pāñv-Tale
When the earth’s beating, beating heart
ये धरती धङ-धङ धङकेगी
Jab Dhartī Dhaḍ-Dhaḍ Dhaḍkegī
Will pulsate beneath our broken feet;
और अह्ल-ए-हकम के सर ऊपर
Aur Ahl-E-Hakam Ke Sar-Ūpar
When crackling, crashing lightning
जब बिजली कङ-कङ कङकेगी
Jab Bijlī Kaḍ-Kaḍ Kaḍkegī
Will smite the heads of our tormentors;
हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day

जब अर्ज़-ए-ख़ुदा के काबे से
Jab Arz-E-Ḳhudā Ke Ka.Abe Se
When, from the seat of the Almighty
सब बुत उळवाये जायेंगे
Sab But Uthvā.E Jā.Eñge
Every pedestal will lie displaced;
हम अह्ले-ए-सफा मर्दूद-ए-हरम
Ham Ahl-E-Safā Mardūd-E-Haram
Then, the dispossessed we,
मसनद पे बिळाये जायेंगे
Masnad Pe Bithā.E Jā.Eñge
We who kept the faith will be installed
सब ताज उछाले जायेंगे
Sab Taaj Uchhāle Jā.Eñge
To our inalienable legacy.
सब तख़्त गिराये जायेंगे
Sab Taḳht Girā.E Jā.Eñge
Every crown will be flung.
हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day

बस नाम रहेगा अल्ला: का
Bas Naam Rahegā Allāh Kā
Each throne brought down.
जो गायब भी है हाज़िर भी
Jo Ġhā.Eb Bhī Hai Hāzir Bhī
Only His name will remain; He,
जो मंज़र भी है नाज़िर भी
Jo Manzar Bhī Hai Nāzir Bhī
Who is both unseen, and ubiquitous; He,
उळ्ळेगा अन-अल-हक का नारा
Utthegā Anal-Haq Kā Na.Ara
Who is both the vision and the beholder.
जो मै भी हूँ और तुम भी हो
Jo Maiñ Bhī Huuñ Aur Tum Bhī Ho
When the clarion call of ‘I am Truth’ (the truth that is me and the truth that is you)
और राज करेगी ख़ल्क-ए-ख़ुदा
Aur Raaj Karegī Ḳhalq-E-Ḳhudā
Will ring out, all God’s creatures will rule,
जो मै भी हूँ और तुम भी हो
Jo Maiñ Bhī Huuñ Aur Tum Bhī Ho
Those like me and those like you.


Glossary:

लाज़िम / Lazim – must/binding/certain
वादा / wada – promise
लोह / lauh – slate/tablet /title page
अज़ल / azal – eternity
लोह-ए-अज़ल / lauh-e-azal – slate of eternity (destiny)
ज़ुल्म / zulm – abuses/victimization/tyranny/oppression
सितम / sitam – injustice/oppression/tyranny
कोह / koh – mountain
गरां / garaan – massive/enormous
महकूम / mehkoom – enslaved/subject
अह्ल / ahl – people
हकम / hakam – ruler/master
अर्ज़ / arz – appeal/request
सफा / safa – clean/pure
मर्दूद / mardood – accursed/outcast/barred
हरम / haram – sanctum/holy site
मर्दूद-ए-हरम / mardood-e-haram – the faithful who were banished from Mecca to Medina
मसनद / masnad – throne
मंज़र / manzar – scene/view/visage
नाज़िर / nazir – spectator/overseer
अन-अल-हक / an-al-haq – I am the truth
ख़ल्क / khalq – creation

Here are audio and videos of Iqbal Bano’s live version, and a few other favorite versions along with a modernized Coke Studio rendition from season 11.

JPS Nagi
February 9, 2023