RELIGION

Introduction
For Abu al-M‘«lâ Mirz« ‘Abd al-Q«dir Bedil ‘Aďâm«b«dâ see Appendix I, No. 15. In spite of being somewhat indifferent to Bedil’s difficult to understand style ‘All«mah  Iqb«l appreciated his thought and art. Among the subjects covered by Bedil in his poetry ‘All«mah Iqb«l has special appreciation for Love, large heartedness and Beni«zâ.

This poem is another one criticizing Western education and norms in which the climax is reached in the last verse which has been taken from Bedil. See also Introduction to Poem 129. Musalm«n Awr T‘«lâm-i-Jadâd (Muslims and Modern Education).

Translation
The teaching of the sage of Western philosophy is
“Those seeking the Invisible Existence are ignorant

If the form is unfamiliar to sight
Would the Shaikh also be an idol-maker like Brahman?

The foundation of modern knowledge is on the tangible
In this age the wine-bottle of Faith is shattered

What is known as dân is an immature frenzy
Which is repulsive to human imagination”

But the philosophy of life is saying something else
This secret has been divulged to me by the Perfect Preceptor ¹

“With every perfection a little distress is welcome
However, perfect the Intellect, it is not good without Love”

Explanatory Notes
1. Allusion to Mirz« Bedil