Falak bola zameen boli
Posted on: April 30, 2012
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Earlier today, in another post I had mulled over the decline of films with mythological themes. Extending that concern further, I would also include the theme of Muslim religious and social films, which seem to be on the decline. Once again, in the 90s and later, I cannot really recall any significant film based on Islamic social and religious values.
This here is a wonderful naatiya qawwaali from the 1957 film ‘Khuda Ka Banda’. The film is produced by Chimanlal Trivedi under the banner of Chitra Bharati, Bombay, and is directed by Chaturbhuj Doshi. The main cast of actors includes Chandrashekhar, Tiwari, Krishna Kumari, Ameerbai Karnataki, Ishwar Lal, Maruti, Gope, Roopmala, Ratnamala, Moni Chatterjee, Ram Singh, Jagdish Kanwal, Maya Das, Azeem, Shapur etc. The lyrics for this film are written by Shewan Rizvi, and the music is composed by SN Tripathi. I have very little other information about this film, and request our more knowledgeable friends to please add more information about this film.
This qawwali is a wonderful back and forth exchange of claims and contentions between heavens, one that is assuming the higher status, and the earth, the one that is accepting a more humble status. Both talk about their qualities, their influence, things that they are blessed with, and things they are proud of. The exchange is really very interesting, very informative and very educational. It is such a revelation to listen to these two viewpoints in such great details, and with so much of historical and philosophical threads weaved into this discussion. And just simply the flow and rhythm of this presentation is so pleasing and soothing.
The scenario is a congregation at a religious place. There is a brief prelude that is presented by the main personality who sits in the center of the stage. He emphasizes the simple and humble values of Islam, and then introduces this discussion between the heavens and earth. There are two persons on the stage with him, sitting on either side. Then these two take over and the qawwaali starts. One by one, each one presents one point from the particular standpoint. The person sitting to the right is presenting the viewpoint of heavens, and the person sitting on the left is presenting the viewpoint of earth. The singing voice is that of Rafi Saab, and he sings for both the sides.
There is a large gathering of believers who are listening to this exchange. One person is clearly recognizable as Tiwari, sitting up front next to the stage. I am not able to identify the three persons who are sitting on the stage, and would again request other knowledgeable readers to please help identify them if possible.
I had this qawaali on my list of songs to write about, for some time now. And then, a couple of days ago I got a message from Raja ji, requesting me to write about this qawwaali. His message prompted me to take upon this write up and complete it for posting right away.
In the write up, there is one line where I have not been able to decipher one word, and it is marked with (??). I would request other friends with better knowledge of Urdu to please help decipher the word, and help me to complete the meaning of that line.
Enjoy, this wonderful exchange, and hear what the heavens and earth have to say.
falak bolaa
khuda ke noor ka mein aashiaana hoon
The heavens spoke –
Know that
I am the abode of the shining light of Allaah
noor = light, glow, brightness
aashiaana = nest, abode, residence
zameen boli
unhin jalwon ka mein bhi aastaanaah hoon
The earth replied –
Know that
I too am the threshold of the very same splendor
jalwon = plural variant of jalwaah
jalwaah = splendor, manifestation
aastaanaah= threshold, doorway, entrance; also abode of the beloved
falak bolaa
khuda ka husn hai meri fazaaon mein
The heavens spoke –
Know that
My ambience is replete with the beauty and elegance of God
husn = beauty, elegance
fazaaon = plural of fazaa
fazaa = environment, atmosphere
zameen boli
khuda maujood hai meri hawaaon mein
The earth replied –
Know that
That God is resident in the winds that blow over me
maujood = present, resident, available
falak bolaa
ghataaon ne meri tujhko ghataaya hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
That (the downpour from) my clouds continuously erodes your being
ghataaon = plural variant of ghataa, dark, rain bearing clouds
ghataaya = variant of ghataa in a different contextual meaning
ghataa (or ghataana) also means to minus, to reduce, to erode
zameen boli
mere Rabb ne mujhe jhuknaa sikhaaya hai
The earth replied –
Know that
It is my Allaah who has taught me to be humble
And to bow down in deference
rabb = God, Allaah
NOTE: the heavens is trying to establish a superiority and power over the earth, saying that it has reduced the earth and made it smaller; the earth replies that it reduced form or humility is something it has learnt from Allaah, and not because of the downpours from heavens
falak bolaa
mere suraj ki kirnen tujh pe padti hain
The heavens spoke –
Know that
