Description

The complaint and the Reply to the Complaint

First Impression

ISRA Books are proud to publish their first book, “Shikwah” and “Jawab-e-Shikwah” by Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal, in a hand-bound paperback volume on high-quality paper containing both the original Urdu transliterated into the Roman alphabet and a modern English version suitable for reading aloud. The scholarly translation is by Professor Muhammad Sharif Baqa, adapted and made rhythmic by Maggie Blenkinsop.

We at ISRA Books felt there was a strong need for a more accessible version of these important poems, both for those who have a knowledge of spoken Urdu without the ability to read Urdu script and for those who understand modern English without having studied the literary language. Maggie Blenkinsop has helped produce a translation that is sufficiently rhythmical to be read aloud, as practised by the poet himself when the works were first written. We are grateful to Professor Baqa for allowing us to make use of his text in this way and hope that the result will be a still wider audience for the works of the great poet.

Second Edition

ISRA Books is proud to present the second edition of a contemporary translation of Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s famous poems, “Shikwah” (Complaint) and “Jawab-e-Shikwah” (Reply to the Complaint).

In the Complaint Iqbal remonstrates with God Almighty, expressing great pride in the past achievements of the faithful.

For the second edition we have incorporated the original Urdu text as well as replacing the previous transliteration text. It is hoped that readers will approve and find more ease with this new transliteration.

We have tried to maintain the same quality of production in this new edition.

“As wayfarers, we were constantly travelling in the world,

Goblets filled with the wine of Thy Oneness, we preached everywhere.

We spread Thy message beyond every mountain and forest.

O Lord, is it in Thy Knowledge, for we never failed,

We traversed not only forests but also rivers,

With full fervour, we galloped our horses into the Atlantic Ocean.”

At the same time, in The Reply to the Complaint, he forces his readers to reflect on their participation in the woeful situation previously complained of. Instead of celebrating past glories, the faithful are forced to reconnect with the essence of their role on earth as viceroys of the Almighty.

In the final stanza of “Jawab-e-Shikwah”, the poet sets out in simple terms the reward that awaits those who remain faithful to the Beloved’s call.

“Intellect is your shield, and love your sword.

My dear dervish, vice-regency of the world is here at your command.

Your clarion call of “God is Great” shall be your burning flame.

If you are truly Faithful, then your intent will shape your destiny.

Be sincere to the Beloved, then We are surely with you.

This world is nothing for the tablet and the pen will be your prize.”

Author

Professor Mohammad Sharif Baqa was born in Lahore, Pakistan on the 14th March 1934. He showed a keen interest in writing both poetry and prose from an early age and gained his master’s in English from Punjab University in 1961. Shortly after that he came to England where he founded the Iqbal Literary Society and later Majlis-e-Iqbal, London to promote the poetry and philosophy of Allama Iqbal. Since then he has started up magazines, published more than 50 books, regularly broadcast on television and been recognised as the foremost living authority on the works of Iqbal.