History for Sleep — Roman Urdu Hub

Tasawwur kijiye... aap aadhi raat ke waqt Arab ke aik be-ant aur la-mehdood sehra ke darmiyan bilkul akele kharay hain... Sar ke upar aasmaan mein karoron chamaktay hue sitaray hain... aur thandi, narm hawa reet ke unchay teelon par aik madham sargoshi karti hui guzar rahi hai... Saal 630 AD ke qadeem mashriqi records is sannatay ke baaray mein aik aysi hairat-angez haqeeqat bayan karte hain jis par aam insaan ki aqal dang reh jaati hai... ke is se pehle ke zameen par insaan ka pehla qadam parrta... aur is se pehle ke mitti se pehla shehar taameer kiya jata... is zameen par aik aur azeem tehzeeb chalti phirti thi... Yeh koi janwar ya dinosaur nahi thay... balkay aqal, shaoor aur iraday ki taqat rakhne wali aik aysi makhlooq thi jise mitti se nahi... balkay be-dhuaan aag ki khalis aur shafaf shua'on se wujood bakhsha gaya tha... Aaj se pachaas hazar saal pehle... hamari yeh zameen aik bilkul mukhtalif jahan thi... Yahan insano ki banayi hui koi sarak, koi deewar aur koi dhuen ki aaloodgi mojood nahi thi... Azeem pahaari silsilay aasmaan ko chhoote thay... shafaf daryaaon ka pani aaynay ki tarah thehra hua tha... aur la-mehdood jungle arbon meel tak phailay hue thay... Qadeem tareekhi asnaad ke mutabiq, yeh wo zamaana tha jab zameen par aag ke in wujoodon ka daur-daura tha... Wo is zameen ke har mausam, har pahaar aur har samandar ke kinaray se waqif thay... Aur unka wujood is qudrati jahan ke sath aik aysi gehri ham-aahangi mein dhal chuka tha jis ka tasawwur aaj ka jadid insaan mushkil se hi kar sakta hai... Inka jism hamari tarah bhari gosht aur haddiyon se nahi bana tha... Qadeem ulema aur danishwar batate hain ke unki takhleeq "Marij min Nar" se hui thi... yani wo aag jo lakri ya koylay ke jalne se dhuen ki shakal mein nahi uthti... balkay kainaat ki wo buniyaadi, shafaf aur dehakti hui heat energy aur cosmic plasma thi jo roshni aur garmi ka khalis tareen roop hai... Is lateef jism ki wajah se un par zameen ki kashish-e-saqal (gravity) ka wo asar nahi hota tha jo insaan par hota hai... Wo hawa ki lehron par be-aawaz tair saktay thay... pahaaron ki sab se unchi chotiyon par lamhon mein pohnch saktay thay... aur samandar ki gehraiyon se guzar kar zameen ke kisi bhi konay mein safar kar saktay thay... Inki zaban hamari tarah honton aur zaban ki mohtaj nahi thi... Wo aawaz ke lafzon mein nahi, balkay frequencies aur zehni lehron (telepathic resonance) ke zariye aapas mein baat karte thay... Unki aankhein sirf roshni ke un saat rangon ko nahi dekhti theen jo insaan dekhta hai... balkay wo zameen ke magnetic fields, hawa mein tairti hui khufiya shua'on aur sitaron se aane wali gravitational lehron ko apni aankhon se dekh saktay thay... Raat ke sannatay mein jab poori zameen andhere mein doob jaati... to unke liye yeh andhera nahi hota tha, balkay kainaat ki khalis tawanai ka aik roshan jahan ban jaata tha... Inki zindagi insano ki tarah saatth ya sattar saal par khatam nahi hoti thi... Qadeem records ke mutabiq, inki umrein kai sadiyon par mushtamil theen... Aik aam fard aath sau se do hazar saal tak zinda rehta tha... Unhon ne apni aankhon se pahaaron ko bante aur daryaaon ka rukh badaltay dekha... Unhon ne zameen ke qadeem barf-posh zamano (Ice Ages) ko aate aur pighaltay dekha... Itni lambi zindagi ne unke andar sadiyon ka tajurba aur aik ajeeb thehraav paida kar diya tha... jahan waqt minute ya ghanton mein nahi, balkay sitaron ki gardish aur mosamon ke badalne se naapa jata tha... Unka rehne ka andaz insano se bilkul mukhtalif tha... Wo zameen ka seena cheer kar pathar aur cement ke shehar nahi banatay thay jo qudrat ko zakhmi karein... Unki aabaadiyaan qudrati pahaaron ke ghaaron, daryaon ke kinaray phailay hue khamosh darrhon, aur sehraon ke un maqaamat par theen jahan hawa ka rukh thehra hua hota tha... Wo qudrat ke sath mil kar rehte thay, qudrat ko fatah karne ki koshish nahi karte thay... Unke qabaail thay, unke buzurg thay jo faisle karte thay, aur aik aysa silsila tha jismein har fard kainaat ke buniyaadi qawaneen aur God ki kibriyaai ka paband tha... Magar kainaat ka qanoon yeh hai ke jahan ikhtiyar hota hai, wahan aazmaish bhi hoti hai... Sadiyon ke guzarne ke sath, unke baaz qabaail ke dilon mein taqat aur ikhtiyar ka gharoor dakhil ho gaya... Unhon ne zameen ke wasee khazon par qabza karne ke liye aapas mein larrna shuru kiya... Dastanain batati hain ke sadiyon tak unke darmiyan khofnak jarrhapein huin jinhon ne zameen ke aman ko hila kar rakh diya... Yeh wo waqt tha jab unke darmiyan do wazeh giroh ban gaye: aik wo jinhon ne fasaad aur taqat ka rasta chuna... aur doosra wo shareef aur ba-waqar silsila jis ne hamesha ke liye hathiyar daal diye aur God ke samne aajzi aur aman ka rasta ikhtiyar kiya... Qadeem dunya ke safehon par aik intehayi tareek aur hairat-angez baab wo bhi hai jab sar-kash aur bhatkay hue jinnat ne insani dunya ke lalach aur takabbur ka faida uthaya... Qadeem Babylon ke sunahri mehalat se lekar sehra ke tareek teelon tak... corrupt jadugaron aur kaahino ne in sar-kash roohon ko pukara aur unke sath napaak mu'ahidat kiye jise dunya "Shaitani Amal" aur "Sihr" kehti hai... Yeh sar-kash jinn—jinhein Marid aur Ifrit kaha gaya—aasmaani sargoshiyon ko chori karne ki koshish karte aur phir usme sau jhooth mila kar jadugaron ke kaano mein phoonktay thay taakay insano ko gumrah kar sakein... Magar qadeem danishwar aur muqaddas asnaad hamesha yeh sach bayan karti theen ke jadugar kabhi aag ka maalik nahi banta, balkay wo khud un sar-kash shaitani taqaton ka qaidi ban kar tabah ho jata hai... Yeh aik aysa napaak soda tha jismein insaan apni rooh gawa baithta tha... Jabke aag ke asal shareef, momin aur ba-waqar qabaail in tamam shaitani amliyat se mukammal be-zaar rahay... Unhon ne insani fasaad se door pahaaron ke ghaaron aur sehraon ke sannatay mein God ki ibadat ko apna asaas banaye rakha aur insano ki gumrahi se hamesha ke liye kinarakashi ikhtiyar ki... Phir wo tareekhi lamha aaya jab is planet par aik nayi makhlooq... mitti aur rooh se bani insaaniyat... ko bheja gaya... Jab insaan zameen par phela, to aag ke in pur-sukoon baashindon ne aik azeem tareekhi faisla kiya... Unhon ne insaan ke sath