Zuhad Aur RindiVirtue And Vice
Ek Molvi Sahib Ki Sunata Hun Kahani
Taizi Nahin Manzoor Tabiat Ki Dikhani
A Mullah (I tell you his tale not a bit
With any ambition of airing my wit)
Shohra Tha Bohat App Ki Sufi Manashi Ka
Karte The Adab Un Ka Aa’aali-o-Adani
By ascetic deportment had won high repute,
In his praise neither gentle nor simple were mute.
Kehte The Ke Pinhan Hai Tasawwuf Mein Shariat
Jis Tarah Ke Alfaz Mein Muzmar Hon Maani
God’s will, he would say, just as meaning is latent
In words, through pure doctrine alone becomes patent.
Labraiz Mai-e-Zuhd Se Thi Dil Ki Surahi
Thi Teh Mein Kahin Dard-e-Khiyal-e-Hama-Dani
His heart a full bowl: wine of piety worked there,
Though some dregs of conceit of omniscience lurked there—
Karte The Byan Aap Karamat Ka Apni
Manzoor Thi Taadad Mureedon Ki Barhani
He was wont to recount his own miracles, knowing
How this kept his tally of followers growing.
Muddat Se Raha Karte The Humsaye Mein Mere
Thi Rind Se Zahid Ki Mulaqat Purani
He had long been residing not far from my street,
So sinner and saint were accustomed to meet:
Hazrat Ne Mere Aik Shanasa Se Ye Pucha
Iqbal Ke Hai Qumri-e-Shamshad-e-Maani
‘This Iqbal,’ he once asked an acquaintance of mine,
‘Is dove of the tree in the literary line,
Pabandi-e-Ahkam-e-Shariat Mein Hai Kaisa?
Go Shair Mein Hai Rashak-e-Kaleem-e-Hamdani
but how do religion’s stern monishments (admonishments) seem
To agree with this man who at verse beats Kalim?
Sunta Hun Ke Kafir Nahin Hindu Ko Samajhta
Hai Aesa Aqeeda Asar-e-Falsafa Dani
He thinks a Hindu not a heathen, I’m told,
A most casuistical notion to hold,
Hai Iss Ki Tabiyat Mein Tashayyu Bhi Zara Sa
Tafzeel-e-
Ali (R.A.) Hum Ne Suni Iss Ki Zubani
And some taints of the Shias’ heresy sully
His mind—I have heard him extolling their
Ali;
Samajha Hai Ke Hai Raag Ibadaat Mein Dakhil
Maqsood Hai Mazhab Ki Magar Khak Urani
He finds room in our worship for music—which must
Be intended to level true faith with the dust!
Kuch Aar Isse Husn Faroshon Se Nahin Hai
Adat Ye Humare Shuara Ki Hai Purani
As with poets so often, no scruple of duty
Deters him from meeting the vendors‐of beauty;
Gana Jo Hai Shab Ko To Sehar Ko Hai Talawat
Iss Ramz Ke Ab Tak Na Khule Hum Pe Maani
In the morning, devotions—at evening, the fiddle—
I have never been able to fathom this riddle.
Lekin Ye Suna Apne Mureedon Se Hai Main Ne
Be-Dagh Hai Manind-e-Sehar Iss Ki Jawani
Yet dawn, my disciples assure me, is not
More unsoiled than that youth is by blemish or spot;
Majmooa-e-Azdaad Hai, Iqbal Nahin Hai
Dil Daftar-e-Hikmat Hai, Tabiat Khuftani
No Iqbal, but a heterogeneous creature,
His mind crammed with learning, with impulse his nature,
Rindi Se Bhi Aagah, Shariat Se Bhi Waqif
Pucho Jo Tasawwuf Ki To Mansoor Ka Sani
Acquainted with vice, Aware of monishments too
In divinity, doubtless, as deep as Mansur;
Iss Shakhs Ki Hum Par To Haqiqat Nahin Khulti
Ho Ga Ye Kisi Aur Hi Islam Ka Bani
What the fellow is really, I cannot make out—
Is it founding some brand‐new Islam he’s about?’
Al-Qissa Bohat Toul Diya Waaz Kp Apne
Ta Dair Rahi App Ki Ye Nagz Byani
—Thus the great man protracted his chatter,
and in short made a very long tale of the matter.
Iss Shehar Men Jo Baat Ho, Urh Jati Hai Sub Mein
Main Ne Suni Apne Ahibba Ki Zubani
In our town, all the world hears of every transaction:
I soon got reports from my own little faction,
Ek Din Jo Sar-e-Rah Mile Hazrat-e-Zahir
Phir Chhir Gyi Baton Mein Wohi Baat Purani
And when I fell in with His Worship one day
In our talk the same topic came up by the way.
Farmaya, Shikayat Woh Mohabbat Ke Sabab Thi
Tha Farz Mera Rah Shariat Ki Dikhani
‘If,’ said he, ‘I found fault, pure good‐will was the cause,
And my duty to point out religion’s strict laws.’
Main Ne Ye Kaha Koi Gila Mujh Ko Nahin Hai
Ye App Ka Haq Tha Zarah-e-Qurb-e-Makani
—‘Not at all,’ I responded, ‘I make no complaint,
As a neighbour of mine you need feel no constraint;
Kham Hai Sar-e-Tasleem Mera App Ke Agay
Peeri Hai Tawazaa Ke Sabab Meri Jawani
In your presence I am, as my bent head declares,
Metamorphosed at once from gay youth to grey hairs,
Gar App Ko Maloom Nahin Meri Haqiqat
Paida Nahin Kuch Iss Se Qasoor-e-Hamadani
And if my true nature eludes your analysis,
Your claim to omniscience need fear no paralysis;
Main Khud Bhi Nahin Apni Haqiqat Ka Shanasa
Gehra Hai Mere Behr-e-Khiyalaat Ka Pani
For me also my nature remains still enravelled,
The sea of my thoughts is too deep and untravelled:
Mujh Ko Bhi Tammana Hai Ke ‘Iqbal’ Ko Dekhun
Ki Iss Ki Juddai Mein Bohat Ashak Fishani
I too long to know the Iqbal of reality,
And often shed tears at this wall of duality.
Iqbal Bhi ‘Iqbal’ Se Agah Nahin Hai
Kuch Iss Mein Tamaskhar Nahin Wallah Nahin Hai
To Iqbal of Iqbal little knowledge is given;
I say this not jesting—not jesting, by Heaven!
