Tu Rah Na'ward-e-Shauq Hai; ALLAMA IQBAL

 

Tu Rah Na'ward-e-Shauq Hai; Manzil na kar qabool"—

तू राह-ए-नवर्द शौक  है; मंज़िल न कर क़बूल

ALLAMA IQBAL

Listen  to youtube -----https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex86MMl5dYk 

 

 

1 तू राह-ए-नवर्द (wanderer on the way) शौक (love) है; मंज़िल न कर क़बूल

 

Oh, traveller or seeker on the path of love for God, do not be content with one's current destination and keep striving towards the ultimate goal of love. There are several stages of higher consciousness that one must traverse. (In Sufism, many Mukamat are layered in inner transcendental consciousness.) A seeker is prone to consider a somewhat higher realization as final as an erroneous realization. Iqbal in another ghazal states

तू  अभी  रहगुज़र  में  है, क़ैद-ए-मक़ाम से गुज़र

मिस्र  ओ हिजाज़  से   गुज़र,पारसओ  शाम  से   गुज़र

You are currently a traveller on the path and stuck in this world. Transcend this intervening period. Your mind roams from east to west and seeks gold (wealth). Transcend these limitations.

 

1(a) लैला भी हमनशीं ( together) हो, तो मेहमिल (support, friendship) न कर क़बूल

The worldly glitters or distractions (symbolized by Laila) should not be accepted but rejected with great disdain.

 

(The second line is symbolic of rejecting temptations that may hinder the pursuit of a higher purpose or Divine Love)

 

2 सुबह-ए-अज़ल (beginning of the creation) मुझ से कहा जिब्राईल ( angel jabreel) ने

जो अकल का ग़ुलाम है वो दिल न कर क़बूल

 

Iqbal portrays a conversation between him and the angel Jibraeel (who blessed spiritual enlightenment to the Prophet). He cautions the sincere seeker not to accept a heart enslaved by the mind, intellect and senses.

 

(Do not follow the rational mind, as its understanding is limited and deceptive. It acts as a deterrent in embracing one's emotions and desires for the Lord)

 

3 खोया न जाए सनम- कदा (temple or temporal) ए कायनात में

महफ़िल गुदाजी-गरमएआ( heated with fire) ,महफ़िल न कर कबूल

Oh seeker, do not get lost in devotions of Idols, Temples, masjids, religious places or worldly relationships—abundant in this universe. This creation is aflame with the fire of worldly desires and passions, and stay away from them.

 

In another Ghazal of Iqbal he also endorses the same view of  avoiding externalizing the devotion--

मैं जो सर-ब-सज्दा हुआ कभी तो ज़मीं से आने लगी सदा

तिरा दिल तो है सनम-आश्ना तुझे क्या मिलेगा नमाज़ में॥ 

 

सर-ब-सज्दा =Head bowed in prostration,  सदा= advice in the form of voice, सनम-आश्ना= devoted to the material word, idol worshipper, नमाज़= devotion ibadat

 

When I bowed my head in prostration for prayer, I heard a voice from the earth (or my conscience) saying that surely my worship, devotion, is for worldly desires or idol worship or worldly relationships-- meaning for my physical or mental needs, and not for the love of God. Therefore, Reality cannot be realized through false prostrations and temperamental actions.

 

4 ऐ जू-ए-आब (stream of water) बढ़ के हु दरिया-तंद-ओ-तेज़ ( transformed  into a river)

के साहिल ( embankment) तुझे अता (given) हो तौ; साहिल न कर क़बूल

 

Iqbal uses the metaphor of a stream transforming into a mighty river, urging it to reject being confined to banks if the opportunity presents itself.

 

He urges the seeker to continue one's path with determination and not succumb to limitations or obstacles, even if they seem easily attainable.

 

5 बातिल दो ई पसंद है; हक़ ला शरीक है

शिरकत में हक़-ओ-बातिल न कर क़बूल

(बातिल (untruth, falsehood) दुयी (duality) पसंद है; हक़ (God or the Truth) ला-शरीक (oneness) है

शिरकत ( God’s company)  में आना है तो हक़-ओ-बातिल ( truth mixed with untruth) न कर क़बूल)

 

Iqbal underscores the concept of Truth and falsehood. It highlights the dichotomy between Truth and untruth, asserting that Truth and God are unique and cannot be equated or blended with falsehood. He encourages rejecting any partnership or collaboration between the Truth and falsehood.

 

 

 

ESSENCE OF THE GHAZAL

 

 

1        Continuous Striving in the Path of Love (Verses 1 and 1a):

The seeker on the path of love for God should not be content with their current state and must strive towards the ultimate goal of love.

Reject worldly distractions and temptations, symbolized by Laila, and disdainfully avoid anything that hinders pursuing a higher purpose or Divine Love.

2        Caution Against a Rational Mind (Verse 2):

In a conversation with the angel Jibraeel, the poet advises against accepting a heart enslaved by the mind, intellect, and senses.

The rational mind may have limitations and can be deceptive, hindering the genuine emotions and desires for the Divine.

3        Avoiding Worldly Desires and Passions (Verse 3):

The seeker is warned not to get lost in external devotions or worldly relationships.

The world is depicted as aflame with the fire of desires, and the advice is to stay away from the heated gatherings of worldly passions.

4        Urging to Break Confinements (Verse 4):

Using the metaphor of a stream transforming into a river, the poet urges the seeker to reject confinement and limitations.

Even if the opportunity for an easy path presents itself, the seeker is encouraged to continue the journey with determination.

5        Rejecting Partnership Between Truth and Falsehood (Verse 5):

The poet emphasizes the dichotomy between Truth and falsehood.

Truth (Haq) is unique and cannot be blended or equated with falsehood (Bātil).

The seeker is encouraged to reject any collaboration or partnership between the two.

In summary, the ghazal guides the seeker to persevere in pursuing Divine Love, cautioning against distractions, the rational mind, and worldly desires and urging them to break free from limitations while steadfastly upholding the principles of Truth and rejecting any mixture with falsehood.