SELECTIONS FROM BAL-E-JIBREEL BY IQBAL

SELECTIONS FROM BAL-E-JIBREEL BY IQBAL

COUPLET 1

دلوں کو مرکز مہر و وفا کر * حریم کبریا سے آشنا کر جسے نان جویں بخشی ہے تو نے * اسے بازوۓ حیدر بھی عطا کر Dilon Ko markaze Mehro Wafa Kar, Harime Kibrya se ashna Kar

Jisey nane Jaween bukhshi hai toone, Usey bazoo-e Haider bhi ata Kar

Allama Iqbal invokes God in prayer that He may bestow upon the Muslims the love for their creator and Islam. God in His infinite mercy has granted us food for our existence. It is He who can bestow upon us the faculty and strength to serve Islam. According to him the fountain-head of all guidance is the distinguished personality of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) who was the strongest general in the Arab world although he spent his life by living on barley bread only. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) had the unique distinction of combining in himself the qualities of perfect learning, piety and lofty courage. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) had said, “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate”. So if we want to know the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) we should know Hazrat Ali (a.s.). We cannot reach the city unless we reach the gate. Hazrat Ali’s (a.s.) knowledge was as perfect as anybody could imagine. Once he said, “If the curtain between me and God could be removed my belief would not be increased.” His belief in and cognition of God had reached the highest point. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) used to say, “Ask me anything before I am no more.” Allama Iqbal was so much enamoured of the qualities of Hazrat Ali that he wishes every Muslim to follow his footstep so that he may lead a glorious life.

COUPLET 2 3

کبھی تنہائی کوہ و دمن عشق – کبھی سوز و سرور و انجمن عشق و کبھی سرمایۂ محراب و منبر * کبھی مولا علی خیبر شکن عشق * Kabhi tanhai-e- Koh-o daman Ishq, Kabhi Soz o Sarod o anjuman Ishq

Kabhi Sarmaya-o-mehrab o member, Kabhi mola Ali Khayber shikan Ishq

Allama Iqbal says that true love manifests itself in various fields. It is not confined to a particular sphere. Sometimes we find true love being shown in seclusion (Cave of Hira) where the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was in prayers before his installation as Prophet, sometimes it is seen when the devotees bow down in prayers, reciting the Holy Quran and the praises of God and sometimes in taking up sword to defend Islam and and crush the enemies of Islam as was done by Hazrat Ali (a.s.) in various Islamic battles, like Khayber Khandaq etc.

COUPLET 4

خیرہ نہ کر سکا مجھے جلوۂ دانش فرنگ « سرمہ ہے میری آنکھ کا خاک مدینہ و نجف *

Kheera na Karsaka mujhey jalwae danish e farang, Surma hai meri ankh ka Khak e Medina-o Najaf

Allama Iqbal possessed a high standard of learning. He took his Masters degree in Philosophy from the Punjab University and also from Cambridge and Doetrate from Munich (Germany). He carried on research work on Philosophical concepts in Iran. His poetical works in Persian and Urdu have been regarded as of highest order in modern age. Iqbal who studied foreign literature an concepts so intensively came to the conclusion that the fountain-heads of all knowledge are only the Prophet (s.a.w.) and Hazrat Ali (a.s.). He firmly believes in the saying of the Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.), “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate”. So fondly he says that his eyes can get light only from the dust of Madina and Najaf where the souls of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and Hazrat Ali (a.s.) rest. He travelled abroad and made intensive studies and researches but he could not be impressed by any other source of knowledge except the Prophet (s.a.w.) and Hazrat Ali (a.s.).COUPLET 5

دارا و سکندر سے وہ مرد فقیر اولی « ہو جس کی فقیری میں بوۓ اسد اللہی ة * Dara o Sikander sey woh mard e faqir aula, Ho jiski faqiri men boo-e-asadullahi

Allama Iqbal looks down upon all pomp of monarchy and strength. He had studied the various aspects of the life of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) a top most man of learning, best judge, greatest warrior, the most loyal comrade of the Holy Prophet, in whose praise the ayat-e-Tathir and Hal-ata were revealed and he has unaccountable love for him. He says that a beggar who lives upto the ideals of Hazrat Ali is far superior in his eyes to the crowns and monarchs who have power and authority but are devoid of saintly sprits.

COUPLET 6

بڑھ کے خیبر سے ہے یہ معرکہ دین و وطن * اس زمانے میں کوئی حیدر کرار بھی ہے Barh ke Khayber sey hai yeh marikae din o watan, Is zamaney men koi Haydere Karrar bhi hai

Allama Iqbal stresses the need for unity among Muslims. He abhors the present trend of unity for political purposes. It is a fallacious Concept and must be fought against. He fondly asks if there is one who could smash this fort as Hazrat Ali (a.s.) did when he conquered Khayber.

COUPLET 7

یا عقل کی روباہی یا عشق یداللهی * یا حیلۂ افرنگی یا حمله ترکانہ Ya aql ki robahi ya Ishq e yadullahi, Ya According to Allama Iqbal our intellect is often misled by deceptive arguments. We should have before us as an ideal the true love as possessed by Hazrat Ali (a.s.) towards God Almighty. That love did not care for any bodily pain or worldly troubles. So we should also follow in the footsteps of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) who sacrificed his all in the way of God. If we fail to do that our lives are doomed to a miserable end.

COUPLET 8-9

و مستی نے نوازی * جلال عشق و مستی بے نیازی عشق جمال کمال عشق و مستی ظرف حیدر * زوال عشق و مستی حرف رازی Jamal-e-Ishqo Masti nai nawazi, Jalal-e-Ishqo Masti be niazi

Kamal e Ishqo Masti zarbe Haider, Zawal e Ishq o masti harf-e razi

Allama Iqbal considers that Hazrat Ali (a.s.) has reached the acme of true love for God. The exalted and ecstatic love of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) for God could manifest itself in his submission and prayers to God. It could also be shown in the superb courage with which he fought the battles of Islam. It was through his actions that he reached the highest position of love. Dr. Iqbal wishes us to follow Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and refrain from wasting our time in metaphysical discourses. The very concept of true love fail if we do not act according to the precepts of Islam.

COUPLET 10

امارت کیا شکوہ خسروی بھی ہو تو کیا حاصل ” نہ زور حیدری تجھ میں نہ استغنائے سلمانی *

heela e afrangi ya hamla e TurkanaImarat Kiya shikoh-e-Khus-avibhi ho to Kiya hasil, Na zor e Hayderi tujhmen na istighna-e-salmani

Allama Iqbal deplores the condition of the Muslims at the present time. We do not possess physical strength and contented heart. We have forgotten to take lessons from the precepts and examples set by Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and his follower Hazrat Salman. If we inculcate that spirit of Islam then alone we can achieve the true aim of life. The worldly pomp of a King or the boast of wealth are good-for-nothing.