That rays of light from my sun, illumine your being
zameen boli
meri aahen tera daaman pakadti hain
The earth replied –
Know that
It is my anguish and my distress
That reaches out to you draws you down
aah =sign of despair, sadness
daaman = the flowing part of garment
pakadti = variant of pakadnaa; to hold on
NOTE: holding on to the flowing part of someone’s garment is indicative of friendship, love, establishing a relationship; it is also indicative of requesting for support
falak bolaa
sitaaron se chamaktaa hai mera daaman
The heavens spoke –
Know that
That my extant shines with the light from the stars
NOTE: once again the word ‘daaman’ has been used in this line; here the context is the entire extent of the sky; as far as eyes can see, the flowing garments of heavens, i.e. the sky, can be seen
zameen boli
ke phoolon se mehaktaa hai mera gulshan
The earth replied –
Know that
That my gardens are abloom with fragrance of the flowers
gulshan = garden
mehaktaa = fragrant; pleasant smelling
falak bolaa
tere phoolon ke upar meri shabnam hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
Know that, it is my dewdrops that nourish your flowers
shabnam = dew; the word is formed from two words – ‘shab’ meaning night and ‘nam’ meaning moist, or moisture; shabnam is the moisture or the precipitation of the night, which is the dew we see in early morning
zameen boli
khuda ke darr se meri aankh pur-nam hai
The earth replied –
Know that
Well, my eyes are moist with the admiration and respect for His eminence
pur-nam = laden with moisture
NOTE: again, the heavens is trying to establish its superiority by saying that the dew descends from it; and the earth replies that it is not the moisture descended from heavens, but is the precipitation of its own eyes, due to reverence for Allaah
falak bolaa
ke kitna husn meri kahkashaan mein hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
My milky way is a thing of matchless magnificence
kahkashaan = group of stars, the Milky Way
zameen boli
ke kitna dard meri dastaan mein hai
The earth replied –
Know that
Yes, but my chronicles abound with tender sensitivity
dard = means pain; but in context it means compassion, sensitivity
dastaan = saga, chronicle, story
falak bolaa
ke mujh pe shamma roshan chaandni ki hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
I am lighted with the brilliance of moon
shamma = source of light
roshan = aglow, illuminated
zameen boli
ke mujh ko roshni imaan ne di hai
The earth replied –
Know that
I too am aglow, but with the radiance of certitude of faith
roshni = light
imaan = faith, trust, integrity
falak bolaa
tera seenaa gunehgaaron ki basti hai
The heavens spoke –
Ah, but your landscape is the home for sinners
seenaa = literal meaning is chest; in context, it is the land surface on which humans live
gunehgaar = sinner
basti = village, township, home
zameen boli
gunaahon par mere rehmat barastee hai
The earth replied –
And yet, Allaah’s graceful mercy rains on my sins and sinners
rehmat = kindness, mercy
barastee = variant of barasnaa – to rain, to pour
falak bolaa
farishton ko mere sajde ki aadat hai
The heavens spoke –
That the angels know (the value of) bowing down with respect (to Him)
farishtaa = angel in heaven
sajda = to prostrate, to bow down in reverence
aadat = habit, custom
zameen boli
meri masjid mein mehraab-e-ibaadat hai
The earth replied –
The abode of worship (on me) is a place of submission (unto Him)
masjid = mosque; Islamic place of worship
mehraab = arch, entrance, chamber
ibaadat = worship, obedience with submission
falak bolaa
meri aagosh mein gulzaar-e-jannat hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
That the gardens of heaven are in my embrace
aagosh = embrace
gulzaar = garden
zameen boli
Muhammad mustafaa ki mujh pe ummat hai
The earth replied –
Know that
I am populated with the generations of Muhammad (PBUH), the chosen One
mustafaa = the chosen One
ummat = followers, subsequent generations
falak bolaa
mere kausar pe ik masti ka aalam hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
The rivers of paradise have a joyous magical appeal to them
kausar = name of river in heavens
masti = carefree enjoyment
aalam = condition, state, surroundings
zameen boli
mere seene ke upar aab-e-zamzam hai
The earth replied –
Yes, but on my being exist the holy waters of Mecaa
aa = water, liquid
zamzam = refers to the holy well of Zamzam
aab-e-zamzam = water from the holy well of Zamzam
NOTE: The Well of Zamzam is located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, just 20 m east of the Ka’abah (see below). According to Islamic belief, it is a miraculously-generated source of water given by Allaah, thousands of years ago when Abraham’s infant son Ishmael was thirsty and kept crying for water. Millions of pilgrims visit the well each year while performing the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to drink its water. In the Islamic tradition, it is believed that the Zamzam well is a contemporary miracle, never having gone dry despite the millions of liters of water from it being consumed every year.
