Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal is the national poet of Pakistan. He was born on 9th November, 1877. This blog is about the life and poetry of Allama Iqbal. This Blog has the poerty of Iqbal in Urdu, Roman Urdu and English translation.

Saturday 24 November 2012

The Interrogation of the Dead



The bright sun is hidden, the night shows its face
The night's hair is spread on shoulders of the earth
 
This black dress is preparation for some one's mourning
Perhaps the Nature's assemblage for the sun is mourning
 
The sky is casting a spell over the talking lip
The night's magician is watching the awakened eye
 
The wind current is submerged in the river of silence
However, the tolling bell's sound comes from the distance
 
Heart which in love's turmoil is evading the world
Has dragged me here far from the maddening crowd
 
I am the spectator of the spectacle of disappointments
I am the associate of those sleeping in solitude's corner
 
O My restlessness! Wait and let me rest awhile
And let me shed a few tears at this habitation
 
O those steeped in a swoon, "Where are you?
Tell me something of the land where you live
 
Is that world also one of prevarication?
Is that world also one of denizens' struggle?
 
Is Man engulfed by sorrow in that land also?
Is Man's heart suppressed and helpless in that land also?
 
Does the moth burn itself in candle's love in that land also?
Does the tale of flower and nightingale exist in that garden also?
 
In this world a single hemistich perturbs the heart
Does there also the warmth of verse soften the heart?
 
This world's relations and alliances life's woes are
Are similar sharp thorns present in that garden also?
 
The daily bread and a million calamities this world has
Does the soul freedom from anxieties in that world has?
 
Are the thunder, the farmer, the harvest there also?
Are the caravan and the robber's fear there also?
 
Do birds collect bits of straw for nests there also?
Is the search for bricks and clay for house there also?
 
Are the humans unaware of their reality there also?
Are they after nations' and customs' discrimination there also
 
Does garden not cry at the nightingale's wail there also?
Like this world is there no sympathy in that world also?
 
Does the Paradise a garden or a restful mansion constitute?
Or does the Eternal Beauty's Unveiled Face it constitute ?
 
Does hell a method of burning away sins constitute?
Or it in flames of fire a way of discipline constitute?
 
Has walking given way to speedy flying in that world?
What is the secret of what is called death by denizens of this world?
 
Life eases the heart's restlessness in this world
Is human knowledge also restricted in that world?
 
Does the separated heart get satisfaction by sight there also?
Are "Lan Tarani" saying the Turs of that land also
 
Does the soul get solace in longing there also?
Is man a victim of desire to learn there also ?
 
Ah! Is that land also filled with darkness?
Or with Love's light is completely illuminated?
 
Tell us what the secret under this rotating dome is
Death a pricking sharp thorn in the human breast is

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very touching, extremely well written. Iqbal's poetry is amazing. SubhanAllah.

Anonymous said...

Dr Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

Unknown said...

Beautiful

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