SHIKWA JAWAB by Allama Iqbal

1. SHIKWA & JAWAB E SHIKWA BY ALLAMA IQBAL
Ham jo jeetey thay to jangon ki museebat ke liye
Aur marte thay tirey naam ke azmat ke liye
Thi na kuch tegh zani apnee hukumat key liye
Sar bakaf phirte thay kiya dhar men daulat ke liye?
Qaum apni jo zaro-maal-i jahan par marti
But faroshi ke iwaz but shikani kiyum karti?
(If we lived we lived for the calamities of wars
If we died we died for the grandeur of Thy name
We did not wield the sword for our kingdoms
Did we roam about the world fearlessly for wealth?
If our nation had been greedy of worldly wealth
Why would we have been idol breakers instead of idol sellers?)

2. Mahfil-i kaun-o Makan men sahar-o sham phiray
Ma-i tauheed ko ley kar sifat-i jam phiray
Koh men’ dasht mey ley kar tira paigham phiray
Aur maaloom hay tujh ko kabhi nakaam phiray
Dasht to dasht hain darya bhi na chorey hamnay
Bahr-i zulmaat men daura diy-e ghorey hamnay
(We continuously wandered all over the world
We wandered like the wine cup with Tawhid’s[1] wine
We wandered with Thy message in the mountains, in the
deserts
And doth Thou know whether we ever returned unsuccessful?
What of the deserts! we did not spare even oceans!
We galloped our horses in the dark ocean.?)

3. Safah-i dhar se batil ko mitaya hamney
Nau-i insan ko ghulami se churaya hamney
Terey kaabe ko jabeenon sey bassaya hamney
Terey Qur’an ko seeno sey lagaya hamney
Phir Bhi hamsey ye gila hai ke wafadar naheen
Ham wafadar naheen too bhi to dildar naheen
(We effaced falsehood from the earth’s surface
We freed the human race from bonds of slavery
We filled Thy Kaa’ba with our foreheads
We put Thy Qur’an to our hearts
Still Thou complaineth that we are lacking fealty
If we are lacking fealty Thou also art not generous.)

4. The second part shows the state of decline of
Muslim nation. But Iqbal has projected this
aspect so beautifully that instead of creating a
sense of despair and destitute in the mind it
inspires a new vigour and courage to stand up
and deal with rival forces. Quoted hereunder are
three stanzas of this part:

5. Ummaten aur bhi hain un men gunahgaar bhi hain
Ijz waley bhi hain mast-i ma-e pindar bhi hain
Inmey kahil bhi hain ghafil bhi hain hushyar bhi hain
Saikron hain ke tirey naam se bezaar bhi hain
Rahmaten hain teri aghyar ke kashanon par
Barq girti hai to becharey musalmanon par
(There are other nations, among them are sinners also
There are modest people and arrogant ones also
Among them are slothful, indolent as well as clever people
There are also hundreds who are disgused with Thy name
Thy graces descend on the other people’s abodes
Lightning strikes only the poor Muslims’ abodes.)

6. But sanam khanon men kahte hain musalmaan gai
Hai khushi unko ke Kaabey key nigehbaan gai
Manzil-i dhar se unton ke hudi khuwan gai
Apni baghlon men dabba-e huey Qur-an ghai
Khanda zan kufr hai ehsaas tujhe hai ke naheen
ApniTauhid ka kuch paas tujhe hai ke naheen
(The idols in temples say ‘The Muslims are gone’
They are glad that the Ka’bah’s sentinels are gone
From the world’s stage the hudi[2] singers are gone
They, with the Qur’an in their arm pits, are gone.
Infidelity is mocking , hast Thou some feeling or not?
Dost Thou have any regard for Thy own Tawhid or
not?)

7. Bani aghyar ki ab chahne wali dunya
Rahgai apne liye ek khayali dunya
Ham to rukhsat hue auron ney sanbhali dunya
Phir na kahna hui Tauheed se khali dunya
Ham to jeetey hain ke dunya men tera naam rahe
Kaheen mumkin hai ke saaqi na rahey jaam rahe?
(Now the world is the lover of others
For us it is only an imaginary world
We have departed, others have taken over the world
Do not complain now that the world has become devoid
ofTawhid
We live with the object of spreading Thy fame in the world
Can the wine cup exist if the cup bearer does not live?)

