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