Allama Muhammad Iqbal has been a major inspiration for many including myself. In fact inn my early teens I was informed by “one of those who know” that Allama was much more than just a poet. I began reading his poetry although I could hardly read or understand Urdu at the time. I read it for the baraka and I believe that it is through this baraka that I was able to learn Urdu quite quickly after that. Since he has been a continuous inspiration and his poetry continues to shed light and reveal new meanings with the passage of years.
I found a nice compilation of pictures of Allama including one depicting the appearance of Mawlana’s spirit to him. This is not just imaginary but a reality. As Allama said himself:
tu bhi hai us kafla-e-shawq mien Iqbal
jis kafla-e-shawq ka salaar hai Rumi.
“You too are part of that caravan of longing O Iqbal
that caravan of longing whose guide is Rumi”.
although my reading of both Allama sahab and Mawlana (r) is very limited, i did come across the following beautiful example of their shared passion. Hark back to the opening of the mathnawi:
“Bish nowaz ney chuo hikayat mi kunand
az judai-ha shikayat mi kunand
Listen to the song of the reed, how she tells a tale, complaining of separations…”
Allama sahab continues:
“Hamchuo ney az nistan-e khuwad hikayat mi kunam
bishno ey gul! az judai-ha shikayat mi kunam
Like the reed plucked from its native self i do complain
listen o rose! Of separations i do complain”
subhan Allah, dyar e ihsq me apna maqam peda kar…. a real qalander. jazak Allah for sharing all these beautiful things chaiwala.
Of the subject but have you seen this great qawwali at youtube:
(Murli qawwal)
Thank you for your posts dust and cyclewala. Time and space do not prevent the communion of spirits.
Yes cyclewala, I have seen that and am a fan of Murli Qawwal. I wish more of his stuff was available though.