falak bolaa
ke mera noor se mamoor seenaa hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
My being abounds with radiance
mamoor = inhabited, occupied
zameen boli
mere seene ke upar toor azeema hai
The earth replied –
Ah yes, but on me rests the most honorable Mound of Sinai
toor = Arabic name for Mount Sinai
azeem = great, honorable
NOTE: Mount Sinai is the place where God appeared and made himself visible to Moses, and handed him the tablets of Ten Commandments.
falak bolaa
ke mujh par maskan-e-ma’bood-e-aqeedat hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
I am the abode of the Ones who are worshippers of faith
maskan = abode, residence
ma’bood = worship, adoration
aqeedat = faith, belief
zameen boli
ki meri gode mein bayt al muqaddas hai
The earth replied –
Know that
The holy city of Jerusalem sits in my lap
gode = lap
muqaddas = holy, sacred
bayt al mudaddas (also baitul muqaddas) = Arabic name for the holy city of Jerusalem
falak bola
tere upar meri azmat ka gumbad hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
The dome of my grandeur covers you from above
azmat = grandeur, glory
zameen boli
mere Ka’abeh ke andar sang-e-aswad hai
The earth replied –
Well yes, and in the Holy Ka’abah that sits on me
There resides the holiest black stone
Ka’abah = the holiest place of worship in Islamic tradition; it is in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia; the mosque Masjid-al-Haram is built around it
sang = stone
aswad = black
sang-e-aswad = black stone; also called hajr-e-aswad
NOTE: According to Quranic narrations, hajr-e-aswad was originally brought to earth from Jannat (Heavens) by Archangel Gabriel (Jibraaeel) as directed by Allaah, and placed it in the desert. And then Ibrahim built the Holy Ka’abah upon it. When the stone was brought to earth, it was whiter than milk. Thereafter, it turned black for the sins of man. This also underlines the significance of Hajj, the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajr-e-aswad, the black stone, has the power to cleanse man from his sins.
falak bolaa
farishton ne meri mehfil sajaai hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
That my court is resplendent with the presence of holy angels
zameen boli
rasoolon ki sawaari mujh pe aayee hai
The earth replied –
Ah yes, but you know
That the messengers of Allaah
Have traveled to me, and stayed with me
Rasool = messenger, Prophet
sawaari = vehicle for travel
falak bolaa
ke mein ne loh kurdi(??) o kalam paaye
The heavens spoke –
Know that
I received the Holy Word, the (??) and the Holy Doctrine
loh = the Holy Word
kalaam = (or kalam) the Holy Doctrine of Islam
zameen boli
ke mein ne bhi Muhammad ke qadam paaye
The earth replied –
Yes, but know that
I have been blessed that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Placed his feet upon me and walked here
qadam = feet
falak bolaa
ke mera arsh jalwon ka safeenaa hai
The heavens spoke –
Know that
My sky is a flotilla of splendid glories
arsh = sky, firmament
safeenaa = ship, or a flotilla of ships
zameen boli
ke meri khaaq pe shehar-e-Madina hai
The earth replied –
Yes, but know that
The holy city of Medina is built on my sands
NOTE: Medina, the “City of the Prophet” is the second holiest city of Islam. It is in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. It was to Medina city that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) fled when he was initially driven out of Mecca, and the place where he attracted his first followers. Its importance as a religious site derives from the presence of the Masjid al Nabawi, the Mosque of the Prophet, which is built on the site of Prophet Muhammad’s home and it is where he is buried. The first mosque of Islam is also located in Medina and is known as Masjid al-Quba, the Quba Mosque.
