THE   MUSLIM

Introduction
This poem also is an allegory in which the first part describes a voice from the invisible world inquiring from ‘All«mah Iqb«l the reason for his poetry being based on the history of the Muslim Ummah, which it calls anachronistic. In the second part the ‘All«mah describes some of the important attributes of a sincere Muslim, and justifies basing his poetry on the theme of Islam. He has presented himself as a true specimen of Muslims. The climax is reached in verses 8-11, which is the central theme of the poem.

Translation
O Iqb«l ! Every breath of yours is veiled in sighs
Your burning breast is filled with complaint

The song of hope does not exist in the harp of your heart
We think this Lailah does not exist in your camel-litter

Your ear is the seeker of the sound of bygone lyre
And your heart is unconcerned with today’s affairs

Your garden companions do not listen to the tale of roses
The assembly’s people do not listen to your old message

O bell of the sleeping caravan! Be quiet
Your call is very frustrating! Be quiet

                That old assembly cannot be brought back to life
                The yesternight cannot be illuminated with candle

O Companion ! I am a Muslim, I am the harbinger of Tawéâd
Since eternity I am the sincere testifier of this Truth

The warmth in the pulse of the universe is from this
And the courage in the Muslim’s thought is from this

God created the universe for this Truth
And created me for its guardianship¹

I became the destroyer of false worship in the world
The truth is that I became the protector of Existence’ honor

My life is the cover for the world’s nakedness
My destruction is the disgrace of the human race²

The Muslim is the shining star of the universe’s destiny²
The spell of the morning by whose brilliance is shy

The secrets of life are open to my eyes
I cannot be considered lacking hope in the battle of life

How can the transient scene of grief frighten me
Confidence in destiny of my Millat strengthens me

My world is free of the component of despair
The zeal for battle gives the news of complete victory

Yes, it is true I keep my eye on the old times
I relate the old story to the assembly’s audience

Memory of the past  age is the elixir for my life
My past is the interpretation of my future

                I keep that pleasurable period before me
                I see the tomorrow in the mirror of today

Explanatory Notes
1. Allusion to the Holy Qur’«n 51:56. True service to God implies firm belief in His Tawéâd and other attributes, not only in words but by affirmation with the heart and by deeds in His cause and in the service of humanity as is required by the Holy Qur’«n .

2. These two verses show the supremacy of Man in the creation of God. According to ‘All«mah Iqb«l’s concept of Khudâ  Man reaches perfection and the zenith of his spiritual progress by complete submission to God, which is what Islam is. Also see the Holy Qur’«n 2:143, 144. It has been stated earlier that ‘All«mah Iqb«l sincerely believed that the decline and fall of the Muslim world to its present abject state is the cause of the ethical and moral degeneration of the whole human race. This, in its turn, is the cause of the evils in the present day world. These two verses illustrate this point.