English Translations - International Iqbal Society - Allama Iqbal

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

DANCE

The turns and twists required for dance,
Leave to Franks who jump and bound
When soul is in ecstatic dance,
The strokes like Moses' Rod resound.

A palate parched and mouth athirst
Are needs that body's dance confers
Whereas soul's rapturous dance,
Derveshhood and mighty realms prefers.

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

DISCIPLINE

It is the mode of worldly men
Against the world to whine and groan
It does not suit a Darvesh true,
By Fate-inflicted wounds to moan.

The wise old man explained to me,
This subtle point in closet alone,
That control on Self daring shows,
Whereas plaints breed more guile and groan.

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

DANCE AND MUSIC

The souls of Satan and Gabriel too
From verse derive effulgence strong,
For dance and music both provide
Pathos and rapture for the throng.

A Chinese Sage has thus disclosed
The secrets implied in this art
"As if verse is music's soul
And dance performs body's part."

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

VERSE

The secrets that are hid in verse
To judge their worth I always fail,
Though annals of the nations past
Relate this point with much detail.

The verse that conveys to man
The views of lire that shall e'er last
Is either song by Gabriel sung,
Or blare of Sarafil's trumpet blast.

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

ZEST FOR SIGHT

How lofty was that Chinese Self
Who for crime was condemned to death
On eve of his beheading, he
Asked headsman, "Stop for a span or Breath."

He asked for stoppage many times,
For it was very pleasant scene
He wished to see for moments few
The sword's great-glimmer, glow and sheen.

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

MUSIC

A song that fails to make your face
Glimmer and glow with joy and glee,
Shows that minstrel's blood is cold,
His heart of heat and warmth is free.

That player on the flute who has
A conscience much defiled, impure
With puff of breath can make a tune
Replete with poison which hasn't cure.

I have visited the meads in East
And West, where tulips parks adorn,
But I have not beheld a park,
Where tulips have their collars torn.

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

INVENTION OF NEW MEANINGS

It is a gift by God bestowed,
To coin fresh words with meanings new
Yet skilful artist must work hard,
As inborn trend is owned by few.

It is the heat in mason's blood,
Who builds structures of various forms
It may be Behzad's picture hall,
Or house of wine where Hafiz charms.

Without resort to incessant strife,
No skill or art completion gains:
If Farhad does not hew the rocks,
No sparks flash, dark his house remains!

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

NEW WORLD

Decrees of Fate are not concealed
From man whose heart throbbing seems
He sees the image of new World
In slumberous state, during dreams

When Prayer Call at early morn,
Transports him to Morpheus' domain
He tries to build the world beheld
With utmost might and utmost main.

The body of the dreamt or world
Is made from his handful clay:
''God is Great", his slogan shrill that can
The role of soul for new world play.

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

THE GREAT MAN

His contempt has no bound
His Love's depth none can sound
His wrath on men of God
Is tempered in manner odd.

Nurtured in mimicry's gloom
To tread like sheep his doom
But he is much inclined
To creative bent of mind.

In midst of surging throng
He keeps aloof for long,
Like lamp, he lights the hall,
But has not mate at all.

Faqr can like sun of morn
With light the mead adorn
Its speech is frank and free,
Though meanings tenuous be.

Its views vary with’ the rest,
it deems them right and best
Its innate slates unknown
To mystics with renown.

2021-02-19T16:44:16+00:00

THE CRAFTSMEN OF INDIA

Their Fancy tolls the knell
Of Love and rapture sweet
Their dark and dismal thoughts
With nations' tombs replete.

Their idol halls arc full
With prints of gloomy death.
The art of these Brahmans
Seems tired of life and breath.

They hide from eyes of man
His state and noble name:
They fill the soul with sleep,
Incite the lust in frame. '

Alas! in Hind Sex rules
The bards and painters too
Those, who write romantic tales,
Talk of Sex through and through.