zameen ke wasail par larrne ke bajaye... aahista se peeche hatnay ka rasta chuna... Unhon ne insani bastiyon, khetiyon aur sheharon ko insano ke liye chhorr diya... aur khud zameen ke un hisson mein panah li jahan insaan ka qadam nahi pohnch sakta tha: be-aabaad jazeeron ke kinaray, buland barf-posh pahaari chotiyan, aur sehraon ke wo tareek konay jahan sirf hawa ka raaj hota hai... Tab se le kar aaj tak... wo hamare bilkul qareeb aik mutawaazi (parallel) dunya mein rehte hain... Hum unhein dekh nahi saktay kyunke unke wujood ki frequency hamari aankhon ki range se baahir hai... bilkul aysay jaisay radio ki bohot si lehrein hamare ird-gird faza mein mojood hoti hain magar hum unhein tab tak sun nahi saktay jab tak radio ka tuner sahi frequency par na set ho... Wo hamari dunya ko dekhte hain, insani tareekh ke azeem inqilabat ko dekhte hain, magar wo insani mamlaat mein mudakhlat nahi karte... Wo aik khamosh parde ke peeche apni zindagiyan basar karte hain... Inki ghiza aur khorak ka nizam bhi be-hadd hairan-kun hai... Wo gosht, roti ya thos cheezein nahi khatay... Qadeem 630 AD ke manuscripts batate hain ke unka wujood qudrati khushbooyon, hawa mein mojood khalis ma'daniyat, aur un cheezon ke baatin se tawanai haasil karta hai jin par God ka naam liya gaya ho... Unki asal taqat shukr-guzari, khamoshi aur qudrat ke gehre thehraav se aati hai... Yahi wajah hai ke wo aysi jagahon par rehte hain jahan insani aaloodgi aur shor na ho... Saal 630 AD mein, Arab ke tareekhi sehra mein aik azeem morr aaya jab qadeem manuscripts ne unke aik azeem ijtimah ko darj kiya... Sehra ki aik khamosh wadi mein unke sardaaron ne aasmaani hidayat aur kainaati insaaf ke qawaneen ko suna... Unke dilon par aik gehra roohani thehraav chha gaya... Unhon ne qadeem zamaane ke tamam ikhtilafat ko hamesha ke liye dafan kar diya... aur God ke samne yeh ahad kiya ke wo qayamat tak aman, thehraav aur roohaniat ke sath zameen ke parda-daar konon mein zindagi basar karenge... Inke liye raat ka waqt sab se muqaddas aur azeem waqt hota hai... Jab insani dunya so jaati hai, sheharon ki battiyan bujh jaati hain aur dunya ka tamam shor khamosh ho jata hai... to wo buland pahaaron ki chotiyon aur sehra ke thanday teelon par jama hotay hain... Wo aasmaan ke sitaron ki taraf dekhte hain, kainaat ki be-panah wus'at par ghaur karte hain, aur mukammal aman ke sath God ki hamd-o-sana karte hain... Unki ibadat mein koi shor nahi hota, sirf aik thehri hui, pur-sakoon roohani lehr hoti hai jo faza mein ghul jaati hai... Inki dastaan humein yeh sikhata hai ke insaan is azeem kainaat ka akela maalik nahi hai... Hum se pehle bhi yahan aik tehzeeb aabaad thi, aur aaj bhi hamare bilkul qareeb aysi dunyaein hain jinhein hamari aankhein dekh nahi sakeen... Zameen ka seena bohat wasee hai aur God ki qudrat la-mehdood hai... Jab aap raat ke waqt aasmaan ke sitaron ko dekhte hain, to yaad rakhein ke is sannatay ke peeche aik azeem, pur-sukoon aur mehfooz jahan zinda hai... Ab apni saari thakan ko raat ke is thehraav mein pighal jane dein... aur aik gehri... mehfooz... aur be-parwah neend ki aaghosh mein sama jayein...

Tasawwur kijiye... aap subah ke waqt aik aysi azeem pathar ki deewar par kharay hain jis ne aik hazaar saal se aapki tehzeeb ki hifazat ki hai... aur achanak dhund ke andar se aik aysa manzar ubharta hai jis par aqal yaqeen karne se inkaar kar deti hai... Bais April, chaudah sau tirpan ki subah hai... Golden Horn ke upar hawa thandi aur bilkul saakit hai... Samandari parinday sleti paani ke upar aahista aahista chakkar kaat rahe hain... Aur Constantinople ki shamaali faseel par kharay woh pehray-daar, jinhon ne apni saari zindagi yehi pehra diya hai... apni aankhein malte hain... aur unka yaqeen toot jaata hai... Pera ke buland aur sarsabz pahaar ki choti par... mukammal tor par tayyar jangi jahaz... khushki par... pahaar ki choti se ubhar rahe hain... Bailon ki tolion aur saikron mazdooron ki taaqat se, tel mein bhigi hui bhaari lakri ki belon par phisaltay hue... bahattar Usmani jangi jahaz pahaar ki dhalwaan se neeche utar rahe hain... unke reshmi jangi parcham hawa mein phadphada rahe hain... unke badbaan jaan boojh kar phailaye gaye hain, goya woh abhi bhi khule samandar mein hon... aur woh narmi se bandargah ke pursukoon, mehfooz paani mein utartay chale ja rahe hain... Bandargah ke dahanay par bandhi lohay ki woh bhaari zanjeer nahi tooti... Samandari faseel mein koi shigaaf nahi pada... Aik ikkis saala Sultan ne bas raat ke mukammal andhere mein... aik poora behri bera... pahaar ke upar se guzaar diya hai... Aur is aik hairat-angez lamhay mein... shehar ke muhafizon ko samajh aa jaata hai ke insaani tareekh ka sab se azeem qila ab apne aakhri lamhaat ginn raha hai... Us subah ka bojh mehsoos karne ke liye... pehle aapko in deewaron ko samajhna hoga... Gyarah sadiyon tak, Theodosian deewaron ne mashriqi Roman sultanat ko har us taaqat se bachaya jo kabhi Bosphorus par chadh kar aayi... wehshi qabaail... khilafatein... salibi shehzaday... kaha jaata hai ke khud Attila ne in deewaron ko dekha... aur waapas mud gaya... Yeh dar-asal koi deewar thi hi nahi... yeh aik nizaam tha... tabqon mein banaya gaya aik maidan-e-maut... Sab se pehle, saath foot chaura paani se bhara khandaq... phir teer-andazon ke liye aik neechi bairooni mundher... phir bairooni deewar... aur aakhir mein woh azeem andarooni faseel, chalees foot buland aur sola foot moti, chhiyaanway pathar ke burjon se mazboot ki hui... itni theek faasle par ke koi hamla-aawar kabhi teer ki zad se bahar khara na ho sake... Aik hazaar saal tak, yeh duniya ki aik saadi si haqeeqat thi... Sheher gire... sultanatein khatam huin... khandaan bhula diye gaye... aur Constantinople qaim raha... Aur phir bhi, us aakhri bahaar tak, jo shehar in deewaron ke andar tha... woh ajeeb tor par khokhla ho chuka tha... Constantinople paanch laakh logon ke liye banaya gaya tha... Chaudah sau tirpan tak, shayad sirf pachaas hazaar bache thay... Poore poore mohallay weeran pade thay... Faseelon ke andar khamoshi se baagh aur gandum ke khait ug aaye thay... Weeran mehlon ki buniyadon par angoor ki bailein chadh chuki thein... Aik musafir jo aik darwazay se doosre