8. The third part of Shakwa is a direct
complaint to God. Three beautiful
stanzas of this part are quoted as
under:

9. Ye shikayat naheen hain unke khazane maamoor
Naheen mahfil men jinhen baat bhi karne ka shaoor
Qahr to ye hai ke kafir ko milen hoor-o qasoor
Aur becharey musalman ko faqat waida-i hoor
Ab wo altaaf naheen ham pe inaayaat naheen
Baat ye kiya hai ke pheli si madaraat naheen
(We do not complain that their treasures are full
Who are not in possession of even basic social graces
Outrageous that infidel are rewarded with Houries and palaces
And the poor Muslims are placated with only promise ofHouries
We have been deprived of the former graces and favours
What is the matter, we are deprived of the former honours.)

10. Ishq ki khair wo pehli si ada bhi na sahi
Jada paimaiye tasleemo raza bhi na sahi
Muztarib dil sifat-i qiblanuma bhi na sahi
Aur paabandiye aaeen-i wafa bhi na sahi
Kabhi hamse kabhi ghairon se shanasai hai
Baat kahney ki naheen too bhi to harjai hai
(Granted that Love has not the former elegance also
We may have lost treading the path of Love also
We have lost the restless heart like the compass also
And we may have lost the observance of fidelity’s rules
also
Thou art changing friendship between us and others
It is difficult to say but Thou art also unfaithful.)

11. Sarey faraan pey kiya deen ko kamil too ne
Ek isharey pe haszroon kay liye dil toone
Aathish andoz kiya ishq ka hasil toone
Phoonk di garmiye rukhsaar sey mahfil toone
Aaj kiyun seene hmare sharar aabaad naheen
Ham wohee sokhta saamaan hain tujhey yaad naheen?
(Thou perfected the Din on the peak of Faran[3]
Thou captivated the hearts of thousands in a moment
Thou consumed the produce of Love with the fire
Thou burned the congregation with Thy face’s fire
Why are not our breasts filled with love’s sparks now?
We are the same lovers, dost Thou not remember now?)

12. The fourth part of Shakwa is the ending of
this poem. Here we find Iqbal singing as a
nightingale in a garden praying and
expressing his sentiments in the most
beautiful and touching manner. Out of these
we quote below four stanzas;

13. Wadiye najd men wo shor-i salasil na raha,
Qais deewana-i nazzarai mehmil na raha
Hausley wo na rahey ham na rahey dil na raha
Ghar ye ujra hai ke too raunaq-i mahfil na raha
Aye khush aan rooz ke aayee wa basad naaz aayee
Bay hijabana su-i mahfil-i maa baaz aayee
(The noise of lover’s chains in the Najd’s valley has
disappeared
Qais has no more remained longing for the litter’s sight
Those old ambitions, we, as well as the heart have
disappeared
The house is destroyed as Thou art not present in the house
O that happy day when Thou with elegance will come back
When Thou unveiled to our congregation will come back.)

14. Mushkilen ummat-i marhoom ki aasaan ka de
Moor-i bey maya ko hamdosh-i Sulaiman ka de
Jins-i nayab-i mohabbat ko phir arzaan karde
Hind key der nasheeno ko musalmaan karde
Joo-i khoon mi chakad az hasrat-i derina-i ma
Mee tapad nala ba nashtarkada-i seena-i ma
(Make easy the difficulties of the blessed Ummah
Place the poor ant shoulder to shoulder to Sulaiman
Make the invaluable produce of Love accessible again
Change the idolatrous Muslims of India into Muslims
again
A stream of blood drips from the frustrations mine
Wailing palpitates in the wounded breast of mine!)

