Syria And Palestine
Pur Hai Mai-e-Gulrang Se Har Sheesha Halab Ka
Heaven’s blessing on those brazen Frenchmen shine!
Aleppo’s rare glass brims with their red wine.
Haspania Pe Haq Nahin Kyun Ahl-e-Arab Ka
—If the Jew claims the soil of Palestine,
Why not the Arab Spain?
Qissa Nahin Naranj Ka Ya Shehad-o-Rutab Ka
Some new design must have inflamed our English potentates;
This is no story of oranges, honey or dates.
great
ReplyDeleteMysterious comment on Western strategies to rule World by Iqbal. Sometimes it's colonialism, for today it's the "New World Order". I just require an explanation for very last misrah: "Qissa nahi naranj ka ya shehad o ratab ka"... Have a vague idea about it, but still need to get things clear.
ReplyDeletethe brits said they had come looking for these in palestine
ReplyDeleteiqbal implied their designs are more sinister
Iqbal means the British purpose of dividing countries on nationalism is not as pure as they claim.
ReplyDeleteGive credit where due: The English version is by V,G Kiernan, Poems from Iqbal, Wisdom of the East Series, Publisher John Murray, Abermarle Street. London W, 1955
ReplyDelete