darwazay tak chalta, woh pehle khule dehaat se guzarta... phir sannatay se... aur us ke baad kahin ja kar aik zinda shehar se... Deewarein choti nahi hui thein... un ke andar ki sultanat sukad gayi thi... Lekin chaudah sau tirpan ki bahaar mein... tareekh ka pallda hamesha ke liye jhuk chuka tha... Darwazon ke bahar khara tha Sultan Mehmed Saani... ikkis saal ka... assi hazaar sipahiyon ke sath... aur us daur ki sab se khofnak technology ke sath jo qurun-e-wusta ki duniya ne kabhi dekhi thi... Woh usay Basilica kehte thay... Aur is ki kahani, ajeeb tor par, khud isi shehar ke andar se shuru hoti hai... Urban naam ka aik Hungarian top-saaz sab se pehle Romiyon ke badshah ke paas aaya tha... yeh paishkash le kar ke woh insaani haathon ki bani sab se bari top dhaal dega... Lekin shahi khazana us waqt takreeban khali ho chuka tha... aur usay adaigi na kar saka... Chunanche Urban unhi darwazon se bahar nikal gaya jinhein us ka hathiyar aik din tor dena tha... aur us ne yehi paishkash naujawan Sultan ko ki... jis ne usay maanga hua chaar guna diya... Jo kansi ka aahan-posh deo tayyar hua, us ki lambai sattaees foot thi... usay sirf apni jagah tak kheench kar le jaane ke liye saath bail aur do sau aadmi darkaar thay... Jab is ka barood bhadakta... to yeh baarah sau paund wazni granite ke patthar phenkta... aur dhamaka itna shadeed hota ke tareekh-nawis likhte hain ke shehar ke andar hamila auratein sirf is ke jhatkon se apne bachche kho baithtein... Magar is ki taaqat ke andar hi is ki kamzori chhupi thi... Nali ko dobara bharne se pehle teen ghantay thanda hona parta tha... Din mein saat goliyaan... is se zayada nahi... Aur yun yeh muhasira aik aahista aur haulnaak lay mein dhal gaya... Bambaari chhe April ko shuru hui... aur tirpan din tak nahi ruki... Har subah, woh azeem topein bolteen... Har shaam, jab naliyaan thandi hotein aur dhuaan paani ke upar bikhar jaata... to shehar ke log shigaafon mein nikal aate... Mard, auratein, bachche, raahib aur raahibaayein... sab mil kar malbay ke drum, baloot ki lakri, mitti, aur oon ki bhaari gaanthein uthaye... aur roshni ke chiraghon tale woh sab dobara tameer karte jo din bhar mein toot chuka tha... Shehar ke andar mushkil se saat hazaar muhafiz thay... Yunani... Venetian... aur Genoa ke teer-andaz... badshah Constantine Gyarvein ki qiyadat mein... aur Italvi sardar Giovanni Giustiniani ke sath, jo saat sau aadmi aur us shohrat ke sath aaya tha ke woh aysi deewarein thaam leta hai jo thaami nahi ja saktein... Saat hazaar aadmi... chaudah meel lambi faseel ki hifazat ke liye... Aur jaise jaise haftay guzarte gaye... shehar ne apna anjaam aasman mein parhna shuru kar diya... Bais May ko chaand girhan ke sath tulua hua... Bosphorus ke upar latakta hua aik surkh siyah qurs... woh nishani jis ke baare mein shehriyon ko bachpan se bataya gaya tha ke yeh shehar ke aakhri dinon ka elaan hogi... Do raat baad, jab shehar ka sab se muqaddas nishan juloos mein uthaya ja raha tha... woh uthane walon ke kandhon se phisal kar keechad mein gir para... aur achanak aik shadeed toofan-e-baad-o-baaraan ne hujoom ko un galion mein bikhair diya jin mein pehle hi ole beh rahe thay... Aur phir, sab se ajeeb baat... deewar ke dono taraf dekhne walon ne bayaan kiya ke Hagia Sophia ke azeem gumbad ke gird aik naram si roshni aa kar theher gayi... wahin rahi... phir aahista aahista buland hui... aur raat ke aasman mein gum ho gayi... Usmani lashkar ne bhi yehi dekha... Athais May ki raat... is qadeem darul-hukoomat par aik ajeeb, muqaddas khamoshi utar aayi... Hagia Sophia ke andar, us wisee taanbay ke gumbad ke neeche jo nau sau saal se yun mehsoos hota tha jaise aasman se sunehri zanjeer ke sahaare latak raha ho... hazaron log aakhri ibadat ke liye jamaa hue... Orthodox aur Catholic ibadat-guzaar, jo sadiyon se aapas mein talkh jhagron mein mubtala rahe thay... aik sath kharay hue aur aik doosre se lipat gaye... das hazaar momi chiraghon ki kehrubai roshni mein aahista aahista rote hue... Constantine aahista aahista ibadat-gah ke darmiyani rastay se guzra... mehraab ke saamne jhuka... aur apni riaya se aik aik kar ke maafi maangi... Phir woh waapas deewaron ki taraf rawana ho gaya... Bahar, Marmara ke samandar se aik ghani safaid dhund chali aayi... jis ne poore Bosphorus ko gehri khamoshi mein lapet liya... Saint Romanus ke darwazay par kharay pehray-daron ne apne neze mazbooti se thaam liye... aur andhere mein intezaar karte assi hazaar aadmiyon ki khamosh saansein sunte rahe... Raat aik bajay, woh khamoshi hazaron kansi ke naqqaron ki garaj tale hamesha ke liye toot gayi... Pehli lehr pasp kar di gayi... aur doosri bhi... Ghanton tak muhafiz shigaaf par datay rahe... Aur phir, subah se pehle ke sleti pehar mein, do chhoti si baatein hua kar guzar gayin... Giustiniani aik goli lag kar deewar se neeche utaara gaya... aur us ke aadmi, apne sardar ko jaate dekh kar, dagmagane lagay... Aur shamaali hissay mein kahin, aik chhota, bhoola hua pichhla darwaza jisay Kerkoporta kaha jaata tha... khula hua mila... Constantine Gyarvein ne apni urghwani shahi chaadar utaar phenki... taake koi shakhs badshah aur sipahi mein farq na kar sake... aur apne aadmiyon ke sath shigaaf mein koodh para... Us ke baad usay kabhi kisi ne nahi dekha... Dopahar tak, naujawan Sultan Charisius ke darwazay se guzar kar us shehar mein dakhil ho chuka tha jo Caesaron ke zamanay se qaim tha... Woh sab se pehle Hagia Sophia gaya... aur tareekh-nawison ke mutabiq, us na-mumkin gumbad ke neeche aik tawil lamhay tak mukammal khamoshi mein khara raha... Qadeem duniya guzar chuki thi... aur aik nayi sultanat ki subah tuluu ho chuki thi... Aur aaj raat, wohi patthar us saahil par abhi bhi kharay hain... Theodosian khandaq mein khamoshi se ghaas ugti hai... Machhere burjon ke saaye mein apne jaal seete hain... Aur Bosphorus waise hi behta hai jaise hamesha behta aaya hai... tareek... sabr-aazma... aur bilkul be-jaldi... Is poori tawil tareekh ka bojh ab narmi se aap par utarne dijiye... Apne kandhon ko bhaari hone dijiye... apni saans ko aahista hone dijiye... aur Marmara ki naram dhund ko ijazat dijiye ke woh aapko khamoshi se le jaye... aik gehri... aur pursukoon... neend mein...

