Arise in order that we may make the order of the sun’s journey
fresh
That we may make the burnt out spirit of evening and morning
fresh.
*
The heart of a diamond can be cut by the leaf of a flower;
A soft and gentle word has no effect on a stupid man!
—Bartari‐Hari
[Translated by D.J. Matthews]
1
My epiphany of passion causes commotion in
the precinct of the Divine Essence,
Strikes terror in the pantheon of His
Attributes.
The houri and the angel are captives of my
imaginations—
My glance ruffles Your Manifestations.
My quest is the architect of the Mosque and
the idol‐house,
Though my song causes tumult both in the
Ka‘bah and Somnath.
My sharp vision pierced through the core of
existence;
Confounded by my illusions at yet another time.
Oh what a rash deed that You did not leave
me hidden:
I was the only secret in the conscience of the
universe!
[Translated by the Editors]
*
All potent wine is emptied of Thy cask;
Art Thou, indeed, a Cup‐bearer, may I ask?
Thou gavest me a drop from an ocean;
Art Thou a miser in a Nourisherʹs mask?
[Translated by Naim Siddiqui]
2
If the stars have strayed—
To whom do the heavens belong, You or Me?
Why must I worry about the world—
To whom does this world belong, You or Me?
If the Placeless Realm
Offers no lively scenes of passion and
longing,
Whose fault is that, my Lord?—
Does that realm belong to You or to me?
On the morning of eternity he dared to say
ʹNoʹ,
But how would I know why—
Is he Your confidant, or is he mine?
250 Collected Poetical Works of Iqbal
Muhammad is Yours,
Gabriel is Yours,
The Qurʹan is Yours—
But this discourse,
This exposition in melodious tunes,
Is it Yours or is it mine?
Your world is illuminated
By the radiance of the same star
Whose loss was the fall of Adam, that
creature of earth,
Was it Yours or mine?
[Translated by Mustansir Mir]