POEM · PERMANENT EDITION

Mirza Ghalib ہم گرچہ بنے سلام کرنے والے Hum garche bane salaam karne wale ●sher 1 of 2

ہم گرچہ بنے سلام کرنے والے

Hum garche bane salaam karne wale

کرتے ہیں درنگ کام کرنے والے

Karte hain darang kaam karne wale

Although we became those who offer greetings,
We, who are workers, often delay.

کہتے ہیں کہیں خدا سے اللہ اللہ

Kehte hain kahin Khuda se Allah Allah

وہ آپ ہیں صبح و شام کرنے والے

Woh aap hain subah-o-shaam karne wale

Somewhere we invoke God with 'Allah Allah',
You are the one who acts morning and evening.

Context

This Urdu quatrain reflects a common theme in Sufi and devotional poetry, contrasting human actions and limitations with the boundless and continuous work of the Divine. It portrays humans engaging in daily greetings, sometimes delaying tasks, and offering prayers, while acknowledging God as the ultimate doer, actively present and working throughout morning and evening. This highlights the omnipotence and ceaseless activity of the creator in contrast to transient human endeavors.