Sir Muhammad Iqbal, also known as Allama Iqbal, was a philosopher, poet and politician in British India who is widely regarded as having inspired the Pakistan Movement.
(Armaghan-e-Hijaz-01) Iblees Ki Majlis-e-Shura (ابلیس کی مجلس شوری) The Devil's Conference
Iblees Ki Majlis-e-Shura
1936
THE DEVIL’S CONFERENCE
THE DEVIL’S CONFERENCE
Iblees
IBLIS
Sakinan-e-Arsh-e-Azam Ki Tamanaon Ka Khoon!
This ancient game of elements, this base world!
The frustration of the longings of the great Empyrean’s dwellers.
Jis Ne Uss Ka Nam Rakha Tha Jahan-e-Kaaf-o-Noon
Upon its destruction is bent to‐day that Fashioner of things,
Who gave it the name, “The world of Be it so.”
Mein Ne Tora Masjid-o-Dair-o-Kalisa Ka Fusoon
I inspired in the European the dream of Imperialism:
I broke the spell of the Mosque, the Temple and the Church
Mein Ne Muneim Ko Diya Sarmayadari Ka Junoon
I taught the destitute to believe in Destiny:
I infused into the wealthy the craze for Capitalism.
Jis Ke Hungamon Mein Ho Iblees Ka Souz-e-Daroon
Who dare extinguish the blazing fire in him,
Whose tumults are stimulated by the inherent passion of Satan?
Kon Kar Sakta Hai Uss Nakhl-e-Kuhan Ko Ser Nigoon!
Who could summon the courage to bend down the old tree,
Whose branches their height to our watering owe?
FIRST COUNCILOR
Pukhta Tar Iss Se Huwe Khuay Ghulami Mein Aawam
Stable is the Satanic system, no doubt there is!
It has further strengthened in the commoners their slavishness indeed.
In Ki Fitrat Ka Taqaza Hai Namaz-e-Be Qayam
Since the dawn of Time have these helpless mortals been ordained to prostration:
Prayer devoid of the posture of standing straight is their nature’s constant urge.
Ho Kahin Paida To Mer Jati Hai Ya Rehti Hai Kham
In their heart no desire can in fact take its birth:
But if it does, perchance, it dies or is left unripe.
Sufi-o-Mullah Mukuliyat Ke Bande Hain Tamam
What wonders have our hard, persistent endeavours wrought!
To‐day finds the mystics and the priests all as subjects of Imperialism.
Warna 'Qawwali' Se Kuch Kam Tar Nahin 'Ilm E Kalam'
Suited to the disposition of the East was this opium indeed:
Otherwise Ilm‐i‐Kalam is no less self‐effacing than qawwali in effect
Kund Ho Kar Reh Gyi Momin Ki Taeg-e-Be Nayam
What matters it, if the tumult of the pilgrimage and tawaf abides?
For, rendered blunt, lies unused the unsheathed sword of the Faithful.
'Hai Jihad Iss Dour Mein Mard-e-Musalman Par Haram!'
Whose despair does this latest Ordinance prove:
“To the Muslim in this age is forbidden fighting in Lord’s name”?
SECOND COUNCILOR
Tu Jahan Ke Taza Fitnon Se Nahin Hai Ba-khabar!
Is the clamour for “Government by the people” evil or good?
Are you unaware of the fresh mischiefs of the world?
FIRST COUNCILOR
Jo Mulukiyat Ka Ek Parda Ho, Kya Uss Se Khatar!
Aware am I! but tells me my cosmic foresight:
No danger from what is but a masquerade for imperialism.
Jab Zara Aadam Huwa Hai Khud Shanas-o-Khud Nigar
We ourselves have dressed imperialism in the garb of democracy
When man has grown to be a little self‐conscious and self‐observant.
Ye Wujood-e-Meer-o-Sultan Par Nahin Hai Munhasar
The true nature of the system of imperialism lies elsewhere:
It depends not on the existence of an individual leader of king.
Hai Woh Sultan, Ghair Ki Khaiti Pe Ho Jis Ki Nazar
Be it a national assembly of the court of Parviz,
Whoever casts a covetous eye on other’s harvest is a king.
Chehra Roshan, Androon Changaiz Se Tareek Tar!
Have you not observed the democratic system of the West?
With a brilliant exterior, its interior is darker than Genghis’s.
THIRD COUNCILOR
Hai Magar Kya Uss Yahoodi Ki Shararat Ka Jawab?
