Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa

{{Short description|Poem by Allama Iqbal}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}

{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2019}}

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|filename = Jawab e Shikwa.ogg

|description = Audio 13 min 46 s, by Jamal Nasir

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"Shikwa" ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|شکوہ}}}}, "Complaint") and "Jawab-e-Shikwa" ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|جواب شکوہ}}}}, "Response to the Complaint") are poems written by Muhammad Iqbal, in the Urdu language, which were later published in his book Bang e Dara The poems are often noted for their musicality, poetical beauty and depth of thought.

File:Muhammad Iqbal.jpg Muhammad Iqbal]]

Overview

Though much of his poetry is written in Persian, Muhammad Iqbal was also a poet of stature in Urdu. Shikwa, published in 1909, and Jawab-e-Shikwa, published in 1913, extol the legacy of Islam and its civilizing role in history, bemoan the fate of Muslims everywhere, and squarely confront the dilemmas of Islam in modern times. Shikwa is in the form of a complaint to Allah for having let down Muslims and Jawab-e-Shikwa is in the form of God's reply.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bookhut.net/shikwa-jawab-e-shikwa-download/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928060018/http://www.bookhut.net/shikwa-jawab-e-shikwa-download/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=28 September 2014|title=Shikwa Jawab e Shikwa Allama Iqbal Urdu pdf - Book Hut|date=2014-07-26|work=Book Hut|access-date=2018-03-09|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://operationpakistan.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/shikwa-and-jawab-e-shikwa/|title=Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa|date=2014-04-04|work=Operation Pakistan|access-date=2018-03-09|language=en-US}}

The central idea of the poem Shikwa is that God is not fulfilling his promise to protect followers of the Prophet from loss and a decline in fortune. In Jawab-e Shikwa God answers directly that he has not broken his promise; instead it is the Muslims, his followers, who have turned away from the Path.{{cite journal |title=Literary Paradigms in the Conception of South Asian Muslim Identity: Muhammad Iqbal and Muhammad Hasan Askari|author=Farooqi, Mehr Afshan|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/475277|year=2012|journal=Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East|publisher=Duke University Press|volume=32|issue=1|page=192|doi=10.1215/1089201X-1545454|s2cid=145316473 |url-access=subscription |via=Project MUSE}}

Controversies On ''Shikwa''

The reason why Shikwa raised controversies is that the main theme of the poem was the 'Complaint to God' for Muslim's downfall, ill-treatment and troubles they were facing.Chaudry, Salma. [https://www.youlinmagazine.com/blog/iqbal-shikwa-jawab-e-shikwa/MTA2 "Iqbal's Payam-e-Mashrik"], "youlinmagazine", 5 December 2014 When the first of these poems, Shikwa, was published it created confusion among Muslim Scholars who thought that Iqbal was being ungrateful for the blessings of God. "When Iqbal wrote Shikwa, orthodox religious clerics called him an infidel, and in all honesty, Shikwa does emanate a very strong sense of entitlement".Fazli, Sarah.[https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/73380/105-years-later-allama-iqbals-shikwa-and-jawabe-shikwa-are-still-raising-significant-existential-questions/ "105 years later, Allama Iqbal's Shikwa and Jawabe Shikwa are still raising significant existential questions"], The Express Tribune, 9 November 2018 The second poem, Jawab-e-Shikwa, was not announced with the publication of the first, but when it was published four years later Iqbal was praised for his contribution to Urdu poetry and Islamic literature.

Publication

Iqbal recited Shikwa for the first time in April 1909, at a poetry gathering organized by Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam in Lahore.{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/714886/iqbals-shikwa-and-jawab-e-shikwa-a-contemporary-translation/|title=Iqbal's Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa - a contemporary translation |date=2014-05-29|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=2018-03-09|language=en-US}} In 1913 Iqbal recited its sequel Javab-e-Shikwa at a political rally held outside Mochi Gate, Lahore to raise money for the Turkish struggle against a Bulgarian uprising, a prefiguring of the Khilafat Movement.{{cite book|author=Naveeda Khan|title=Muslim Becoming: Aspiration and Skepticism in Pakistan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cevbpt3SQqQC|access-date=19 January 2018|date=22 May 2012|publisher=Duke University Press|location=Durham|isbn=978-0-8223-5231-0|pages=61, 65}}