Saal aath sau tees mein... dariya-e-Dajla ke kinaray basay hue aik bilkul gol shehar ke sang-e-marmar aiwanon mein... chamakti hui pital ki aik shahi taraazu rakhi thi... Taraazu ke aik palday par, aik mulaazim ne haath se likha hua aik makhtoota rakha... yunani ilm-e-handasa ki aik qadeem kitab ka taza tarjuma... Doosre palday par, Khalifa Al-Ma'mun ke braah-e-raast hukm par, pehray-daar khalis sonay ke dinar undelte chale gaye... yahan tak ke dono palday saakit hawa mein bilkul barabar jhool gaye... Aalim ne jo bhi likha... qadeem zamanay ke dhehte huay khandaraat se jo bhi hikmat woh bacha laaya... us ka muawza usay khalis sonay mein diya gaya... gram ke badle gram... paund ke badle paund... Yeh tha Baghdad... Islami Sunehray Daur ke urooj par... Yeh samajhne ke liye ke aysi jagah wujood mein kaise aa sakti hai... aapko athsath saal peeche jana hoga... dariya ke aik khali kinaray tak... aur aik Khalifa tak jis ke haath mein parkaar thi... Saal sat sau basath mein, Al-Mansur ne Dajla ke is mod ko bilkul amali wajuhaat ki bina par chuna... Dariya usay paani deta tha, tijarat deti thi, aur difaa bhi... Yahan ki aab-o-hawa junoob ke daldali ilaqay se zyada khushk thi... Aur phir, tareekh-nawison ke mutabiq, us ne hukm diya ke khali zameen par raakh ki lakeeron se aik mukammal daayera kheencha jaye... aur phir usay aag laga di jaye... taake woh khara ho kar apne mustaqbil ke darul-hukoomat ki shakal ko zameen par jalte hue dekh sake... Aik laakh se zayada mazdoor aaye... maamar, paimaish karne walay, eenth banane walay, barhai, aur saltanat bhar se mazdoor... Unhon ne takreeban do meel ke daayray mein dohri dhoop-pakki deewaron ka hisaar khada kiya... jis mein chaar azeem lohay ke darwazay thay... aik Kufa ki taraf... aik Basra ki taraf... aik Khurasan ki taraf... aur aik Shaam ki taraf... har darwaza aik aysi sarak par khulta tha jo maloom duniya ke aakhri sirey tak jaati thi... Theek darmiyan mein Khalifa ka mehal tha, jis par aik azeem sabz gumbad tha... aur us ke pehlu mein jaame masjid... Baqi har cheez usi aik nuqtay se bahar ki taraf phaili hui thi... Waqt ke sath in deewaron ke andar paanch laakh log basay... falkiyat-daan jo bina kisi sheeshay ke sitaron ka naqsha banate thay... tabeeb jo chandi ki khokhli suiyon se motia ka operation karte thay... aur riyazi-daan jinhon ne us code ki buniyad rakhi jo aaj raat hamari duniya chala raha hai... Aur is poori ilmi saltanat ke ain markaz mein khara tha Bait-ul-Hikmah... Hikmat ka Ghar... Lekin jis ilmi dhamaakay ne Baghdad ko duniya ka markaz banaya... us ki ibtida aik kahin kam romani cheez se hui thi... aik fauji raaz se... jo shehar ke sunehray daur se teen dahaiyan pehle Wasti Asia ke pahaaron mein haath aaya tha... Saal sat sau ikyaawan mein, dariya-e-Talas ki jang ke baad, Arab afwaaj ne kuch Chini dastkaaron ko qaid kar liya... In mein aik qadeem aur sakhti se mehfooz hunar ke maahir shamil thay... kaghaz banane ka hunar... Ab yeh andaza lagana mushkil hai ke yeh kitni bari baat thi... Us waqt Europe mein, aalim vellum par likhte thay... bachhray ki chhili hui khaal par... Aik mukammal Bible ke liye teen sau mawaishi ki khaalein darkaar ho sakti thein... Ilm ki hadd, lafzi maano mein, aik rewar ke size se bandhi hui thi... Baghdad mein, dastkaaron ne apne ustadon se bhi aage qadam badhaya... Unhon ne shehtoot ki chhaal chhor kar sastay phenkay hue chithron aur san ke reshay istemaal kiye... jinhein Dajla ke paani mein bhigo kar kuta jaata tha... Chand dahaiyon mein, nehron ke kinaray kaghaz ki milen qaim ho gayin... aur kitaabein, jo pehle shahi jawahir jitni naayab aur mehngi thein... khamoshi se aam ho gayin... Aur phir kaghaz ne safar shuru kiya... Samarkand se woh Baghdad aaya tha... Baghdad se woh Damishq gaya, aur Qahira... phir maghrib ki taraf poore Shumaali Africa se guzarta hua Fez tak... aur tangg samandar paar kar ke Spain mein, jahan Xativa ki milen chal rahi thein jab Europe ka bara hissa abhi tak bachhray ki khaal chheel raha tha... Us aik qaid kiye gaye hunar ko Wasti Asia ke aik dariya se Germany ke aik chhaapa-khanay tak paidal pohonchne mein takreeban paanch sau saal lagay... Is kahani ka har khayal isi par safar karta raha... Al-Ma'mun ki in kitabon ki bhook riyasati policy ban gayi... Tareekh bayan karti hai aik khwab ka... jis mein Khalifa ki mulaqaat Aristotle se hui, aur us ne poocha ke achhai kya hai... aur woh is iraaday ke sath jaaga ke woh qadeem duniya ka har bacha hua kaam jamaa karega... Us ne Constantinople ki taraf makhtootat maangne ke liye qaasid bheje... Us ne mad-e-muqabil hukmaranon ko khat likhe, jin mein khiraj ki bajaye kutub-khanay maange... Qaflay hazaron meel sehra paar kar ke yunani, farsi, suryani aur sanskrit kitabon ke sandooq laane lagay... Bait-ul-Hikmah ke pursukoon mehraabdaar mutalia-gaahon mein, aalim pital ke jhooltay hue chiraghon ke neeche raat gaye tak kaam karte rahte... Hunayn ibn Ishaq ne Galen aur Hippocrates ka poora tibbi zakheera tarjuma kiya... aur us ne sirf tarjuma nahi kiya... Woh kisi bhi matn ki har woh nuskha talash karta jo usay mil sakta tha, har us shehar mein jahan woh pohonch sakta tha, aur unhein satar ba satar mila kar yeh dobara tameer karta ke asal mein likha kya gaya tha... Yeh matn-shanasi ke qadeem tareen sakht tareeqon mein se aik hai jo hamare paas mahfooz hai... Aik pursukoon guzaar mein, sang-e-marmar ke sehen ke tapaktay fawwaray ke saamne baitha tha Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi... Hindustan se qaflon ke zariye aaye riyazi ke matn parhte hue, us ne aik aysa hisaabi nizaam tarteeb diya jis mein "kuch bhi nahi" ke liye aik alaamat thi... sifar... aur us ne muadalat ko barabar karne aur behaal karne par aik aysa risala likha jis ke arabi unwaan se lafz "algebra" nikla... Us ka apna naam, sadiyon baad latini se guzar kar, lafz "algorithm" ban gaya... Aaj raat duniya mein kahin bhi likhi jane wali code ki har satar abhi bhi us ka naam uthaye hue hai... Shehar mein kahin aur, Banu Musa ke teen bhaiyon ne khud-kaar fawwaray aur hairat-angez mechanical aalaat design kiye... Al-Kindi ne raaz-nawisi par likha, aur bataya ke kisi cipher ko kaise tora jaye yeh gin kar ke har harf kitni martaba aata hai... aur shifa-khaanon mein, tabeeb ghareebon ka bila muawza ilaaj karte aur likhit tibbi yaddashtein rakhte thay... Bahar, azeem tijarati raasttay is sab ko ghiza faraham karte thay... Samarkand se qaflay resham, yashab, aur pahaadi lajward laaday hue pohonchte... Har shaam, jab khushk sehrai hawa thandi hoti... tajir dariya ke kinaray waqay saraaon mein jamaa hote... Bunay hue kilimon par koylay ki angeethiyon ke gird baith kar, woh pudinay ki chai peete aur likhit rasidi parchiyan tabadla karte... jo aaj ke bank ke check ke seedhe aabaa-o-ajdaad hain... Raat ke teesre pehar tak, gol shehar bohat khamosh ho jaata... Darwazay band kar diye jaate... Gharon ke darmiyan nehrein hamwaar aur siyah pari rehtein... Dariya ke kinaray kahin aik paani ka charkh aahista ghoomta rehta... aur ghoomta hi rehta... aur is ke siwa sirf aik hi aawaz hoti... un kamron mein sarkandi qalamon ki musalsal khiraash, jahan chiragh abhi tak bujhaye nahi gaye thay... Aur in sab ke upar, shahi rasad-gaah ke gumbad ke roshan-daan se, falkiyat-daan apne pital ke asturlaab durust karte... aur makhmali aasman par sitaron ke aahista safar ko naapte rehte... Al-Ma'mun ne Sinjar ke hamwaar maidan par aysi teamein bhejein jinhon ne aik aysa kaam kiya jo nauwin sadi ke liye takreeban na-qabil-e-yaqeen tha... Unhon ne zameen ke nisf-un-nahar ka aik darja paidal chal kar naapa... shumaal aur junoob ki taraf... yahan tak ke qutbi sitara aasman mein theek aik darja sarak gaya... Us aik sabr-aazma paimaish se, unhon ne poore sayyaray ka gherao nikal liya... aur woh hairat-angez had tak qareeb pohonch gaye... Chaar sadiyon baad, barah sau athaawan mein, Mongol lashkar aaye... aur Baghdad ke kutub-khanay dariya mein phenk diye gaye... Kaha jaata hai ke Dajla kai din tak siyahi se kaala behta raha... Hamare paas is ki tasdeeq ka koi zariya nahi... lekin yeh manzar kabhi hamara peecha nahi chhorta... Aur phir bhi... jo kuch ahem tha, woh takreeban sab pehle hi bach nikla tha... kaghaz par maghrib ki taraf le jaya gaya... naqal kiya gaya, tarjuma hua, aur phir se naqal hua... yahan tak ke woh dobara Toledo mein ubhra, Palermo mein, Paris mein... aur us duniya ki buniyad ban gaya jis mein aap aaj raat latay hue hain... To ab is shehar ko apne aas paas thehar jane dijiye... tapakta hua fawwara... zanjeer par jhooltay pital ke chiragh ki charchrahat... naye kaghaz par sarkandi qalam ki halki si khiraash... aur andhere mein behta hua wo chaura, sabr-aazma dariya... Apni saans ko aahista hone dijiye... apne khayalat ko khamosh hone dijiye... aur narmi se bah jaiye... aik gehri... aur pursukoon... neend mein...

