THE  PRESENT  CIVILIZATION
 (BASED ON A VERSE OF FAIZĄ)

Introduction
For Shaikh Abë al-Faiz Faizâ Fay«zâ Akbar«b«dâ  see Appendix 1, No. 26. This poem , as the name shows, is a critique of the present day Western civilization and its influence on the thinking of Muslims especially the Muslim youth. Exposing the hollowness and poisonous effects of the Western civilization  on humanity in general and on Muslims in particular is a strong  pillar of the edifice of ‘All«mah Iqb«l’s thought. Examples  of this abound in B«ng-i-Dar« as well as in all his prose and poetic writings. It is difficult to select the best few for citing and so we refrain from it. Many of these have appeared at different places in this book .

Translation
Extremely excessive is the heat of current civilization’s wine
The clay body of the Muslim has exploded into flames

It made the speck into fire-fly by giving it borrowed light
Just look at what the trickery of the splendid sun is

The nature of the young  generation has found new  ways
This beauty, this alertness, this freedom, this fearlessness

Such a change has come  about in planning and thought
Bursting of the garden’s flower-buds in Love is considered trivial

The newly flying birds have lost their nests but
A pretty sight has been shown by magician’s cunningness

The new life  brought with it ever changing pleasures
Rivalry, selling conscience, impatience, greed

Muslim’s assembly is glittering with the new candle’s light
But my old time wisdom is saying this to the moths

“O moth!  You have derived this warmth from the assembly’s candle
Burn in your own fire like me if you have the warmth of the heart