Ahmad Faraz’s Nazm Against Hatred and Fundamentalism

The Quint’s Fabeha Syed recites the nazm that speaks of an ideology that stands in opposition to celebration of art.

This week, watch The Quint’s Fabeha Syed recite Ahmad Faraz’s ‘Mat Qatl Karo Awaazon Ko’.

(Photo: Aroop Mishra/The Quint)

‘Mat Qatl Karo Awaazon Ko’ is a nazm that speaks of an ideology that stands in opposition to celebration of art.

Tum apne aqeedon ke neze
har dil mein utaare jaate ho
hum log mohabbat vaale hain
tum ḳhanjar kyun lahrate ho
is shahr men naghme bahne do
basti mein hamein bhi rahne do
hum palanhar hain phulon ke
hum ḳhushbu ke rakhvale hain
tum kis ka lahu peene aaye
hum pyaar sikhane vaale hain
is shahr mein phir kya dekhoge
jab harf yahan mar jayega
jab tegh pe lai kat jayegi
jab sher safar kar jayega
jab qatl hua sur saazon ka
jab kaal padha avaazon ka
jab shahr khandar ban jayega
phir kis par sang uthaoge
apne chehre ainon mein
jab dekhoge, dar jaoge.