Baghair kisi magnetic compass ke... baghair kisi kaghzi naqshay ke... aur baghair kisi modern aalay ke... aik aysi tehzeeb ne hazaron meel toofani samandaron par kaise raaj kiya... jahan mahinon tak ghani safaid dhund chhayi rehti thi?... Saal nau sau tees... shamaali Atlantic ke sleti paaniyon ke darmiyan... lakri ka aik Drakkar jahaz ghani barfeeli dhund ke andar phans chuka tha... Hawa bilkul saakit thi... aur charon taraf aik ajeeb, khofnak khamoshi chhayi hui thi... Pichlay chhe dino se... na aasmaan par sooraj nazar aaya tha na koi sitara... Shamaali lehrein pahaar ki tarah uth rahi theen... aur saanth foot lambay jahaz ko barfeeli laharon par jhula rahi theen... Barfeeli phuhaar ne tees mullahon ki ooni chaadron par namak aur barf ki part jama di thi... Har saans ke sath munh se nikalne wala dhuaan hawa mein jum jaata tha... Kisi bhi aam mullah ke liye yeh yaqeeni maut ka manzar tha... jahan aasmaan aur samandar aik be-rang, safaid dhund mein ghul chuke thay... jahan koi simt baaqi nahi bachi thi... Magar jahaz ke pichhlay hissay mein steering oar par khara Viking na-khuda... bilkul pursukoon khara tha... Uske chehre par khof ka koi nishan tak nahi tha... Usne narmi se apne chamray ke theylay ka bandhan khola... jo sanobar ke tail se chikna kiya gaya tha... Aur us ke andar se aik shafaf, chamakdar pathar nikala... Solarsteinn... yani Sunstone... Is rhomboid calcite crystal ko aasmaan ki safaid dhund ki taraf utha kar... jab usne aahista se apni ungliyon mein ghumaya... to do-rukhi shua'on ne roshni ko do hisson mein taqseem kar diya... Crystal ke andar roshni do alag alag kirno mein batt gayi... Aik makhsoos angle par... jab dono kirnein aik jaisi roshan huin... to pathar ke markaz mein aik madham zard halqa chamak utha... jis ne ghani dhund ke peeche chhupe hue sooraj ki theek simt faash kar di... goya dhund mein koi sunehra teer nishan-dahi kar raha ho... Is aik sadiyon purane optical raaz ke zariye... jo seena-ba-seena naslan-ba-naslan chala aa raha tha... shamaal ke jahaz-raanon ne toofani samandaron ko apna ghulam bana liya tha... Norway ke pathreeli fjords se le kar... Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland aur America ke jungle se bhare saahilon tak... Columbus se pooray paanch sau saal pehle... unhon ne is be-rahem samandar ko parh liya tha... Magar unka asal karishma sirf yeh crystal nahi tha... balkay unke lakri ke jahazon ki hairan-kun banawat thi... Drakkar... Shamaali jahaz-saazon ke nazdeek... jahaz koi lakri ka be-jaan dabba nahi tha jo samandar ki taaqat se takraye ya zidd kare... balkay woh paani par machhli ki tarah lachakne wala aik zinda wujood tha... jo toofan ki har lehr ke sath saans leta tha... Saahili janglaat mein... ustaad karigar buland baaloot aur sanobar ke taron ko lohay ki mekhon se ragon ke rukh cheerte thay... aaray se kaatne ke bajaye lakri ke qudrati reshon ko alag kiya jaata tha... taake lakri ke reshay apni poori taaqat ke sath mehfooz rahein... aur takhtiyan itni narm aur patli ban sakein ke unki motai sirf aik inch reh jaye... In overlapping takhtiyon ko lohay ke dast-saaz rivets se jora jaata tha... sanobar ke garm tail mein bhigoye hue bherron ke baalon se darzein band ki jaatein... aur androni pasliyon ko sanobar ki lachak-daar jaron aur chamray ki doriyon se baandha jaata tha... taake un mein harkat karne ki gunjaish baaqi rahe... Jab Atlantic ka azeem toofan aata... to Europe ke bhaari aur sakht jahaz lehron ke shadeed dabao se toot kar bikharnay lagtay... Magar Viking longship lehron ke samne jhuk jaati thi... lachakti thi... Bees foot unchi toofani lehron par iska patla jism samandari saanp ki tarah bal kha kar nikal jaata tha... Sirf teen foot gehre paani mein chalne ki salahiyat ki wajah se... yeh azeem jahaz khule samandar ko bhi uboor karte... daryaaon mein saikron meel andar khamoshi se chale jaate... aur kisi bandargah ya ghaat ke baghair... seedeh pathreeli kinaray par khushki par charh jaate thay... jahan koi unka peecha nahi kar sakta tha... Khule samandar ke safar par... jab aasmaan par aysi shadeed dhund chhati ke Sunstone bhi dekhna dushwar ho jaata... to na-khuda aik aur qadeem rafeeq par bharosa karte thay... kaala kowa... raven... Lambay safaron par jahaz ke aglay hissay mein widdow ke banay kowon ke pinjray bandhe hotay thay... Jab na-khuda ko mehsoos hota ke khushki kahin aas paas ho sakti hai... to woh aik koway ko aazaad karta... Agar kowa ghoom kar waapas jahaz ke rassi-kashon par aa baithta... to sab samajh jaate ke chaaron taraf sirf lamtanaahi paani hai... Magar agar kowa aasmaan ki bulandi mein parwaaz kar ke kisi aik simt seedha nikal jaata... to na-khuda foran patwaar ghumata aur uske peechay chal parta... kyunke parinday ki teez his ne saahil ki mitti, sabz ghaas aur ghoslon ki khushboo sadiyon door se pehchaan li hoti thi... Parindon ki parwaaz... samandari dhaarayein... pani mein behti hui lakri ka rang... aur whale machhliyon ke rukh ko parh kar... in logon ne us zamane ki ma'loom duniya ki aakhri hudood ko daryaft kar liya tha... Magar jab mukhtasar shamaali garmiyan khatam hoteen... to shamaal ka chehra mukammal badal jaata tha... October ke aakhir tak... saahilon par samandar ka paani jamna shuru ho jaata... Baraf ke toofan samandari safar ko na-mumkin bana dete... Behri zindagi bilkul theher jaati thi... aur sardi ka aalam cha jaata tha... Azeem longships ko charbi lagay lakri ke belon par kheench kar saahil par utaar liya jaata... Safaid ooni badbaan aur hemp ki rassiyan samet li jaatein... Aur lakri ko sardi aur nami se bachaane ke liye sanobar ka dehakta hua garm tail poori kashti par mala jaata... Phir un par sanobar ki khushboodar tehniyon ka chhappar daal diya jaata... taake Arctic ki bhaari baraf ka wazan unhein tor na sake... Zindagi ab baahir ke thanday aur be-rahem samandar se nikal kar... azeem Longhouse ki pannah mein chali aati thi... Sanobar ke bhari tanon aur maidanon se kaati gayi mitti aur ghaas ki part se bana yeh lamba ghar... sardi ke andhere mein garmi aur aman ka aik jazeera tha... Iski chatt ulti hui kashti ki tarah murri hui thi... jis par ugne wali