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.