Composition

{{Quote box|border=1px|align=left|title=Javab e Shikwa

{{cite web

| title = Jawab-e-Shikwa

| publisher = Rekhta

| url = https://www.rekhta.org/nazms/javaab-e-shikva-dil-se-jo-baat-nikaltii-hai-asar-rakhtii-hai-allama-iqbal-nazms}}

|quote=

dil se jo baat nikaltī hai asar rakhtī hai

par nahīñ tāqat-e-parvāz magar rakhtī hai

qudsi-ul-asl hai rif.at pe nazar rakhtī hai

ḳhaak se uThtī hai gardūñ pe guzar rakhtī hai

ishq thā fitnagar o sarkash o chālāk mirā

āsmāñ chiir gayā nāla-e-bebāk mirā

{{hidden begin}}

pīr-e-gardūñ ne kahā sun ke kahīñ hai koī

bole sayyāre sar-e-arsh-e-barīñ hai koī

chāñd kahtā thā nahīñ ahl-e-zamīñ hai koī

kahkashāñ kahtī thī poshīda yahīñ hai koī

kuchh jo samjhā mire shikve ko to rizvāñ samjhā

mujh ko jannat se nikālā huā insāñ samjhā

thī farishtoñ ko bhī hairat ki ye āvāz hai kyā

arsh vāloñ pe bhī khultā nahīñ ye raaz hai kyā

tā-sar-e-arsh bhī insāñ kī tag-o-tāz hai kyā

aa ga.ī ḳhaak kī chuTkī ko bhī parvāz hai kyā

ġhāfil ādāb se sukkān-e-zamīñ kaise haiñ

shoḳh o gustāḳh ye pastī ke makīñ kaise haiñ

is qadar shoḳh ki allāh se bhī barham hai

thā jo masjūd-e-malā.ik ye vahī aadam hai

ālim-e-kaif hai dānā-e-rumūz-e-kam hai

haañ magar ijz ke asrār se nā-mahram hai

naaz hai tāqat-e-guftār pe insānoñ ko

baat karne kā salīqa nahīñ nā-dānoñ ko

aa.ī āvāz ġham-añgez hai afsāna tirā

ashk-e-betāb se labrez hai paimāna tirā

āsmāñ-gīr huā nāra-e-mastāna tirā

kis qadar shoḳh-zabāñ hai dil-e-dīvāna tirā

shukr shikve ko kiyā husn-e-adā se tū ne

ham-suḳhan kar diyā bandoñ ko ḳhudā se tū ne

ham to mā.il-ba-karam haiñ koī saa.il hī nahīñ

raah dikhlā.eñ kise rah-rav-e-manzil hī nahīñ

tarbiyat aam to hai jauhar-e-qābil hī nahīñ

jis se ta.amīr ho aadam kī ye vo gil hī nahīñ

koī qābil ho to ham shān-e-ka.ī dete haiñ

DhūñDne vāloñ ko duniyā bhī na.ī dete haiñ

haath be-zor haiñ ilhād se dil ḳhūgar haiñ

ummatī bā.is-e-rusvā.i-e-paiġhambar haiñ

but-shikan uTh ga.e baaqī jo rahe but-gar haiñ

thā brāhīm pidar aur pisar aazar haiñ

bāda-āshām na.e baada nayā ḳhum bhī na.e

haram-e-kāba nayā but bhī na.e tum bhī na.e

vo bhī din the ki yahī māya-e-rānā.ī thā

nāzish-e-mausam-e-gul lāla-e-sahrā.ī thā

jo musalmān thā allāh kā saudā.ī thā

kabhī mahbūb tumhārā yahī harjā.ī thā

kisī yakjā.ī se ab ahd-e-ġhulāmī kar lo

millat-e-ahmad-e-mursil ko maqāmī kar lo

kis qadar tum pe girāñ sub.h kī bedārī hai

ham se kab pyaar hai haañ niiñd tumheñ pyārī hai

tab-e-āzād pe qaid-e-ramazāñ bhārī hai

tumhīñ kah do yahī ā.īn-e-vafādārī hai

qaum maz.hab se hai maz.hab jo nahīñ tum bhī nahīñ

jazb-e-bāham jo nahīñ mahfil-e-anjum bhī nahīñ

