IF YOU HAD NOT COME I WOULD HAVE HAD NO OCCASION FOR CONTENTION

Introduction
This ghazal is the only one in B�ng-i-Dar� in the style of D�gh. It is believed that he had written several other ghazals in the same style but excluded them from this book at the time of its compilation. However, such ghazals were very few and the above piece of information may be only somebody's conjecture. ‘All�mah Iqb�l was a philosopher and an Islamist more than a poet. The style of ghazal, particularly the classical ghazal, is very much restricted by the constraints of rhyming and the length of the poem. It is not suitable for conveying the extensive and deep thoughts which he wanted to convey. Hence there are very few ghazals in the classical style of D�gh. This ghazal is typically mystic and describes the attributes of the Love of God in the language of materialistic love.

Translation
If you had not come I would have had no occasion for contention
But what reluctance in making the promise was?

Your messenger disclosed every secret
O Lord! What fault of Man in this was?¹

You recognized Your Lover in the full assembly
How alert Your eye in the middle of the ecstasy was!

True! Reluctant he was to come, O messenger
But tell me what the manner of denial was

M�s� was effortlessly attracted to T�r
How strong, O Zeal your attraction was ! ²

Your fame continues somewhere, O Iqb�l!
Some magic, not your speech it was

Explanatory Notes
1. Allusion to the Holy Qur'�n as a source of all knowledge and guidance for which there are many references in the Holy Book itself, such as 4:82; 6:92; 10:1; 27:6; 31:2; 36:2 and 45:2.

2. Allusion to the Holy Qur’�n 27:7-14 and 28:29-35.