jungli ghaas aur kaai pachaas meel fi ghanta ki thandi aur cheerne wali hawaon ko bahar hi roke rakhti theen... Chhotay baloot ke darwazay se andar dakhil hon... to baahir ki jamm dene wali sardi pal bhar mein gayab ho jaati thi... Ghar ke darmiyan mein mitti ke farsh par sang-e-khara ke pattharon ka tees foot lamba aatish-daan tha... Jahan safaid birch ki lakriyan aur khushk peet din raat aik pursukoon, dehakti hui aag ke sath jaltay thay... Khushgawar dhuaan chatt ke dhuen-daan ki taraf uthta... aur neeche ki hawa bilkul saaf, garm aur sanobar ki meethi khushboo se ma'attar rehti thi... Dono deewaron ke sath lakri ke unche takht bichhay thay... jin par bherron ki narm un aur hiranon ki moti khaal dali hui thi... Yahan aik qabeelay ki teen naslein aman aur sakoon ke sath rehti theen... Chiraghon aur aatish-daan ki zard roshni mein... aurtein lakri ke adday par sardi se bachaane wala ooni kapra bunteen... Karigar walrus ke daant aur mazboot lakri par khoobsoorat naqsh-o-nigaar tarashtay... Aur lohay ki deghein aag ke upar zanjeeron se latakteen... jin mein machhli, jao aur jaron ka shorba ubalta rehta tha... jiski khushboo poore hall mein phaili hui thi... Jaise jaise baahir raat gehri hoti... aur darja-e-hararat manfi chalees darjay tak gir jaata... to ghar ki chehel-pehel narmi se madham padne lagti thi... Poora qabeela aatish-daan ke qareeb jama ho jaata... aur fur ki moti chaadrein apne kandhon par kheench leta... Sardar ki unchi kursi ke paas se... aik buzurg shayar (Skald) aagay barhta... Viking tehzeeb mein Skald sirf dastaan-go nahi tha... balkay woh qaum ka zinda hafiza tha... qawaneen, naslon aur tareekh ka azeem muhafiz... Apne ghutnay par chhe-taaron wala maple lyre rakh kar... jab woh taaron ko narmi se chherrta... to meethi aur madham dhun aag ke chatakhnay ke sath faza mein ghul jaati thi... Aik dheemi, mutawazan aur gehre lehjay mein... shayar qadeem tareekh sunata... Iceland ki taraf pehle safar... baraf ke azeem glaciers... aur aaba-o-ajdaad ki shujaat aur sabr ki dastaan... Koi bolta nahi tha... Bachche sunte sunte maaon ki goud mein sar rakh kar so jaate... Toofano se larnay wale ba-himmat mullah aag ke samne apne thakay hue haath aaraam se phaila dete... aur unke chehron par sukoon chha jaata... Upar chatt ke dhuen-daan se... aasmaan par Aurora Borealis ki sabz aur jamni roshniyan... sitaron ke darmiyan lehra rahi theen... goya qudrat aasman par sunehra naqsha bana rahi ho... Ghar ke andar... aatish-daan dehakte hue surkh angaron mein dhal chuka tha... Lyre ki dhun aahista se khamosh ho chuki thi... aur sotay hue khandan ki pursukoon saansein is garm kamray ko sukoon se bhar rahi theen... Baahir... dev-daar ke darakhton par baraf aahista aahista gir rahi hai... Saahil par jahaz mehfooz hai... Aatish-daan garm hai... Is qadeem aatish-daan ki garmi ko ab narmi se apne ird-gird mehsoos kijiye... Bhaari kambalon ke narm wazan ko mehsoos kijiye... aag ki madham aawaz ko apne zehen ko pursukoon karne dijiye... aur aik gehri... aaraam-deh... aur pursukoon neend mein utar jaayiye...

Saadhey chaar hazaar saal se... insaaniyat ne Ahraam-e-Misr ko zard pattharon ke afrasiyaabi meenar tasawwur kiya hai... jo Sahara ke aag barsaate sooraj ke neeche dehak rahe hon... Magar qadeem duniya ke is sab se azeem fann-e-tameer ke raaz ko samajhne ke liye... aapko inhein din ki tez aur thaka dene wali dhoop mein nahi... balkay aadhi raat ke mukammal aur sehrai sannatay mein dekhna hoga... saal pachhees sau qabal-e-maseeh mein... Us door-daraaz daur mein... Giza ka azeem ahraam waisa bilkul nahi dikhta tha jaisa woh aaj raat sadiyon ke thaperron ke baad dikhayi deta hai... Yeh zard, khurdaray aur toote phootay pattharon ka koi dher nahi tha... Apni chataan ki mazboot buniyadon se le kar... hawa mein takreeban paanch sau foot ki bulandi par waqay iski aakhri nok tak... poora ahraam safaid Tura limestone ki ikkis hazaar azeem-us-shaan silon mein lipta hua tha... Jinhein ustaad sang-tarashon ne aaeenay ki tarah shafaf aur chikna tarasha tha... Solah ton wazni har sil ko daryaye Neel ke doosre kinaray se kashtiyon par laya gaya tha... aur itni herat-angez riyaziati barabari ke sath jora gaya tha... ke do pattharon ke darmiyan ka faasla aik inch ke pachaaswein hissay se bhi kam tha... Jahan taiz chhuri ki dhaar bhi dakhil nahi ki ja sakti thi... aur jahan safaid gypsum ka gaara dono pattharon ko aik hi chataan bana deta tha... Jab daryaye Neel ki kashadah waadi ke mashriqi ufaq par poora chaand tuloo hota tha... to wahan aik aysa hairan-kun manzar janam leta tha jis par nazar theher jaati thi... Yeh safaid sang-e-marmar numa patthar sirf chaand ki roshni ko munakis nahi karta tha... balkay lagta tha jaise woh khud apne andar se chandi jaisi thandi roshni phoot kar nikaal raha ho... Khamosh sehrai satah-e-murtaza par... is azeem imarat ke chaaron tekoney pehlu aik phosphorescent chandi jaisi shafaf roshni se jagmaga uthte thay... jo Neel ke delta ke maidaan mein bees meel door se saaf nazar aati thi... Aur sab se oopar... iski azeem choti par laga hua sunehra capstone... jise qadeem zabaan mein 'Benben' kaha jaata tha... sitaron ki thandi roshni ko pakar kar zameen aur aasmaan ke darmiyan aik azeem sunehray chiragh ki tarah chamakta tha... Sardi ki aadhi raat ko Giza ke is pursukoon maidaan par khara hona... aik aysa manzar dekhna tha jo insaani bas se kahin aagay mehsoos hota tha... Magar yeh koi jadoo, tilism ya kisi bhooli hui makhlooq ka kaam nahi tha... Yeh qadeem insaan ke intehaai ba-shaor mutalia aur mehnati mushahiday ka sunehra shahkaar tha... Jo tareek aur thandi raaton mein sitara-ba-sitara naapa gaya tha... Buniyad ka pehla pathar rakhnay se bohat pehle... qadeem shahi surveyor... jise rassi kheenchnay wala aalim kaha jaata tha... khule sehrai aasmaan ke tale hamwaar ki gayi chataan par akaila khara hua... Saal pachhees sau qabal-e-maseeh mein... hamara mojuda qutbi sitara Polaris aasmaan ke shamaal ka nishan nahi tha... Zameen ke mehwar ki aahista gardish ki wajah se... us daur ka shamaali qutbi sitara Draco ke jhurmut mein waqay aik madham sitara Thuban tha... Aakhir un