15. Boo-i gul lay gai bairoon-i chaman raaz-i chaman
Kiya qayaamat hai ke khud phool hain ghammaz-i chaman
Ahd-i gul khatm hua toot gaya saz-i chaman
Ur gai daliyon se zamzama pardaz-i chaman
Ek bulbul hai ke hai mahv-i tarannum abtak
Uske seeney men hai naghmoon ka talatum abtak
(The rose’ fragrance took garden’s secret outside the garden
Outrageous that flowers themselves are informers against the
garden
The spring is over, broken is the orchestra of the garden
Flown away from branches are the songsters of the garden
Only nightingale is left which is singing still
In its breast overflows the flood of songs still

16. Lutf marney men hai baqi na maza jeeney men
Kuch maza hai to yihee khoon-i jigar peeney men
Kitney betaab hain johar mirey aaeeney men
Kis Qadar jalway taraptey hain mirey seeney men
Is Gulistaan men magar dekhnay waley hi naheen
Daagh jo seene men rakhte hoon wo lalay hi naheen
(There is no pleasure in dying and no taste in living is
If there is any pleasure, it in bearing this affliction is
Many a virtue is restless in my mirror!
Many an effulgence is fluttering in my breast!
But there is none in this garden to see them
There is no poppies[6] with love’s stains in their
breasts).

17. After one year of reciting Shakwa Iqbal presented Jawab-i Shakwa
in a huge gathering in 1913 at a famous public place Outside
Mochi Gate of Lahore City. Jawab-I Shakwa contains 36 stanzas of
six lines or verses each. This thrilling poem in a way was a call from
God rather than a reply to Iqbal’s complaint. It added fire to the
already boiling blood of the nation after Iqbal’s Shakwa, as a result
of the Indian Muslims arose with a new life filled with enthusiasm,
courage and a determination to change their fate. Inspired by
Iqbal’s songs they were united, fought the war of independence
and achieved victory. Once again the Muslims of India were a free
nation and masters of their own destiny living in an independent
country called Pakistan, the new Muslim State appeared on the
world map on the 14th of. August 1947.

18. The revelation of Jawab-I Shakwa and its
compilation took a long time of over one year.
In this poem a comprehensive reply to Iqbal’s
complaint to Allah is given This poem contains
36 stanzas out of which I have selected nine
stanzas which are quoted hereunder together
with their English translation;
At the outset Allah says,

19. Ham to mayal ba karam hain koi saail hi naeein
Rah dikhlaeen kisay rahrav-i manzil hi naheen.
Tarbiat aam to hai johar-i qabil hi naheen
Jis say taamir ho adam ke ye wo gil hi naheen
Koi qabil ho to ham shan-i kai detay hain
Dhoodnay walay ko dunya bhi nayi detay hain.
We[7] are inclined to Mercy, but there is no one to implore
Whom can we show the way? There is no wayfarer to the
destination
Jewel polishing is common but there is no proper jewel
There is no clay capable of being moulded into Adam
We confer the glory of Kai[8] on the deserving
We confer even a whole new world on those who search.
The following three stanzas are in direct reply to the three
stanzas in the Complaint (Shakwa):

20. Wo bhi din thay ke yihi maayai raanaa-i thaa
Naazish-i mausami gul laala-i Sahra-i tha
Jo musalman tha allah ka shaida-i tha
Kabhi mahboob tumhara yihi harjai tha
Kisi yakjai sey ab ahd-i ghulaami karlo
Millat-i Ahmad-i Mursil ko Moqami karlo
(There was a time when this alone was the source of
beauty
The wild tulip was the pride of the season of spring
Whichever Muslim there was, the Lover of Got he was
A while ago your beloved this very Unfaithful was
Make the covenant of fealty now with some local one
Make the Ummah of the Holy Prophet a local one.)

21. Safah-i dahr sey baatil ko mitaya kisne
Nau-i insaan ko ghulami sey churaya kisne
Merey kaabae ko jabeenon sey basaaya kisne
Merey Qur’an ko seenon sey lagaya kisne
Thay to aaba wo tumharay hi magar tum kiya ho
Hath par hath dharay muntazir-i farda ho
(Who effaced false worship from the face of the world?
Who rescued the human race from slavery?
Who adorned my Ka’bah with their foreheads in Love?
Who put my Qur’an to their breasts in reverence?
They were surely your ancestors, but what are you?
Sitting in idleness, waiting for tomorrow are you!)

