Iqbal, Ghalib, Amir Khusraw: Three Masters, Three Poems

Interesting read....
though i think that the selection from Iqbal could have been a lot better...
the piece by Ghalib is great.... hadn`t read it before except for a couplet or two... i believe Ghalib has to be one of the greatest poets who have walked the earth (of any language)... he is simply awesome
the couplet about ``sharm`` was quite nice... amazing how these people can look things in such perspectives ;)
haven`t read much from Khusro because my farsi is limited only to those words which are frequently used in urdu...
and i second mr. echoboom on his thoughts about urdu poetry.... it is truly unbelievably rich... i think probably only arabic poetry surpasses urdu poetry in grandeur.. but then my arabic is also as good as my persian

Naqshbandi:

One of the monist Hindu Gurus has described Naqshbandis as follows:

Hosh dar dam, Nazar bar kadam, safar dar vatan, khilwat dar anjuman, Yad kard, Baazahgasht, Nigah dashat, Yaddaasht, Waqufeh zamaani, Waquf addiih, and Waqufe kalbii.

Any comments?

This is a very yeomen exercise Naqshbandi sahib. Do not get detered even if I may come across as a bit frank sometimes.

Your first para of Iqbal`s lines need revision, I think. Some lines are missing I`ll look them up as well.

I`ll try to participate but I hesitate because it is gut wrenching work & sometimes exhausting.

Always try one at a time.

Inquirer:
Iqbal is simply urging muslims to be more dynamic in ``active`` Islam as well, besides the rituals.

Khusrau is talking about the dream he had about the ``Mairaj``--the night journey of Muhammad(pbuh). ``Raqsi-bismil`` is the ecstacy which a beloved feels when the lover gives even a fleeting glance--and ``kills`` the beloved...tarRapnay-lagnaa when wish gets fullfilled.
Urdu poetry is unbelievably as rich & daunting as farsi & arabie. No wonder the entire classical european literature , like the sciences, is a borrowing from farsi & arabie--& every one has acknowledged that and admitted that they can only aspire reach that level.

lovely...we could benefit from more translations of amir khusrao and ghalib, specially for people who are`nt familiar with classical urdu or persian. good job.

Naqshbandi:
Interesting collection.

Iqbal`s poem is largely dated and refers to his assessments of discombobulated Muslims towards the end of the nineteenth century so they are of little interest today but the following is still valid and could help in the reorientation of followers of Islam which is sorely needed.

``namaaz-o-rozaa-o-qurbaanii-o-haj
ye sab baaqii hai tuu baaqii nahii.n hai ``

**** I interpret above as saying that in the mania for expansion of the Islamism, the Muslims have forgotten the essential nature of God which lies in acceptance of the wider mysticism nucleated into the conception of God. Of course, Iqbal had undergone so many metamorphoses that it is hard to guess what he intended. But I would like today`s Muslims to leave the ``fundamentalism`` and adopt quintessence of mysticism rather than the ritualese specified by the outdated and selfish Masjid.****

``All around I saw lovers slain*, at that place where I was last night!

God Himself was the host of that gathering inside La-Makaan**, Khusraw!
Muhammad was the light of that gathering, that place where I was last night! ``

**** From what I know about Khusro, it seems to me that above lines are expressing the disappointment with the Muslim organizations of his times. He must have rued the massacre and destruction that the Muslim rulers were indulging in the name of God, supposedly according to the directions of Mohammad. Your translation of `bismils` into `lovers` is, to say the least remarkable and needs further discussion by you.****

As for Ghalib`s poetry, you need to place more readable version. The poem does seem to contain much philosophical speculation.

I look forward to an interesting and informative discussion and criticism from the Chowkies!