MEETING THE BELOVED;  THE UNION

Introduction
This poem is a very artistic exposition of one aspect of the theory of "Waédat al‑Wujëd" . According to this theory God existed before the creation of the universe. The creation of the universe was only the appearance of the same entity in tangible forms. These forms appear different to the un‑initiated eye but to the eye with insight they are the same One God. As long as a man is not born he lives in the Presence of God, of which he is a component and which is the real object of his Love. The act of being born and sent to the earth is separation from the object of his Love, i.e. God and the source of his afflictions. Now man will remain separated from God till his death. According to this concept Man's afflictions are the products of this separation. However, they would disappear after death or if and when one has reached the stage in which he can see God in the objects of the universe, which he can achieve through real "Ib«dah", i.e. subservience to God in the comprehensive sense enjoined by Islam. This thought is expressed in Part 2 of the poem, starting with verse 6 and reaches its climax in the last verse. This is the stage which is known as "Fan« Fillah", leading to "Baq« Billah". It is in this condition that the veils of materialism are lifted from the human eye and the Truth becomes manifest to him. (See verse 2 of ghazal 50‑7 for clarification). This thought occurs in many places in the works of `All«mah Iqb«l.

Translation
O Nightingale! The rose whose search made me flounced
By dint of good luck that rose I have finally found

I used to flounce myself, I used to make others flounced
I used to feel shy when I found you singing beautifully

A mere restless heart was not in my bosom, it was mercury
I was impatient for fulfillment of the Longing of Love

My misfortune was famous in the assembly of the rose
My morning was the reflection of my dark night

With my breath I have a blood‑stained knife in the bosom
Under the cloak of silence I have Judgment Day's uproar

Now that distress does not exist in my reflections' world
My reciting ghazals is no longer irksome to rose garden's assembly

With the heat of Love my blisters became flames
Now playing with thunderbolts are my wailings

The rouge of Love has changed this dark dust into a mirror
And I see the old companion's reflection in the mirror

By becoming a prisoner I gained my freedom
By ruining the heart I got prosperity for my house

My star is shining with this sun's light
By whose path's dust the moon light is shy

By a glance you taught me the rules of annihilation
How cool the day that has burnt away the motes from me