THE writer also pointed out, as mentioned in last Wednesday's article, that the Muslim countries are totally in the dark about the research work in each other's institutions. This results in useless repetition, and loss of funds and energies. If the Muslim countries have proper contacts, this problem can be overcome and sharing of each other's treasures of knowledge can be made possible. Dr Salah and his colleagues appreciated this proposal and provided an unpublished list of the research work completed at the Foundation. (The list was forwarded to the Principal of the Oriental College, Punjab University, Lahore, the oldest and prestigious seat of learning in Pakistan, Professor Dr. Syed Mazhar Moeen for proper utilisation). In this meeting Dr. Salah presented to the writer his book Manhaj al Hiwar, a set of various CDs and a rare copy of the Holy Qur'an placed in a beautiful and precious wooden box. The CD containing pictures of my visit was sent directly to my hotel, the very same day. Dr. Salah offered me to stay at the Foundation's guesthouse. I, however, thanked him and preferred to stay at the hotel. I performed the zuhr prayer at the beautiful and spacious mosque of the Foundation. In line with the old Islamic tradition, the Muslim students are also taught at the mosque. After the prayer, a meeting was held with the teachers of the Foundation which was hosted by Dr Allauddin Al Hamavi, Dean of the Faculty of Al Imam Al A uazai and Professor of Uloom Al Qur'an (Qur'anic Studies), at the Foundation. The writer spoke on Iqbal's concept of nationalism. My speech was heard with attention, rather astonishment. They knew little about Iqbal. The ideas of Iqbal were absolutely new to them. The writer stressed the need for propagating these ideas in view of the situation in the Muslim world, and especially in the Arab world. This would, in fact, be the propagation of Islam's concept of nationalism. The lunch was served at Dr. Salah's vast and spacious summer residence. Dr. Salah lives in a hilly area, outside Damascus city. Every corner of the house reflected his aesthetic sense and eye for the beauty. Having lunch at such a beautiful place became the most important event of the day. The lunch was attended by scholars from many Muslim countries. These scholars belonged to Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia as well as some African countries. Interesting exchange of views on various topics took place at this occasion. The writer addressed this memorable gathering of Muslim scholars. The topic was Iqbal's message for the Muslims, especially the Arab world. As some of the scholars did not understand English, Professor Faruk Akbik very kindly translated the speech in fluent Arabic. The writer told these scholars: Although Iqbal is a universal poet, he has made the Muslim Ummah the medium to speak to the whole humanity. And within the Muslim Ummah, he has especially focused on the Arabs, particularly the Arab intellectuals i.e. the writers, the poets and the artists. This group is, in fact, the brain of any nation. They have been gifted with the ability to find out the ultimate truth. Therefore, Iqbal says to them: I have not given much importance to the worldly sweetheart. However, I have illuminated the night of 130 years of slavery of the Indian Muslims with the help of the light acquired from the Holy Qur'an. I propagated Ishq (passionate love) and declared the worldly gains as totally worthless. My teachings will, one day, enable the Indian Muslims to challenge the mighty forces. Therefore, O'Arab writers leave your traditional sweethearts and befriend your conscience. Fill the life of the Muslims with the fire that you possess. Our body holds the heart and the heart holds grief. This old branch still has life in it. O'Arab artist, with the power of your art, raise the stream of Zam Zam which is hidden inside every Muslim. The Muslim carries God's characteristics. His heart is one of the secrets of God. His beauty cannot be seen without the beauty of God. Give him your fire and light, so that his night gives rise to the sun. Sing the song, which produces love for revolution in the Ummah. As the writer was directly speaking to the Arabs, therefore, it was proper to say that ‘Muslim'means a person who feels the pain and grief of others. He becomes an integral part of the Ummah sacrificing his individual identity. Thus raises the slogan “I am nation”. The one, who has seen the secret of soul, looks at the world only with his own eyes. Cultivate the ability of transforming autumn into spring. Protect the qualities which have been gifted to you. The fire and the ecstasy hidden inside you are the real gifts of your life. Iqbal says that the others hold empty vessels. Only your bowl of heart is full of wine. Burn your heart and illuminate the world. A hermit's lamp cannot do this. You know that the sun is required for this. Understand! Understand yourself well and hold your future tightly. Take recourse to the Islamic teachings like me. This would show you the enormity of your being. The lunch was ready, but the power of Iqbal's message kept the audience fully absorbed in the speech. This speech was, in fact, based upon Iqbal's verses which are included at the end of his last work Armghan-e-Hijaz (Gift of Hijaz) under the title Huzoor-e-Millat (To the Nation). Apart of it is named Shorae Arab (poets of Arabia ). After my speech, Dr. Salah Uddin Kuftaro spoke to the gathering. He thanked me and said: You have reminded us of Iqbal's advice which we had forgotten. He told us that one of Iqbal's poems “Al Seen o lana wal arab o lana ……………”was recited at their school assembly when he was a student. This occasion has, thus, revived his childhood memories. This fact was very important for the writer that Iqbal's poem was once recited at a school of Damascus. Dr. Salah was born in 1957. This means that Iqbal's song was being sung in Syria till the sixties. Perhaps this practice was started after adoption of this song by the Mo'tamar al-Alam al-Islami and its special recordings by the Damascus radio. The aforementioned line is from Iqbal's first poetic collection Bang-e-Dara (Call of the Marching Bell) It forms the initial part of the translation of poem Tarana-e-Milli (National Song). The title of the collection Bang-e-Dara has also been derived from the last verse of this poem. The poem was translated into Arabic by a famous Egyptian poet Sheikh Sawi Sha'lan, under the title Al-Nasheed Al-Islami. In Sawi Sha'lan's translation, each verse of the poem has been translated into two verses. The same technique has been adopted in the translation of poem Shikwa (The Complaint). This reflects the comprehensiveness of Iqbal's poetry. Even a rich language like Arabic requires the space of two verses for translating one verse of Iqbal. Another translation of Bang-e-Dara by Dr Galal al-Saeed al-Hefnawi, has also been published, captioned Diwan Salsalat al-Jaras from the National Centre for Translation, Cairo (in 2003 under the supervision of Dr Gaber Asfoor.) It is pertinent to quote, in the end, the verses from Armghan-e-Hijaz (Gift of Hijaz), which were the basis for the writer's speech to this distinguished gathering. To Arab poets sweet on my part say, I shun to versify on red lips gay. From a beam I had of Holy Book's light, After hundred years nights I see a dawn bright You leave making now the portraits on wall, Be friendly with conscience and ego's call. Since you got growth in my nation's lawn, Fill your song's flame in their brain and brawn. Give to his dust that flame and might, Which brings into being a sun from night. Hit a tune and tone due to whose grace, He gets a new verve from world's new face. So guard the nature of thy mud and dust, A bliss, trance and burning for thee is must. I see empty bowls of the nation's whole, A lasting wine lasts in thy heart's own bowl. [Armaghan e Hijaz P 81/963 Translation of verses Q.A. Kabir] Amir is a professor of Urdu & Pakistan Studies Chair at the Faculty of Languages & Translation, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. He can be reached at http://www.zahidmuniramir786.blogspot.com