ya nabi salaam-alaikaa
O Prophet of Allaah, peace be upon you
ya rasool salaam-alaikaa
O Messenger of Allaah, peace be upon you
salwa-tula-alaikaa
May comfort and strength be upon you
ya nabi salaam-alaiqaa
O Prophet of Allaah, peace be upon you
salaam = peace, security, safety
alaikaa = (. . .) be upon you
salwa = comfort, solace
tulla = strength
nabi = saint
rasool = messenger
Video
Audio
Song-Falak bola zameen boli (Khuda Ka Banda)(1957) Singer-Rafi, Lyrics-Shewan Rizvi, MD-S N Tripathi
Lyrics
falak bolaa
khuda ke noor ka main aashiaana hoon
zameen boli
unhin jalwon ka main bhi aastaanaah hoon
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
khuda ke noor ka main aashiaana hoon
zameen boli
zameen boli
unhin jalwon ka main bhi aastaana hoon
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
khuda ka husn hai meri fazaaon mein
zameen boli
khuda maujood hai meri hawaaon mein
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
ghataaon ne meri tujhko ghataaya hai
zameen boli
mere rabb ne mujhe jhuknaa sikhaaya hai
zameen boli
mere rabb ne mujhe jhuknaa sikhaaya hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
mere suraj ki kirnen tujh pe padti hain
zameen boli
zameen boli
meri aahen tera daaman pakadti hain
falak bolaa
aaaaa
falak bolaa
sitaaron se chamaktaa hai mera daaman
zameen boli
ke phoolon se mehaktaa hai mera gulshan
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
tere phoolon ke upar meri shabnam hai
zameen boli
zameen boli
khuda ke darr se meri aankh pur-nam hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
ke kitna husn meri kahkashaan mein hai
zameen boli
ke kitna dard meri dastaan mein hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
ke mujh pe shamma roshan chaand ne ki hai
zameen boli
ke mujh ko roshni imaan ne di hai
zameen boli
ke mujh ko roshni imaan ne di hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
tera seenaa gunehgaaron ki basti hai
zameen boli
zameen boli
gunaahon par mere rehmat-parasti hai
falak bolaa
aaaaaa
falak bolaa
farishton ko mere sajde ki aadat hai
zameen boli
meri masjid mein mehraab-e-ibaadat hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
meri aagosh mein gulzaar-e-jannat hai
zameen boli
zameen boli
Muhammad mustafaa ki mujh pe ummat hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
mere kausar pe ik masti ka aalam hai
zameen boli
mere seene ke upar aab-e-zam zam hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
ke mera noor se mamoor seenaa hai
zameen boli
mere seene ke upar toor-e-zeena hai
zameen boli
mere seene ke upar toor-e-zeena hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
ke mujh par maskan-e-maabood-e-aqdat hai
zameen boli
zameen boli
ki meri gode mein betul muqaddas hai
falak bolaa
aaaaaaa
falak bola
tere upar meri azmat ka gumbad hai
zameen boli
mere Kaabe ke andar sang-e-aswad hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
farishton ne meri mehfil sajaai hai
zameen boli
zameen boli
rasoolon ki sawaari mujh pe aayee hai
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
ke main ne lauh kurdi o kalam paaye
zameen boli
ke main ne bhi Muhammad ke qadam paaye
falak bolaa
falak bolaa
ke mera arsh jalwon ka safeenaa hai
falak bolaa
ke mera arsh jalwon ka safeenaa hai
zameen boli
ke meri khaaq pe shehar-e-Madina hai
zameen boli
ke meri khaaq pe shehar-e-Madina hai
ke meri khaaq pe shehar-e-Madina hai
ya nabi salaam-alaiqaa
ya rasool salaam-alaiqaa
salwa-tulla-alaiqaa
ya nabi salaam-alaiqaa
12 Responses to "Falak bola zameen boli"
April 30, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Sudhirji
“Maine aapki Taarif karnaa chhod diyaa,
Itna jaankaari shabdon ke baare mein….hhuhh
Agle janam mein “main SUDHIR KAPUR bannana chahthaa hoon”
Lot`s of regards
Prakash
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April 30, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Words fail me…what an absolutely amazing and very clear explanation of an absolutely amazing song.
