A letter to Allama Iqbal

 

To,

Muhammad Iqbal

May Allah keep you safe, my respected teacher!

I have been remembering you persistently, and today, I feel compelled to express my thoughts to you, O mentor. Perhaps everyone here is doing well.

The Ummah that you left behind, in the state and manner you departed, has deteriorated even further. The community you advised to embrace freedom and immerse themselves in unity seems to have no desire for it1. It does not wish to be released from the shackles of enslavement but rather embraces it. The allure it felt for wearing the chains of worldly servitude has persisted and worsened.

Mentor! These children were meant to receive the light of insight through your supplications2. Still, they have fallen prey to a disease called "liberalism," which, although it claims to possess a free-thinking ideology, is a manifestation of their selfish desires.3

Furthermore, these noble children of yours, whom you advised to safeguard themselves with ease, have become captivated by the absurdities of the Western world, spending their days and nights on shallow sofas in dark rooms4. They have become slaves to a devilish machine, claiming it possesses both good and evil. This reminds me of the Quranic verses that speak of alcohol.5

I do not believe that we should not come close to this matter and completely abandon it. Rather, I intend to first attain selfhood6 and then examine all these matters so as not to become enslaved7 by them.

Allama, the idol8 that you openly spoke about, the "youth" of today are still its slaves.

They do not realize that their "political thought" stands in direct opposition to the spirit of religion. They have mistakenly embraced the whisperings of the devil that were introduced in Europe some time ago as an eternal truth. They have transformed "deen" into a mere religion and have come to perceive the irreligious system as reality. Ahh! I fear that they are unable to comprehend even your tears during Tahajjud prayers9, and instead, they continue to oppress themselves and march forward. I fear that your supplications during the early hours of the morning may go in vain. Allama, they have made a mockery of your mentor10, Rumi, by wandering around with those books11. They have disregarded the personality of "Mawlana", whose essence they should have respected. Sometimes, I say to myself, "It is good that you are no longer alive today; otherwise, you would have been overcome by shock and grief." This era has surpassed all levels of egotistical servitude and ignorance. The nation that was established in your name! May it be cursed for using your name in the name of its thinkers while completely neglecting your teachings. I am now completely at peace with the fact that if you were present during the formation of the political system of that nation, you would have opposed it. Because the irreligious political system of "liberal democracy," which you had vehemently opposed even before its existence there12, would have clashed with your vision, and perhaps, at that time, no one would have been more saddened than you.

Allama! I have written this letter to express my grievances and complaints. My complaint is that these people have reduced you to a mere poet. Allah is my witness that throughout your life, you cried out, "Do not consider me a poet, for the love of Allah, I am not a poet." But they have failed to understand this at all.13

May Allah guide them to perceive the different dimensions of wisdom, to see the reality of things, and to comprehend the essence of the Quran.

Wallahi! They have forgotten that "Imam" who sacrificed himself for both worlds, who learned the knowledge of truth and falsehood from the leader of all creation. However, they have forgotten his martyrdom14, which occurred solely due to his opposition to political authority. They do not find the time to abandon this illusory world of intoxication and regain consciousness. They prioritize the recent arrivals over Islam, which provided a framework for the pursuit of truth and falsehood 1400 years ago.

And instead of attaining self-awareness, they continue to oppress themselves and become enslaved. 

Don't they seek the truth?

Written by Shinchan Badayuni

References:

(1)
Yun Hath Nahin Ata Woh Gohar-e-Yak Dana
Yak Rangi-o-Azadi Ae Himmat-e-Mardana!

(2)
Jawanon Ko Meri Aah-e-Sehar De
Phir In Shaheen Bachon Ko Baal-o-Par De

Khudaya! Arzoo Meri Yehi Hai
Mera Noor-e-Baseerat Aam Kar De

(3)
Mujhe Tehzeeb-E-Hazir Ne Ata Ki Hai Vo Azadi
Jo Zahir Mein To Azadi Hai, Batin Mein Giraftari

(4)
Tere Sofe Hain Afrangi, Tere Qaleen Hain Irani
Lahoo Mujh Ko Rulati Hai Jawanon Ki Tan Asani
Imarat Kya, Shikoh-e-Khusrawi Bhi Ho To Kya Hasil
Na Zor-e-Haidari Tujh Mein, Na Istaghna-e-Salmani
Na Dhoond Iss Cheez Ko Tezeeb-e-Hazir Ki Tajalli Mein
Ki Paya Main Ne Istaghna Mein Meeraj-e-Musalmani

(5)
Al Quran – Surah Baqarah (2:219) 

۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ۞

They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some benefit, for men; but the sin is greater than the benefit."

6)

 Khudi mein doob ja ghafil ye sirre zindgani hai

7)

Az Ghulami Fitrat-E-Azad Ra Ruswa Makun
Ta Tarashi Khawajah Ae Az Barhaman Kafir Teri

(8)
Agarche But Hain Jamat Ki Astinon Mein
Mujhe Hai Hukm-e-Azaan, La Ilaha Illallah

(9)
Kabhi Hairat, Kabhi Masti, Kabhi Aah-e-Sahargahi
Badalta Hai Hazaron Rang Mera Dard-e-Mehjoori

(10)

Nazm: Peer-o-Mureed 

(11)
Forty Rules Of Love (Elif Shafek) & Essential Rumi (Coleman Barks)

(12)
Hai Wohi Saaz-E-Kuhan Maghrib Ka Jamhoori Nazam
Jis Ke Pardon Mein Nahin Ghair Az Nawa’ay Qaisari

Deo Istabdad Jamhoori Qba Mein Paye Koob
Tu Samjhta Hai Ye Azadi Ki Hai Neelam Pari

(13)
“I have never considered myself a poet, I have no interest in poetic artistry. But yes, I have to convey a message for which expression I use poetic style as it concedes with conditions and traditions.”

-Allama Iqbal [Maktubaat Vol. 1 Pg. 195]

(14)
Nazm: Dar Ma'ani Huriyat-e-Islamia Wa Sirr-e-Hadsa Karbala (Rumuz-e-Bekhudi-12)