THE  ASSEMBLY  OF  STARS

Introduction
This poem is complementary to the previous one. In the previous poem ‘All«mah Iqb«l had described the serenity of the moonlit night. Like the previous one this poem also has a lesson, that of the unity within the Muslim Ummah  as a prerequisite for it’s success. This is expressly stated in the last stanza, particularly in the last verse.

Translation
While setting, the sun threw at the dark-clothed evening
Tulip flowers which it had collected from horizon’s basin

The twilight of evening put all ornaments of gold on it,
Nature put off its entire set of silver ornaments

The Lailah of the night in the litter of silence arrived
Started shining the beautiful pearls of the evening’s bride

Those living far from the commotion of the world
Which Man calls “stars” in his own language

                The sky’s  assembly was busy lighting up the sky
                From the `Arsh-i-Barân the call of an angel came

"O sentinels of the night! O stars of the sky!
The whole shining nation  of yours inhabits the sky

Start such music as may awaken all those sleeping
The brightness of your forehead is guide for caravans

The earth’s denizens consider you the destiny’s  mirrors
Perhaps they will listen to your call”

                Silence departed from this star-spangled expanse
                The sky’s expanse was filled with this music

The Eternal Beauty is produced in the stars’ loveliness
As the image of rose is in the looking  glass of the dew

 To be afraid of the new ways, to insist on the old ones
This is the only difficult stage in the life of nations

This caravan of life is so fast moving
Many a nation is trampled in whose race

Thousands of stars are hidden from our eyes
But their existence is also included in our group

The earth’s denizens did not understand in a whole life
What  has come in our comprehension in a short span of life

                All systems are established on mutual attraction
                This secret is concealed in the life of the stars”