jin ko aatā nahīñ duniyā meñ koī fan tum ho

nahīñ jis qaum ko parvā-e-nasheman tum ho

bijliyāñ jis meñ hoñ āsūda vo ḳhirman tum ho

bech khāte haiñ jo aslāf ke madfan tum ho

ho niko naam jo qabroñ kī tijārat kar ke

kyā na bechoge jo mil jaa.eñ sanam patthar ke

safha-e-dahr se bātil ko miTāyā kis ne

nau-e-insāñ ko ġhulāmī se chhuḌāyā kis ne

mere ka.abe ko jabīnoñ se basāyā kis ne

mere qur.ān ko sīnoñ se lagāyā kis ne

the to aabā vo tumhāre hī magar tum kyā ho

haath par haath dhare muntazir-e-fardā ho

kyā kahā bahr-e-musalmāñ hai faqat vāda-e-hūr

shikva bejā bhī kare koī to lāzim hai shu.ūr

adl hai fātir-e-hastī kā azal se dastūr

muslim aa.iiñ huā kāfir to mile huur o qusūr

tum meñ hūroñ kā koī chāhne vaalā hī nahīñ

jalva-e-tūr to maujūd hai muusā hī nahīñ

manfa.at ek hai is qaum kā nuqsān bhī ek

ek hī sab kā nabī diin bhī īmān bhī ek

haram-e-pāk bhī allāh bhī qur.ān bhī ek

kuchh baḌī baat thī hote jo musalmān bhī ek

firqa-bandī hai kahīñ aur kahīñ zāteñ haiñ

kyā zamāne meñ panapne kī yahī bāteñ haiñ

kaun hai tārik-e-ā.īn-e-rasūl-e-muḳhtār

maslahat vaqt kī hai kis ke amal kā me.aar

kis kī āñkhoñ meñ samāyā hai shi.ār-e-aġhyār

ho ga.ī kis kī nigah tarz-e-salaf se be-zār

qalb meñ soz nahīñ ruuh meñ ehsās nahīñ

kuchh bhī paiġhām-e-mohammad kā tumheñ paas nahīñ

jā ke hote haiñ masājid meñ saf-ārā to ġharīb

zahmat-e-roza jo karte haiñ gavārā to ġharīb

naam letā hai agar koī hamārā to ġharīb

parda rakhtā hai agar koī tumhārā to ġharīb

umarā nashsha-e-daulat meñ haiñ ġhāfil ham se

zinda hai millat-e-baizā ġhorabā ke dam se

vā.iz-e-qaum kī vo puḳhta-ḳhayālī na rahī

barq-e-tab.ī na rahī shola-maqālī na rahī

rah ga.ī rasm-e-azāñ rūh-e-bilālī na rahī

falsafa rah gayā talqīn-e-ġhazālī na rahī

masjideñ marsiyāñ-ḳhvāñ haiñ ki namāzī na rahe

yaanī vo sahib-e-ausāf-e-hijāzī na rahe

shor hai ho ga.e duniyā se musalmāñ nābūd

ham ye kahte haiñ ki the bhī kahīñ muslim maujūd

vaz.a meñ tum ho nasārā to tamaddun meñ hunūd

ye musalmāñ haiñ jinheñ dekh ke sharmā.eñ yahūd

yuuñ to sayyad bhī ho mirzā bhī ho afġhān bhī ho

tum sabhī kuchh ho batāo to musalmān bhī ho

dam-e-taqrīr thī muslim kī sadāqat bebāk

adl us kā thā qavī laus-e-marā.āt se paak

shajar-e-fitrat-e-muslim thā hayā se namnāk

thā shujā.at meñ vo ik hasti-e-fauq-ul-idrāk

ḳhud-gudāzī nam-e-kaifiyat-e-sahbā-yash buud

ḳhālī-az-ḳhesh shudan sūrat-e-mīnā-yash buud

har musalmāñ rag-e-bātil ke liye nashtar thā

us ke ā.īna-e-hastī meñ amal jauhar thā

jo bharosā thā use quvvat-e-bāzū par thā

hai tumheñ maut kā Dar us ko ḳhudā kā Dar thā

baap kā ilm na beTe ko agar azbar ho