No cause for anxiety then, if the spirit of imperialism be preserved:
But what counter‐measure to the mischief wrought by that Jew have you?
Neest Peghambar Wa Lekin Dar Baghal Darad Kitab
That Moses without Light, that Jesus without the Cross:
No prophet is he, yet with him a book he carries.
Mashriq-o-Maghrib Ki Qaumon Ke Liye Roz-e-Hisab
I can hardly explain what significance does the infidel penetrating vision possess:
It is, methinks, the day of reckoning for the peoples of the East and the West.
Torh Di Bandon Ne Aaqaon Ke Khaimon Ki Tanab!
No greater corruption of human nature than this would be:
Slaves have broken asunder the ropes of the masters’ tents.
FOURTH COUNCILOR
Aal-e-Ceaser Ko Dikhaya Hum Ne Phir Ceaser Ka Khawab
Watch its counteraction in the palaces of Imperial Rome:
Again did we inspire in the descendants of Caesar the dream of Caesar.
'Gah Balad Choon Sanobar' Gah Nalad Choon Rabab
Who is coiled round the waves of the Mediterranean?
That now expands like a pine, and then wails like a rebeck!
THIRD COUNCILOR
Jis Ne Afrangi Siasat Ko Kiya Yun Behijab
Little do I recognize him to be a man of far‐sighted wisdom:
(A fool!) who has thus European politics exposed.
(Iblees Ko Mukhatib Kar Ke)
FIFTH COUNCILOR
(TURNING TO IBLIS)
Tu Ne Jab Chaha, Kiya Har Pardagi Ko Ashikaar
O you! the fire of whose breath lends stability to the world‐process:
Whenever you wished, everything hidden presently did you reveal.
Abla-e-Jannat Teri Taleem Se Danaye Kaar
It is your fire that has transformed dead earth and water into a world of beauty and endeavour:
Inspired by your instruction, the fool of Paradise turns a seer
Sada Dil Bandon Mein Jo Mashoor Hai Parwardigar
More closely familiar with man’s nature than you is not He:
Who among the simpletons is known as God the Sustainer.
Teri Gairat Se Abad Tak Sar Nigun-o-Sharamsaar
Those whose business was confined to sanctifying, singing hymns and going round:
Your sense of self‐respect has out them to shame for ever, with their heads hanging low.
Ab Mujhe In Ki Farasat Par Nahin Hai Atibar
Though the wizards of Europe all are disciples to you:
No longer have I faith in their sagacity left.
Har Kaba Hone Ko Hai Iss Ke Janoon Se Tar Tar
That Jew, that mischief‐maker, that reincarnation of Mazdak:
Each tunic is about to be torn to shreds by his fanaticism.
Kitni Sura’at Se Badalta Hai Mazaaj-e-Rozgar
Behold! the wild crow is vying with the falcon and the hyena:
Lo, how swiftly does the disposition of Time allow of a change!
Jis Ko Nadani Se Hum Samajhe The Ek Musht-e-Ghubar
It spread about, and covered the whole expanse of skies:
What we unwisely had taken for a handful of dust.
Kanpte Hain Kohsar-o-Murghzar-o-Ju’ay bar
Such is the state of the ghastly dread of the morrow’s disturbance:
To‐day tremble with overwhelming awe, mountains, meadows and rivers all.
Jis Jahan Ka Hai Fakat Teri Sayadat Par Madar
That world is going to turn topsy‐turvy, my Lord!
The world which resteth solely on your governance.
IBLIS (TO HIS COUNCILORS)
Kya Zameen, Kya Mehar O Mah, Kya Asaman-e-Tu Ba Tu
Absolute command have I of the world of scent and hue!
The earth, the sun, the moon and the firmaments all
Main Ne Jab Garma Diya Aqwam-e-Europe Ka Lahoo
With their own eyes shall the West and the East witness the Spectacle:
When I but warm the blood of the nations of Europe
Sub Ko Diwana Bana Sakti Hai Meri Aik Hoo
The leaders of politics and the patriarchs of church all:
One call from me would be enough to turn them mad.
Tor Kar Dekhe To Iss Tehzeeb Ke Jam-o-Saboo!
The fool who considers it to be mere glass‐work:
Let him dare smash the goblets and ewers of this Civilization.
Mazdaki Mantaq Ki Souzan Se Nahin Hote Rafoo
The collars torn asunder by the hand of Nature:
Can’t be darned with the needle of the Mazdakite logic.