qadeem falkiyat-daanon ne terah acre par phaili hui imarat ko... jis mein taees laakh bhaari pathar lagaye gaye thay... theek sachhay shamaal ke sath aik degree ke pandrahwein hissay ki barabari par kaise tarteeb diya?... Is hairat-angez kaamyabi ka raaz aik nihayat saadah magar la-jawab aalay mein posheeda tha: 'Merkhet'... khajoor ki shaakh ka bana hua aik aala-e-nazar... aur aabnoos ki lakri par latakta hua wazni saahol... Aadhi raat ke mukammal sannatay mein... do falkiyat-daan shamaali lakeer par aamne saamne baithtay thay... Woh kisi aik sitaray ko nahi... balkay do gardish karte sitaron—Kochab aur Mizar—ko aasmaan mein ghoomte dekhte thay... Aalim khajoor ki shaakh ke bareek shigaaf se andhere mein unki gardish par nazar rakhta tha... Theek us aakhri lamhay... jab latakta hua saahol dono sitaron ko aik hi amoodi lakeer mein kaat deta tha... goya aasmaan se zameen tak roshni ka aik seedha dhaga khinch gaya ho... to surveyor ne aahista se pukara... Chataan ke andar kansi ki aik mekh thonk di gayi... Sanobar ki nafees rassi ko kheencha gaya... Aur is tarah sachhay shamaal ka woh rasta taayun pa gaya... jise aglay chaar hazaar saal tak koi doosri tehzeeb maat na de saki... Satah-e-murtaza ke neeche... daryaye Neel ka paani is poori tameer ki shahrag bana hua tha... July se October ke darmiyan... Neel ka sulaabi selaab... 'Akhet'... poori waadi ko aik chamakti hui andarooni jheel mein badal deta tha... Ufanay hue darya ka paani masnooi nehron ke zariye seedha Giza ki buland chataan ke qadam tak pohonch jaata... aur sehra ki is jagah ko aik azeem behri bandargah bana deta tha... Jahan darya ka thanda paani pathreeli deewaron se takra kar narm aawazein paida karta tha... Chaandni raat mein... Lubnan ke sanobar aur gular ki lakri se banay azeem-us-shaan cargo jahaz darya ke phailay hue paani par be-aawaz teer-tay thay... Chappu chalaane wali kashtiyan inhein kheench kar laati theen... jin par Aswan ki paanch sau meel door waqay khaan se laaye gaye saanth saanth ton wazni surkh granite ke azeem pathar laday hotay thay... In patharon ko chataan se lohay ke baghair alag kiya gaya tha... lakri ki khushk mekhon ko daraar mein thok kar paani se bhigoya jaata... lakri phoolti aur chataan apni qudrati ragon par saaf alag ho jaati thi... Phir dolerite ke kaale gol pattharon se unhein peet peet kar hamwaar banaya jaata tha... Bandargah ke kinaray... hazaron mahir karigar, sang-tarash aur hisaab-nawis aik ba-qaida mansooba-band pathreeli basti mein rehte thay... Sadiyon se chalay aa rahe afsaanon ke bar-aks... yeh log kisi korray ke khof se kaam karne wale ghulam nahi thay... Yeh izzat-daar fann-kaar thay... jinhein behtareen ghiza, gosht, aur khameeri roti di jaati thi... aur jo din bhar ki mehnati lagan ke baad apne bistaron par pursukoon aaraam karte thay... Jab thandi sehrai hawa reth ke teelon par chalne lagti... to bandargah par har aawaz theher jaati thi... Aur darya ke kinaray sarkandon ki sarsarahat ke siwa koi aawaz nahi aati thi... Andhere mein ahraam ke andar dakhil hona... goya zinda logon ki duniya ko peechay chhorr kar azli sakoon mein utarna hai... Shamaali rukh par... zameen se saanth foot ki bulandi par... iska qadeem darwaza khulta hai... jahan azeem chhatein lakhoon ton wazan ko dono taraf taqseem kar deti hain... Andar qadam rakhein... to darja-e-hararat foran aik pursukoon mutawazan satah par theher jaata hai... chausath darjay Fahrenheit... Jahan na baahir ki dhoop ka asar hai na sardi ka... Qadeem pathar ki meethi aur khushk mitti ki khushboo saakit hawa mein mehfooz hai... Aik tangg utarta hua rasta... jo sirf chaar foot uncha aur teen foot chaura hai... chhabees darjay ke zawiye par seedha chataan ke andar utarta chala jaata hai... Pechhay murr kar darwazay se dekhein... to aasmaan ka aik chhota sa murabba nazar aata hai... jo shamaal ke qadeem sitaron par theek thehra hua hai... goya pathar ki bani hui koi azeem door-been ho... Yeh rasta satah-e-murtaza se aik sau foot gehra chala jaata hai... jahan zameen-doz kamra waqay hai... Yahan andhere mein aysi khamoshi hai jiski koi misaal nahi... Sar ke upar saanth laakh ton pathar ka wazan baahir ki duniya ki har aawaz, har toofan aur har sarsarahat ko jazb kar leta hai... Waapas upar aane par... rasta 'Grand Gallery' ke hairat-angez azeem kashadah hissay mein dakhil hota hai... Yeh aik sau trepan foot lamba aur athais foot uncha mehraabi rasta hai... jiski deewarein sang-e-marmar ki tarah chikni hain... aur jahan koi aik qatra gaaray ka istemaal nahi hua... Is gallery ke aakhir mein shahi kamra hai... King's Chamber... Aswan ke surkh granite ke azeem patharon se tameer shuda yeh kamra chaalees chaalees ton ke azeem shah-teeron ke neeche mehfooz hai... Markaz mein surkh chataan se tarasha gaya aik akaila khokhla taboot rakha hai... jo darwazay se bhi bara hai... yani usay chhat dalne se pehle yahan laya gaya tha... Is granite ke taboot ke kinaray par hatheli se halki si chot lagayein... to poora kamra aik madham, gahray surr ke sath goonj uthta hai... aik aysi azeem lachak jo thandi hawa mein sadiyon ki tarah goonjti rehti hai aur phir hamesha ke sannatay mein dhal jaati hai... Baahir buland satah-e-murtaza par nikal aaiye... to aadhi raat ki duniya mukammal aman aur roshni mein lipti hui hai... Neeche daryaye Neel khamoshi se soye hue gaon aur sarsaraate papyrus ke kinaroon ke darmiyan se chandi ki lakeer ban kar guzar raha hai... Narm sehrai hawa Great Sphinx ke panjon par reth ko aahista se hila rahi hai... jiska pathreela chehra mashriq ki taraf saakit khara subah ka muntazir hai... Aur upar... aasmaan par sitaron ka azeem kehkashaan darya phaila hua hai... jo zameen ke in ahraam ko aasmaan ki la-zawal vus'at se jor raha hai... Yeh azeem imarat be-hiss-o-harkat khari hai... mutawazan... pursukoon... pentalis sadiyon se aasmaan ke tale aaraam karti hui... Is qadeem aur azli khamoshi ko ab narmi se apne ird-gird utarne dijiye... Pathar ke is azeem aur mehfooz sukoon ko mehsoos kijiye... apni saans ko raat ki narm hawa ke sath aahista hone dijiye... aur aik gehri... pursukoon... aur taaza-dam neend mein dhal jaaiye...