I knew Sudhirji would do justice to this – and he’s done even more than I would have expected. This is just outstanding, Sudhirji – I can’t say more than this.
I heard this song a few months ago for the first time. I liked it even then -without understanding parts of it. Then, I began listening to it more and more – and slowly I began understanding more and more of it. It’s not just beautiful Urdu (which it has, no doubt) – it is much deeper than that.
As I began listening to it, I began gettting more and more involved in it. The last couple of weeks, I’ve been listening to it every single day – it is just SO beautiful to listen to.
It always amazed me why it was not such a well-known song (well, not to me at least). For a moment, I flirted with the idea of writing it up. But only for a moment!
I realised, in less than a second, that I had no “aukaat” to discuss this song. It is one thing to love a song, it is another to be able to discuss it with others.
That was when i approached Sudhirji. With his vast knowledge on this subject – and his fantastic ability to explain and translate, and importantly appreciate its nuances – who better than Sudhirji to write up this song?
Am SO happy to see this here. It will continue to be one of my favourite songs. And now I can follow it here – with explanation!!!
Thank you SO much, Sudhirji.
P.S: Learnt some Urdu words also in the process (I love learning Urdu this way ;-)). I had no idea what words like “ummat”, “mamoor”, “kauser”, “salwa”, “tulla”, “mabood”, “aqdat” and many other words here mean.
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April 30, 2012 at 6:46 pm
It is an awesome write up.It is like a research paper and one can earn PhD after writing a dissertation like this. This writeup is simply mindbogglingly brilliant.
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April 30, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Atul ji is right, this is a research paper and dissertation. For whatever two penny worth is my research from sources i have been able to find is this.
There is one sh’air by Iqbal :
ki mohammed se wafaa tu ne to ham tere hain
yeh jahaan kya cheez hai lauh-wo-qalam tere hain
‘falak bolaa
ke main ne ‘ lauh kursi o qalam ‘ paaye’
lauh – refer to “lauh-e-mehfooz” (where the destinies of all creation of all times are kept in record and safe-keeping)
qalam – is the pen. It is not kalaam.
Kursi – is “Arsh -e–ilaahi ” & also an important aayat is “The Quran”
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April 30, 2012 at 11:28 pm
This is the first time i have heard this qawwali. I was trying to remember why i felt i had heard about this exchange between falak and zameen. Now it remember that once we were talking something about Iqbal’s ‘Shikwa’ and ‘Jawaab-e-shikwa’, than my husband referred to this qawwali. I did not know anything about this, but my husband has heard it before.
This is sure to have drawn inspiration from “Shikwa” and ‘Jawaab-e-shikwa”.
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April 30, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Wonderful exposition by Sri Sudhir Kapurji. Falak means ‘sky’ and by implication sky means heaven as well. The dialogue is between ‘zameen’ and ‘Asmaan’, and one could use the word ‘sky’ in place of ‘heaven’. Of course this is all a matter of interpretation and the essence of the meaning of the poem has been brought out in an excellent matter, about which there is no doubt.
