A BIRD AND THE FIRE‑FLY
Introduction
This short poem is a beautiful presentation of the
all‑pervading Creative Power of God as well as the harmony and purpose in the
creation and operation of the universe. It opens deep mystical truths from
commonplace objects and phenomena, which is a characteristic of the style of
�All�mah Iqb�l.
The poem also presents the conflict between evil and good, which is one of the components of Khud�. This is brought out in the last verse, according to which the beauty of God's Creation is maintained only by the harmony between its components and is destroyed by the destruction of the beautiful to satisfy the greed of the greedy.
Translation
Early in the evening a song bird
Sitting on a branch was singing
It saw a glowing object on the ground
Considering it a fire‑fly flew down to it
The fire-fly said to the singing bird
"O singing bird, do not kill a helpless creature,
Who gave chirping to you, and fragrance to the rose
The same God gave the glittering light to me
I am clad in the apparel of light
I am the ñ�r of the insects' world
If your chirping is the ear's pleasure
My brightness also is the sight's pleasure
Nature has given light to my wings
It has given fascinating voice to you
He taught singing to your beak
He made me the torch of the garden
He bestowed glitter upon me, voice upon you
Conferred warmth upon me and music upon you
Warmth is not the opposite of music
Everywhere warmth is the associate of music
The assembly of existence is based on these alone
All the world's manifestations are through these alone
The world's assembly is based on harmony alone
The bloom of this garden is based on this alone"