Ye Preshan Rozgar, Ashufta Maghz, Ashufta Mu
How could I be frightened by these Socialists, straying about the streets?
Wretched and straitened, distracted in mind, incoherent in speech!
Jis Ki Khatstar Mein Hai Ab Tak Shirar-e-Arzu
Amongst this people there are still to be seen a few
Which still a spark of ambition hidden in its ashes retains
Karte Hain Ashak-E-Sehargahi Se Jo Zalim Wazoo
The only menace I anticipate may come that community:
Who go so far as to perform their ablutions with the tears of pre‐morning hours.
Mazdkiat Fitna-e-Farda Nahin, Islam Hai!
Knows he to whom are revealed the inner secrets of Time:
Not Mazdakism, but Islam is to be the trouble of the morrow.
Hai Wohi Sarmayadari Banda-e-Momin Ka Deen
I do know this community is no longer the bearer of the Quran:
The same Capitalism is the religion of the Believer now
Be Yad-e-Baiza Hai Peeran-e-Haram Ki Asteen
And I know, too, that in the dark night of the East
The sleeve of the holy ones of the Sanctuary is bereft of the white, illuminating hand.
Ho Na Jaye Ashakara Shara-e-Peghambar Kahin
The demands of the present age, however, spell the apprehension:
Lest the Shari‘ah of the Prophet should come to light one day:
Hafiz-e-Namoos-e-Zan, Mard Azma, Mard-e-Afreen
Beware, a hundred times beware, of the Law of the Prophet!—
The protector of women’s honour, the tester of men’s capacities, the rearer of worthy men!
Ne Koi Faghfoor-o-Khaqaan, Ne Fareeq-e-Reh Nasheen
The message of death to any kind of slavery!No sovereigns and no monarchs, no mendicants begging!
Munemon Ko Maal-o-Doulat Ka Banata Hai Ameen
It does purify wealth of all pollution:
It makes the wealthy trustees of wealth and property.
Padshahon Ki Nahin, Allah Ki Hai Ye Zameen!
What greater revolution in thought and action will there be:
Not to the crowned heads, but to God alone does this Earth belong!
Ye Ghanimat Hai Ke Khud Momin Hai Mehroom-e-Yaqeen
Better, if this Law be kept hidden from the world’s eye:
So much the better, the Believer himself is deprived of inner conviction.
Ye Kitab Ullah Ki Taweelat Mein Uljha Rahe
Better that he remains busy and entangled in the metaphysical theology:
Better, that he remains busy and entangled in the interpretations of the Book of God.
Ho Na Roshan Uss Khuda Andaish Ki Tareek Raat
Whose cries of God is Most High could break the charm of the universe:
May the dark night of that God‐thinking man not ever turn bright!
Hain Sifat-e-Zaat-e-Haq, Haq Se Judda Ya Ayn Zaat?
Is the Son of Mary dead or is he endowed with eternal life?
Are the Attributes of God separate from God, or do they form what He is?
Ye Mujaddid, Jis Mein Hon Farzand-e-Mariam Ke Sifat?
Does the expected mean Jesus of Nazareth?
Or a Renewer, endowed with the attributes of the Son of Mary?
Ummat Marhoom Ke Hai Kis Aqeede Mein Nijat?
Are the letters of the Word of God New or of Old?
In which of the doctrines does the salvation of the Blessed Community lies
Ye Elahiyat Ke Tarshay Huwe Laat- O-Manaat?
Are not enough to the Faithful in this age:
These idols of worship carved by Metaphysical Theology?
Ta Bisat-e-Zindagi Mein Iss Ke Sub Muhre Hon Maat
Keep him separate from world of character
Until he loses all the plans(tactical moves) of life
Chor Kar Auron Ki Khatir Ye Jahan-e-Be-Sabat
Our safety lies in that Believer remains a slave till Doomsday:
Renouncing this transitory world for others’ sake.
Jo Chupa De Iss Ki Ankhon Se Tamasha-e-Hayat
What is good in his case is that poetry and mysticism
Which may keep hidden from his eyes the game of Life.
Hai Haqiqat Jis Ke Deen Ki Ahtisaab-e-Kainat
Every moment do I dread the awakening of this community
Whose religion is, in reality, nothing short of taking account of the universe
Pukhta Tar Kar Do Mazaaj-e-Khanqahi Mein Isse
Keep him well absorbed in the thought and contemplation of God in pre‐morning hours:
Ye all make him grow stronger in his monastic disposition!
Amazing
ReplyDeleteAwesome
ReplyDelete