Allama Iqbal’s Shikwa Translated (Part 2)
Dr. Zafar M. Iqbal
Chicago, IL
Why are the worldly riches
so rare among Muslims,
though Your power is infinite
and limitless.
If you wish, we can have
fountains bubbling in the desert,
rivers flowing
in the forests.
But all we have is:
sneering strangers, humiliation, poverty.
Do we deserve such degradation,
for laying down our lives for You ?
------
This is the world
that loves our foes,
and for us,
just an imaginary one.
------
We are ready to leave the world,
others will take over --
don’t accuse us then the world
is emptied of Your ‘Oneness’.
We live only to see
Your name shine in the world.
Is it possible that there’s
a cup-bearer, but no wine ?
-------
Your congregation is over,
those who loved You, gone.
No sighing at night,
no morning laments.
We gave our hearts to You,
and got what we did in return.
We had just arrived, and
we’re asked to leave.
Those who loved You came,
left with promises of tomorrow.
Now, go search for them
in the glowing light of Your beauty.
-------
Laila’s ache still the same
same the thirst of Qais. [11]
In Nejd’s wilderness,
edgy, alert deer, just the same. [12]
Passion still has a beating heart,
beauty’s magic still the same.
same are Your Messenger’s people, [13]
and You remain the same.
Then, what’s the reason
for Your apathy?
Why this wrath
on Your own people?
------
Did we ever leave You or
Your Messenger? [13]
Started idol-worship,
stopped smashing idols?
Did we lose the passion or
the ache of love ?
Did we leave the path of Salman
and Owais of Qarni ? [14]
We still keep the fire of
‘God is Great’ blazing in our hearts! [15]
Our daily lives, still like that of
Bilaal, the Abyssinian ! [16]
-------
Granted, we no longer
have that fire in our love for You
and we don’t observe the ways
You can accept.
Agreed, our heart no longer
beats that fervently toward Ka’aba
and we don’t follow right ways
any longer.
Sometimes You love us,
sometimes, others;
Pardon us for saying, but
You too have been fickle.
-------
Atop the mountains of Mecca, [17]
You made our Faith whole, complete.
With one gesture,
you captivated thousands.
You were the one who
set afire the passion,
blew the glowing warmth into
the assembly of Your people.
Why are our chests
now void of that spark?
We are the same needy people,
don’t You remember ?
--------
In the vales of Nejd, no
chains clanging anywhere.
Qais no longer anxious
to see what he needed to see.
No longer do we have the urge we had,
we are not the same, nor is our heart.
Our house is so desolate that
You liven up the assembly anymore.
How joyous when You come,
and reveal Yourself
to the assembly
with a lot of grace !
-----------
Those sitting by the river
in the garden, sipping wine,
listening to the birds
are outsiders,
Away from
the scene of action,
Your devotees
also await You.
Give Your devotees the power
of enlightenment, and
let your lasting lightning
be kind and sympathetic.
------
The Wanderers once again
turn anxiously toward Hejaz
The desire to fly made
a wingless-bird to fly.
Every flower in the anxious garden
smells of pleas to You.
Stir the strings, the instrument is
eager to come alive.
Songs are anxious to fly
off the silent strings;
the Sinai mountain is eager
to burn in the same fire. [18]
------
Ease the difficulties of
the grateful people,
make the poor peacock
a friend of Solomon. [19]
Make the dearest of love
a little easier to feel
turn the temple-residents
of India into Muslim.
Watch the blood oozing out
of our long-suffering desires;
Listen to the cries
from our stabbed chest ! [20]
--------
The flower took its fragrance
outside the garden;
How sad, the flower itself
betrays the secrets of the garden.
The Springtime is over,
Strings of the instrument, broken;
birds singing on the branches
have since left.
Just one remaining nightingale
still busy singing;
in its little breast still
an uproar of songs.
------
The doves left the pine trees,
petals fell off, were scattered;
garden’s paths now deserted
trees turned barren and leafless.
Nightingale remains free
from changes in the seasons.
Wish someone in the garden
understands its wailing.
------
No relief in death,
no joy now in living;
the only satisfaction left
is to go through the sorrow.
How anxious are the jewels
in my mirror !
How many hopeful sights flicker
in my chest.
But no one to see all that
in this garden;
all scars in the heart
not just red.
------
May this lonely nightingale’s wail
touch someone’s heart,
May those awake
hear this ringing call.
Let a new compact of Faith
be born in the hearts,
Let the hearts thirst again
for the old wine.
The cup I hold may be Persian
but my wine is Hejazi Arabian;
my song may be Indian
but my tune is Hejazi.
Notes:
[11] Based on a classic 7 th century real-life love story from Northern Arabian peninsula, with different versions : Qais ( ibn al-Mulawwah ibn Muzahim), a Bedouin poet, fell passionately in love with Layla (bint Mahdi ibn Sa’d ) from the same tribe when he first saw her. He wrote love poems for her. When he asked for her hand in marriage, her father refused , and got her married to another man and moved to Iraq. When Qais heard that, he literally went mad and roamed the wilderness, wrote his poems for her in sand and recited poet. Laila died after an illness in Iraq. Qais later died in wilderness (~688 AD). His body was found next to an unknown grave. He had carved his 3 verses on a rock near the grave.
[12] Nejd: the central plateau region of Arabia peninsula.
[13] Actual phrases used: ‘Ummath-e-Ahmed-e- Mursil’ and ‘Rusool-e-Araby’
[14] Owais, or Owais al Qarni or Owais of the town, Qarni: He embraced Islam while the Prophet was alive. He is also regarded as one of the Sahaba. Salman al Farisi, the Persian was originally a Christian who converted Islam. He was one of the Sahabas or the Prophet’s companions. He was also released from slavery by the Prophet. In the Sufi Naqshbandi order, Salman is ranked number 3 in the spiritual chain to the Prophet.
[15] Actual term used: Tuk-beer
[16] Bilal ibn Rabah or Bilal al-Habeshi was born in Mecca in the late 6 th century. He was one of the slaves freed by Abu Bakr. Prophet Mohammed chose him as a Muezzin, because of his beautiful voice. He was one of the most trusted and loyal companions of the Prophet .
[17 ] Actual word used: Faaraan. Mountains around the valley of Mecca in the Hejaz region. Yagut, an Arab geographer (d. 1229 AD), suggests that Faraan may be the same as Har (Mount) Paraan, mentioned in Jewish Torah, Deuteronomy: somewhere on this mountain, Prophet Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments. Similarly, in Ghar-e-hira of Faaraan mountains, Prophet Mohammed received the Quran.
[18] Referring perhaps to Mt. Sinai where, amid thunder, storm and burning bushes, God appeared and delivered on this mountain His message (10 Commandments). The mountain, location uncertain, is also known as Thur
[19] Solomon (son of David) : Described in the Hebrew Bible as King of Israel, and in Quran as a Prophet. He was the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem. He was famous for wisdom and wealth.
[20] These lines are in Persian: “Joo-e-khoon me chukud-uz husrath-e-dayreena ma / Me tapad nala ba nush0thur kuda-e-seens-e-ma.”
