Jawab-e-Shikwa (The answer to the complaint) <br /><br />Words spoken from the heart never fail to have effect; <br />Sacred and pure their origin, on lofty heights their sights are set. <br />They have no wings and yet they have power to fly; <br />They rise from the dust and pierce through the sky. <br />So headstrong and insolent was my love, so much on mischief bent, <br />So outspoken my plaint, it tore through the firmament. <br /><br />The aged vault of heaven heard. There is someone somewhere, said he. <br />The planets spoke, Here on these ancient heights someone must be. <br />Not here, said the moon, it must be someone from the earth below. <br />Spoke the Milky Way, It must be someone hidden here we do not know. <br />Only the gatekeeper of Eden did some of my plaint recognize <br />And understood that I was the man thrown out of paradise. <br /><br />Even to the angels the voice came as a complete surprise; <br />Nor was the mystery unveiled to other dwellers of the skies. <br />(They wondered): Could celestial heights have become the aim of mans <br />striving? <br />Could this handful of dust have learnt the art of flying? <br />These earth-dwellers, how little of manners do they know! <br />How cheeky and insolent are these habitants of regions down below! <br /><br />He even rails against Allah, he has become so proud; <br />Is he the same Adam before whom the angels bowed? <br />He knows about things, their quantity and quality; <br />Yes, these he knows, but nothing of the secret of humility. <br />Their power of speech men always proudly flaunt, <br />But of the way of the speaking they are quite ignorant. <br /><br />Spoke the Voice: Your tale is indeed full of sorrow; <br />Your tears tremble at the brim and are ready to flow. <br />Your cry of lament the sky has rung; <br />What cunning your impassioned heart has lent your tongue! <br />So eloquently did you word your plaint, you made it sound like praise. <br />To talk on equal terms with Us, man to celestial heights did rise. <br /><br />Limitless is Our bounty, but none for it will pray. <br />Theres no one on the seekers path; to whom do We point the way? <br />Not one proved worthy of the care with which they were raised; <br />You are not the clay of which another Adam could be made. <br />If there were one deserving, Wed raise him to regal splendor, <br />To those who seek, We would unveil a new world of wonder. <br /><br />You have no strength in your hands; in your hearts God has no place; <br />On the name of My messenger, you people have brought disgrace. <br />Destroyers of false gods are gone; only the idol-maker thrives; <br />The sons of Abraham have departed, Azars idolatrous breed survives. <br />Strange the company you keep; from new vats a new vintage wine you brew; <br />You have built yourselves a new Kaaba with new idols because you yourselves <br />are new. <br /><br />There were days when this very Allah you regarded as sublime; <br />The tulip of Islam was the pride of the desert in blossom time. <br />There were days when every Muslim loved the only Allah he knew; <br />Once upon a time He was your Beloved; the same Beloved you now call untrue. <br />Now go and pledge your faith to serve some local deity <br />And confine Muhammads following to some one locality.
