THE  MUSLIM  NATIONAL  ANTHEM

Introduction
This short but beautiful poem does not represent Muslim chauvinism as is alleged by Islam’s enemies. On the other hand, its four-fold message to mankind in general and to Muslims in particular is based on the Holy Qur’«n and covers four important  subjects. These are (i) universality of Islam, (ii) Mission of the Holy Prophet S.A.W., (iii) Struggle, including fighting,  if necessary, in the cause of truth and defense of the weak and the oppressed, (iv) Islamic values. The universality of Islam is evidenced in the Holy Qur’«n in which God always calls Himself “Rabb-ul-ÿlamân’’ (Lord of the whole universe and not that of Muslims or of any race or nation). This message is interspersed throughout the Holy Qur’«n. It is contained in verses 1, 4, 7 and 8 of the poem. Verse 2 carries the second message which is based on the Holy Qur’«n. 9:33¬; 27:91-93; 30:30; 48:8-10, 28¬ and 61:9¬,  of which the three marked with  asterisk are very significant. The third message is very important and is oft repeated in the Holy Qur’«n (2:190-193, 216, 244; 4:74-76, 84; 8:39, 65; 9:5, 6, 12-16, 19, 20, 29, 33, 81-85, 123; 22:39-41, 78; 25:52; 29:69; 47:4, 20-21;  48:17, 28 and 61: 9. Verses 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10  of the poem contain this message. The whole Qur’«n is the exposition of Islamic values. Verses 2, 3, 10 and 11 of the poem contain this thought. For these reasons the poem is very popular  among Muslims and is memorized by young boys and girls.

Translation
China and Arabia are ours, India is also ours
We are Muslims, whole world is homeland of ours

The trust of  Divine  Unity is in the breasts of  ours
It is not easy to destroy the identity of ours

Among the world’s temples that first House of God 1
We are its sentinels, it is the sentinel of ours

We have been brought up under the shade of swords
The crescent’s  dagger is the national insignia of ours

Our Adh«n echoed in the valleys of the West
None could stop the advancing flood of ours

We cannot be bowed down by falsehood, O sky
Hundreds of times you have done tests of ours

O garden of Andalus 2! Do you remember  the  days
When your branches harbored the nest of ours?

O wave of the Tigris 3! You also recognize us
Your river still recites the  stories of ours

O Holy Land 4! For your honor we fought to the bitter end
Still flowing in your veins is the blood of ours

The Hijaz’s Chief 5 is the commander of our caravan
This name preserves solace of the hearts of ours

                This anthem of Iqb«l is the clarion’s 6 call so to say
                Again prepares for the journey the caravan of ours


Explanatory Notes
1. Though man was inhabiting the earth since long and many prophets  had brought the message of God the first sanctuary devoted to the worship of the single God was built by S. Ibr«hâm A.S. (The Holy Qur’«n 3:96) who lived in the second millennium B.C.

2.  Andalus is the Arabic name of Spain. Muslims ruled in Spain for over 700 years from 711 to 1492. Their achievements in art, culture, literature, as well as politico-economic systems are well  known to all educated persons. ‘All«mah Iqb«l was very much frustrated by the loss of Spain by Muslims for which see the poem “Masjid-i-Qurtubah” (The Mosque of Cordova) (Appendix III, No. 29)

3. Allusion to the battle of Karbalah (680) in which Im«m £ussain R.A. was martyred in the defense of truth and perpetuation of the Divinely guided Khil«fah..

4. Reference to Palestine and the long struggle for liberation of Jerusalem  during Islam’s history and its revival since World War I in which Muslims are consistently making sacrifices.

5. Reference to the Holy Prophet S.A.W.

6. This is also a subtle reference to his book B«ng-i- Dar« which contains material for the rejuvenation and renaissance of world Muslims.