22. Kiya kaha bahri musalman hai faqat waadai hoor
Shakwa beja bhi karay koi to laazim hai shaoor
Adl hai faatir-i hasti ka azal sey dastoor
Muslim aaeen hua kfir to milay hoor-o qasoor
Tum men hooron ka koi chahnay wala hi naheen
Jawai toor to maujood hai Moosa hi naheen
(What did you say? For the Muslims is only the promise
ofHouri
Even if the Remonstrance be unreasonable decorum is
necessary
Justice is the Creator of Existence’ custom since eternity
When the infidel adopts Muslim ways he receives Hourisand
palaces
Not a single one of you is longing for Houris
The effulgence of Tur exists but there is no Musa

23. At the end of Jawab-i Shakwa the
Response offers a new hope for
Ummah and also provides the
remedy of all diseases of the
Muslims. The following 30 verses
(five stanzas) are the essence of this
poem:

24. Ummateen gulshan-i hasti men samar cheeda bhi hain
Aur mahroom-i samar bhi hain khizan deeda bhi hain
Sankron Nakhl hain kaheeda bhi’ baleeda bhi hain
Sankron batn-i chaman men abhi poshida bhi hain
Nakhl-i Islam namuna hai bromandi ka
Phal hai ye sankron saddiyun ki chaman bandi ka.
(Some nations in the existence’s garden benefited from their
labour are
And some deprived from fruits and even destroyed by
autumn are
Hundreds of trees deteriorated and hundreds flourishing are
Hundreds still even concealed in the bosom of the garden are
The tree of Islam a model of flourishing is
This the fruit of cons of gardening efforts is)

25. Pak hai gard-i watan say sar-i daman tera
Too wo Yusuf hai ke har misr hai kanaan tera
Qafla ho na sakega kabhi veran tera
Ghair yek bang-i dara kuch naheen saman tera
Nakhl-i shamasti-o dar shola dawad resha-i to
Aaqibat soz bawad saya-i andesha-i to
(Your skirt is undefiled by the dust of homeland
You are the Yusuf for whom every Egypt is Kan’an
It will never be possible to destroy your caravan
Nothing except the Clarions’s Call are your chattel
You are a candle like tree, it its flame’s smoke your
roots are
Your thoughts free from the care of the end are.)

26. Misl-i boo qaid haye ghunche men pareeshan hoja
Rakht bar dosh hawa-i chmanistaan hoja
Hai tunak maya to zarrey say biyabaan hoja
Naghma-i Mauj say hangaama-i toofaan hoja
Quwwat-i Ishq sey her past koi balaa kardey
Dhr men ism-i Muhammad sey Ujala krdey
(Like fragrance you are contained in the flower bud, become
scattered
Become the chattel travelling on the wings of the breeze of the
rose garden
If you are poor, changed from speck to the wilderness be
From the melody of wave changed to tumult of the storm be
With the Love’s power elevate every low to elegance
With Muhammad’s name illuminate the whole world.)

27. Ho na ye phool to bulbul ka tarannum bhi na ho
Chaman-i dhr men kalyun ka tabassum bhi na ho
Ye na saqi ho to phir mai bhi na ho khum bhi na ho
Bazm-i tawhid bhi dunya bh na ho tum bhi na ho
Khema aflaak ka istada isi naam se hai
Nabz-i hasti taphis aamada isi nam sey hai
(If there is no flower nightingale music should also not be
In the world’s garden smile of flower buds should also not
be
If there is no cup bearer, wine and decanter should also not
be
Tawhid’s Assembly in the world and you should also not be
The system of the universe is stable by this very name
The existence’ pulse is warm with this very name.)

28. Aql hai teri sipar ish a shamsheer teri
Merey darvesh khilafat hai jehangir teri
Ma siwallah ke lia aag hai takbeer teri
Too Musalman ho to taqdir hai tadbir teri
Ki Muhammad se wafa toonay to ham teray hain
Ye jahan cheez hai kiya lauho qalam tere hain
(Intellect is your shield, Love is your sword
My dervish! Your vicegerency is world-conquering
Your Takbir like fire for Godlessness is
If you are Muslim your prudence your destiny is
If you are loyal to Muhammad we are yours
This universe is nothing the Tablet and the Pen[11] are yours.)