-Pratap
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April 30, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Sudhir ji,
Prakash ji ne to apni abhilasha bata di. He wants to be the gr8 SUDHIR KAPOOR in next birth. I believe in philosopy and it says – kal ka kaam aaj karo. (I act up on this philosophy only to send Atulji the lyrics 😆 ) My wish is to be SK in this birth. Agle janam mein manushya banungi ki nahin woh hi pata nahin hai. So, why to delay. “subh kaam mein deri kaisi?” Ab jab aap Los Angeles aao, to one way ticket leke hi aana.
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May 2, 2012 at 7:49 am
Sudhir, you have refreshed some very old memories when as a very young kid I used to hear this song (found on a mixed Rafi songs cassette which my elder brother had purchased) while playing.
At that time, I was too young to understand anything but the refrain Zameen Boli Falak Bola. Even the word Falak was unknown to me then and had to find out Falak’s meaning from an elder.
Now after so many years, getting to hear this song again (properly this time), have understood its meanings thanks to your sublime translation and am able appreciated its grandeur.
S. N. Tripathi was certainly an under-rated music director, bogged down in the mire of mythologicals, one after another, unable to realise his true potential or reach the heights he deserved.
Mohammad Rafi, as always, is scintillating, livening up this song (don’t know if it qualifies as a proper qawwali, as it seems rather unconventional).
The full justice you have done to the huge task of translating, yet conveying the deep meaning & full essence of this song effectively, is worthy of all praise.
Without sounding rude or disrespectful, may I suggest a few corrections:
‘toor azeema hai’
should read ‘toor-e-sina hai’
Toor = mount; Sina = Sinai; Toor-e-Sina = Mount Sinai
‘maskan-e-ma’bood-e-aqeedat hai’
should read ‘maskan-e-ma’bood-e-aqdas hai’
maskan= place, abode
ma’bood = One who is worshipped, God
aqdas = the Holiest (superlative of muqaddas)
the whole line would mean – Upon me lies the abode of the Holiest God.
The missing words, as nahm has stated, are:
‘lauh kursi o qalam’
lauh = tablet (in Heaven whereupon God’s word is inscribed); kursi = divine seat; qalam = pen
In the line ‘ke mera arsh jalwon ka safeenaa hai’
‘arsh’ here means throne or roof.
In the penultimate line,
salawaatullah alaika
salawaatullah = salawaat of Allah
salawaat means graces, honours, blessings, mercy (it is plural of salat)
alaika = upon you
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May 2, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Well I too have learned so much from this. Sudhirji ought to offer his services to those DVD companies who can’t subtitle songs 🙂 but it’s probably better for him to spend his time here! What lovely lyrics, and I’m going to be humming “Falak bolaa” all day, and will never forget what it means!
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May 3, 2012 at 5:45 am
Sudheer sahab .Take a bow !! what an amazing explaination you have given to this Song Lyrics .
Its really needs “more than superficial” knowledge of Islamic philosophy and tradition to undestand this’ Naat” ,although it is not a Naat in true sense as Naat is something that is written only to praise Prophet Muhammad . (peace be upon him ) .
(I think Atif_m sahab has corrected whatever minor errors were there in the lyrics)
This song is really amazing as it covers so much things in few minutes ,it is really lyrically one of the richest song ever written in hindi cine history.
Again this one is a commendable job done by you to translate and explain this song so accurately .Thanks a lot !!
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March 21, 2018 at 8:42 am
Thank you so much for the translation .
With so much eloquence .
Eternally grateful , and need your permission to share .
Blessings 💝🌹💝🙏
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
April 30, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Sudhir,
OMG! I had completely forgotten about the existence of this song.
I listened to this song from the audio clipping before going through your write up, I had just a feeling of ‘OK song’ to hear once, But when I went through your translation, verse by verse, my feeling changed from OK song to an outstanding song. I think, such song can be well appreciated by one and all who understand the deep meanings of the verses – deep meaning with reference to context. For example, I would have understood the meaning of ‘daaman’ differently had you not explained in the context.
Excellent write up.
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