Agar is zameen par chalne wali kisi bhi hasti ke liye... hamesha zinda rehne ki koi seerhi hoti... ya maut ke aahista qadmon ko roknay ka koi rasta hota... to wo Dawood ke azeem bete... Hazrat Sulaiman hotay... Yeh wo azeem dastaan hai... jise Kufa ke minbar par Hazrat Ali ne apne tareekhi khutbay mein bayaan farmaya... Aik aysi azeem saltanat... jis jaisi na unse pehle kisi ko naseeb hui... aur na unke baad kisi ko ata ki gayi... Unke liye toofani sehrai hawaon ko narm aur itaat-guzaar bana diya gaya tha... jo unke takht aur kashadah khemon ko subah ke waqt utha kar aik maheenay ki musafat tak le jaatein... aur shaam ko doosre maheenay ke safar par pohoncha detein... Jungli janwar aur aasmaan ke parinday unki aawaz pehchante thay... aur insaanon se pehle aag se paida ki gayi ghaybi makhlooqaat... unke aik halkay se ishare par zameen ki gehraiyon aur samandar ke taareek taaron mein mehnat karti theen... Magar aaj raat... jab sehra ki reth thandi ho rahi hai... aur aasmaan par qadeem sitaron ka jaal bichha hua hai... aaiye is shaan-o-shaukat se aagay nikal kar... us pursukoon aur pur-asraar aalam mein dakhil hon jo is azeem badshah ki aakhri raaton ka hissa tha... Is saltanat ko samajhne ke liye... pehle junoob ke khushk sehraon ki taraf chalna hoga... jahan taanbay ke pahaar ufaq par kaale daanton ki tarah khaday thay... Yahan qudrat ka aik azeem karishma is badshah ke liye khol diya gaya tha... Zameen ki gehri daraaron se... pighlay hue khalis taanbay ka aik chashma ubalta tha... jo behtay hue paani ki tarah narm aur rawana tha... Har maheenay teen din aur teen raaton tak... yeh surkh dehakti hui dhaat zameen ke seenay se nikal kar aatish-daanon mein behti thi... goya sham ke andhere mein pighla hua kehruba beh raha ho... Ustaad karigaron ki nigraani mein... ghaybi makhlooqaat is dehakte hue surkh taanbay ko pathreeli nehron mein dhaal kar azeem bartan banateen... aag ke angaron par dhalnay wali yeh deewarein itni mazboot theen ke sadiyon ke toofan bhi unhein kharaash na laga sakein... Pighlay hue taanbay ki chamak raat ke andhere mein door paharon tak phail jaati thi... aysay azeem hauz jo pahaari talaabon jaise lagtay thay... aur aysi bhari deghein jo zameen ki chataan mein aysi gardish karti theen ke koi lashkar unhein hila nahi sakta tha... Yahan hazaron sang-tarashon, mazdooron aur ulema ke liye din raat khana tayyar hota tha... Magar is se bhi bara aijaz... daryaye Aqaba aur bahr-e-hind ki tareek gehraiyon mein chhupa tha... Junoob ke kinaroon par... badshah ne samandar ki aakhri satah tak utarne wali ghaybi ghotakhoron ki tolion ko hukm diya... Yeh wo makhlooq thi jise na samandar ki barfeeli sardi ka khof tha... na paani ke laakhon ton dabao ka... Woh un tareek pahaari khaddron mein meelon gehre utar jaate thay jahan kisi insaan ke phephre pal bhar mein phatt jaatein... Woh samandar ke azeem sabz aur siyah marjaan ke janglaat mein chalte... aur anar ke barabar chamakdar moti, qadeem daryaon ke khazanay aur shafaf jawahir dhoond kar laate thay... Har shaam... jab samandar ki lehr pichhay hatt-ti... to yeh ghaybi ghotakhor narm jhaag se nikal kar aate... aur badshah ke kheme ke samne chamakdar sunehray aur neelay moti dher kar dete... Badshah in motiyon ko dekhta... phir samandar ke upar phailay hue sitaron ki taraf sar uthata... aur dil mein janta tha ke zameen aur samandar ki yeh saari daulat... aane wale kal ki aik fani chhaon ke siwa kuch nahi... Jerusalem ke shahi aalishan mehal mein... is fann-e-tameer ka sab se azeem shahkaar qayam kiya gaya: 'The Palace of Glass'... yani Shishay Ka Mehal... Moriah ki buland pahari par tameer shuda is azeem darbar ka farsh kisi patthar ya sang-e-marmar se nahi banaya gaya tha... balkay motay shafaf crystal aur shishay se tayyar kiya gaya tha... jis ke theek neeche taaza chashmay ka shafaf paani behta tha... aur us mein rang-barangi machhliyan aur narm neelofar teer-te dikhayi dete thay... Jab junoob ki azeem malka... Queen Bilqis... Yemen ke mulk-e-Saba se saat sau oonton ke qafle ke sath pohonchi... jin par qadeem khushboo, loban aur sonay ke sandooq laday thay... to usay shaam ke waqt is azeem darbar mein laya gaya... Apne qadmon ke neeche dekh kar... malka ne gumaan kiya ke samne gehra behta hua dariya hai... Usne aab-e-rawaan se bachne ke liye apne reshmi libas ke daman ko narmi se upar uthaya... Badshah... jo deodar ki lakri ke aik nihayat saadah takht par bethe thay... narmi se muskuraye aur dheemi aawaz mein farmaya: 'Daman ko na uthaiye... yeh koi dariya nahi... yeh to shishay ka chikna aur hamwaar banaya gaya mehal hai...' Yeh sunte hi malka ne sar uthaya... Aur mehal ki shaan-o-shaukat se zyada... badshah ke chehre ki pur-waqar khamoshi aur tawazo ne uske dil ko jeet liya... Kyunke dunya ki azeem tareen daulat ke darmiyan baithnay wala yeh badshah... rozana jao ki khushk roti khata tha... aur apni raatein Khuda ke huzoor sajdon aur muraqbay mein guzaarta tha... Waqt guzarta gaya... aur umr ka bojh badshah ke kandhon par dhalne laga... Unhon ne aasman ko chhoote hue mehal dekhe... sehraon mein behti hui nehrein dekhein... aur lakhoon mazdooron ko pathar tarashte dekha... Aur unhein samajh aa gaya ke dunya ki har taaqat fani hai... Aik shaam... jab pahaaron par khushboodar जंगली podinay ki thandi hawa chal rahi thi... badshah mehal ke sab se buland burj ki taraf aahista aahista charhay... Yeh crystal aur sanobar se bana aik azeem kamra tha jahan se poori saltanat nazar aati thi... Unhon ne bhaari kansi ke darwazay ko andar se band karne ka hukm diya... Unhon ne na koi talwar uthayi... na shahi taaj pehna... Unke seedhe haath mein carob ki purani lakri ka aik saadah aasa tha... Khirki ke samne kharay ho kar... jahan se dhalta hua sooraj ufaq par zard roshni bikher raha tha... badshah ne dono haath aasa ke sunehray saray par rakh diye... aur apna seena lakri ke sahare tika kar... neeche maidaan mein kaam karne wale lashkaron ko dekhne lagay... Neeche waadi mein kaam ruka nahi tha... Hazaron sang-tarash safaid pathar kaat rahe thay... ghaybi lashkar saanth saanth ton ke azeem monoliths kheench rahe thay... aur taanbay ke bhattay dhalwanon par surkh dehak rahe thay... Jab bhi koi mazdoor upar khirki ki taraf dekhta... to usay shishay ke peeche badshah ka buland qad saaf nazar aata... jo bilkul saakit aur ba-waqar khara apne mulk ki nigrani kar raha tha... Kisi mein susti karne ki himmat na thi... sab samajhte thay ke badshah unke har qadam par nazar rakhe hue hai... Magar us unchay kamray ke andar... aik azeem aur muqaddas sukoon utar chuka tha... Maut is azeem badshah ke paas kisi khof, kisi takleef ya jung ke shor ke sath nahi aayi thi... Balkay shabnam ke narm qatray ki tarah aayi... aik aysi thandi hawa ki tarah jis ne thakay hue jism se saara bojh utaar liya... Mukammal khamoshi ke aalam mein... aasa par tek lagaye kharay kharay... badshah ki rooh narmi se is fani dunya se azaad ho gayi... Aankhein narm muraqbay mein band theen... aur jism lakri ke sahare bilkul seedha aur mutawazan qayam raha... Din guzray... aur phir haftay guzar gaye... Badshah usi tarah khamosh aur saakit khara raha... Baahir poori saltanat khof aur ahtiraam ke sath chalti rahi... Kisi ko gumaan tak na tha ke jis shakhs ke samne dunya kaanpti thi... wo kab ka apne Rab ke huzoor pursukoon aaraam pa chuka hai... Magar kamray ke andhere mein... qudrat ne apna sabr-aazma kaam shuru kiya... Farsh ki aik bareek daraar se... lakri ko khane wala aik chhota sa keera (dimak)... aahista aahista aasa ki jad tak pohoncha... Zarra ba zarra... be-inteha sabr ke sath... us chhotay se keerey ne khushk lakri ko andar se khokhla karna shuru kiya... Hafton ki khamosh mehnat ke baad... aadhi raat ki thandi chaandni mein... lakri mazeed bojh bardasht na kar saki... Aik madham si aawaz ke sath... aasa toot gaya... Aur azeem badshah ka jism narmi se farsh par aaraam ke sath dhal gaya... Usi lamhay dunya par haqeeqat aashkaar ho gayi... Mazdooron ke haathon se auzaar chhoot gaye... Ghaybi lashkar samajh gaye ke jis haakim ka unhein khof tha... wo to arsay pehle dunya se kooch kar chuka tha... aur dunya ki saari saltanat sirf aik lakri ke sahare khari thi... Saltanat ka saara shor pal bhar mein khamosh ho gaya... Sulaiman ke wo azeem mehal aaj mitti ke dher ban chuke hain... taanbay ke wo hauz zameen mein dafan ho chuke hain... Magar us aakhri ghari ka sukoon chaalis sadiyon baad bhi zinda hai... Is qadeem, muqaddas aur azli sukoon ko ab narmi se apne andar utarne dijiye... Sehra ki thandi hawa ko apne chehre par mehsoos kijiye... jahan ab na koi fikar hai na kisi dunya ka khof... Lakri ke aasa par thehray hue us badshah ki tarah... apne jism ke har pathar ko dheela chhorr dijiye... Dunya ke har bojh ko chhorr dijiye... raat ki dheemi saanson ko apne zehen ko thanda karne dijiye... aur aik gehri... pursukoon... aur be-parwah neend mein doob jaaiye...