Shikwa – Allama Muhammad Iqbal Pt 4

Our complaint is not that they are rich, that their coffers overflow;
They who have no manners and of polite speech nothing know.
What injustice! Here and now are houris and palaces to infidels given,
While the poor Muslim is promised houris only after he goes to heaven.
Neither favour nor kindness is shown towards us anymore.
Where is the affection you showed us in the days of yore?

Why amongst Muslims is wordly wealth rarely found?
Great is Your power beond measure, withou bound,
If it were Your will, water would bubble forth from the bosom of arid land,
And the traveller lashed by waves of mirages in the sand.
Our lot is strangers taunts, ill-repute and penury;
Must disgrace be our lot who gave their lives for You?

Now on strangers does the world bestow its favours and esteem,
All we have been left with is a phantom world and a dream.
Others have taken over the world, our days are done;
Say not then, 'None in the world believed God there is but one.
All we live for is to hear the world resound with our name;
How can it be that the saqi goes but the goblet remains?

Your mehfil is dissolved, those who loved you are also gone.
No signs through the nights of longin, no lamenting at dawn.
We gave our hearts to You, took the wages You did bestow;
But hardly had we taken our seats, You ordered us to go.
As lovers we came, as lovers departed with promise of tomorrow.
Now search for us with the light on. You radiant face does glow.

Laila's love is as intense, Qais desire her evermore,
On Najd's hills and dales, the deer swift footed as before.
The same love beats in the heart, beauty is as bewitching and magical,
Your messenger Ahmed's following still abides, your presence is eternal
Neither rhythm nor reason has Your displeasurem What does it mean?
On the faithful is Your angry eye of censure! What does it mean?