ye hum gunahgar aurten hain
jo ahl-e-jubba ki tamkanat se na roab khaen

na jaan bechen
na sar jhukaen

na hath joden
we sinful women

ye hum gunahgar aurten hain
ki jin ke jismon ki fasl bechen jo log

wo sarfaraaz thahren
niyabat-e-imtiyaz thahren

wo dawar-e-ahl-e-saz thahren
it is we sinful women

who are not awed by the grandeur of those who wear
gowns

who don't sell our lives
who don't bow our heads

who don't fold our hands together
ye hum gunahgar aurten hain

ki sach ka parcham utha ke niklen
to jhut se shahrahen ati mile hain

har ek dahliz pe sazaon ki dastanen rakhi mile hain
jo bol sakti thin wo zabanen kati mile hain

it is we sinful women
while those who sell the harvests of our bodies

become exalted
become distinguished

become the just princes of the material world.
ye hum gunahgar aurten hain

ki ab taaqub mein raat bhi aae
to ye aankhen nahin bujhengi

ki ab jo diwar gir chuki hai
use uthane ki zid na karna!

it is we sinful women
who come out raising the banner of truth

against barricades of lies on the highways
who find stories of persecution piled on each threshold

who find the tongues which could speak have been
severed.

ye hum gunahgar aurten hain
jo ahl-e-jubba ki tamkanat se na roab khaen

na jaan bechen
na sar jhukaen na hath joden!

it is we sinful women.
now, even if the night gives chase

these eyes shall not be put out.
for the wall which has been razed

don't insist now on raising it again.
it is we sinful women

who are not awed by the grandeur of those who wear
gowns

who don't sell our bodies
who don't bow our heads

who don't fold our hands together.