Thread by @PoliticalPrism_

Remembering #AllamaIqbal on his 85th Death Anniversary. His vision for Muslims & Pakistan, to date, serves as a timeless guide for us.

This translation of Jawab-i-Shikwah - The message of Iqbal was first published in Dawn on Apr 21, 1948, on the 10th death anniversary of Iqbal.

1. Complain ye not of heart unkind! Nor speak of tyranny! When Love no bondage knows, Why should Beauty not be free?

Each stack and barn it sets on fire, This lightning-like New Age, Nor howling wild nor garden gay Escapes its flaming rage;

2. This new fire feeds on fuel old,— The nations of the past, And they too burn to whom was sent God’s Messenger, the last.

But if the faith of Abraham There, once again, is born, Where leaps this flame, flowers will bloom, And laugh its blaze to scorn.

3. Yet, let the gardener not be sad To see the garden’s plight, For soon its branches will be gay With buds, like stars of light;

The withered leaves and weeds will pass, And all its sweepings old; For there, again, will martyr-blood In roses red unfold.

But look! a hint of russet hue, Brightening the eastern skies, The glow on yon horizon’s brow, Heralds a new sunrise.

4. In Life’s old garden a nation lived Who all its fruits enjoyed, While others longed in vain, while some The winter blasts destroyed;

Its trees are legion; some decay, While others flush with bloom, And thousands still their birth await, Hid in the garden’s womb;

5. A symbol of luxuriance, The Tree of Islam reigns, Its fruits achieved with centuries Of garden-tending pains.

The robe is free from dust of home, Not thine such narrow ties, That Yousuf thou, whose Canaan sweet, In every Egypt lies;

6. Thy Qafila can ne’er disperse; Thou holdst the starting bells; Nought else is needed, if thy will Thy onward march impels. Thou candle-tree! thy wick-like root Its top with flame illumes, Thy Thought is fire, its very breath All future care consumes.

7. And thou shall suffer no surcease Should Iran’s star decline, ‘Tis not the vessel which decides The potency of wine;

‘Tis proved to all the world, from tales Of Tartar conquerors, The Kaaba brave defenders found In temple-worshippers.

8.On thee relies the bark of God, Adrift beyond the bar, The new-born age is dark as night, And thou its dim pole-star.

The Bulgars march! The fiend of war In fearful fury breathes; The message comes: “Sleepers, awake! The Balkan cauldron seethes.”

9. Thou deemest this a cause of grief, Thy heart is mortified; But nay, thy pride, thy sacrifice, Thus, once again, are tried. Beneath thy foes if chargers neigh, Why tremblest thou in fright? For never, never, shall their breath Extinguish Heaven’s light.

10. Not yet have other nations seen, What thou art truly worth, The realm of Being has need of thee For perfecting this earth.

If aught yet keeps this world alive, ’Tis thine impetuous zeal, And thou shall rise its ruling star. And thou shalt shape its weal.

11. This is no time for idle rest, yet much remains undone; the lamp of Tauheed needs thy touch to make it shame the sun!