phir pisar qābil-e-mīrās-e-pidar kyūñkar ho

har koī mast-e-mai-e-zauq-e-tan-āsānī hai

tum musalmāñ ho ye andāz-e-musalmānī hai

haidarī faqr hai ne daulat-e-usmānī hai

tum ko aslāf se kyā nisbat-e-rūhānī hai

vo zamāne meñ muazziz the musalmāñ ho kar

aur tum ḳhvār hue tārik-e-qur.āñ ho kar

tum ho aapas meñ ġhazabnāk vo aapas meñ rahīm

tum ḳhatā-kār o ḳhatā-bīñ vo ḳhatā-posh o karīm

chāhte sab haiñ ki hoñ auj-e-surayyā pe muqīm

pahle vaisā koī paidā to kare qalb-e-salīm

taḳht-e-faġhfūr bhī un kā thā sarīr-e-ka.e bhī

yuuñ hī bāteñ haiñ ki tum meñ vo hamiyat hai bhī

ḳhud-kushī sheva tumhārā vo ġhayūr o ḳhuddār

tum uḳhuvvat se gurezāñ vo uḳhuvvat pe nisār

tum ho guftār sarāpā vo sarāpā kirdār

tum taraste ho kalī ko vo gulistāñ ba-kanār

ab talak yaad hai qaumoñ ko hikāyat un kī

naqsh hai safha-e-hastī pe sadāqat un kī

misl-e-anjum ufuq-e-qaum pe raushan bhī hue

but-e-hindī kī mohabbat meñ birhman bhī hue

shauq-e-parvāz meñ mahjūr-e-nasheman bhī hue

be-amal the hī javāñ diin se bad-zan bhī hue

in ko tahzīb ne har band se āzād kiyā

lā ke ka.abe se sanam-ḳhāne meñ ābād kiyā

qais zahmat-kash-e-tanhā.i-e-sahrā na rahe

shahr kī khaa.e havā bādiya-paimā na rahe

vo to dīvāna hai bastī meñ rahe yā na rahe

ye zarūrī hai hijāb-e-ruḳh-e-lailā na rahe

gila-e-zaur na ho shikva-e-bedād na ho

ishq āzād hai kyuuñ husn bhī āzād na ho

ahd-e-nau barq hai ātish-zan-e-har-ḳhirman hai

aiman is se koī sahrā na koī gulshan hai

is na.ī aag kā aqvām-e-kuhan īñdhan hai

millat-e-ḳhatm-e-rusul shola-ba-pairāhan hai

aaj bhī ho jo brāhīm kā īmāñ paidā

aag kar saktī hai andāz-e-gulistāñ paidā

dekh kar rañg-e-chaman ho na pareshāñ maalī

Kaukab-e-ġhuncha se shāḳheñ haiñ chamakne vaalī

ḳhas o ḳhāshāk se hotā hai gulistāñ ḳhālī

ġhul-bar-andāz hai ḳhūn-e-shohdā kī laalī

rañg gardūñ kā zarā dekh to unnābī hai

ye nikalte hue sūraj kī ufuq-tābī hai

ummateñ gulshan-e-hastī meñ samar-chīda bhī haiñ

aur mahrūm-e-samar bhī haiñ ḳhizāñ-dīda bhī haiñ

saikḌoñ naḳhl haiñ kāhīda bhī bālīda bhī haiñ

saikḌoñ batn-e-chaman meñ abhī poshīda bhī haiñ

naḳhl-e-islām namūna hai birau-mandī kā

phal hai ye saikḌoñ sadiyoñ kī chaman-bandī kā

paak hai gard-e-vatan se sar-e-dāmāñ terā

tū vo yūsuf hai ki har misr hai kan.āñ terā

qāfila ho na sakegā kabhī vīrāñ terā

ġhair yak-bāñg-e-darā kuchh nahīñ sāmāñ terā

naḳhl-e-shama astī o dar shola do-resha-e-tū

āqibat-soz bavad sāya-e-andesha-e-tū

tū na miT jā.egā īrān ke miT jaane se

nashsha-e-mai ko ta.alluq nahīñ paimāne se

hai ayaañ yurish-e-tātār ke afsāne se

pāsbāñ mil ga.e ka.abe ko sanam-ḳhāne se

kashti-e-haq kā zamāne meñ sahārā tū hai

asr-e-nau-rāt hai dhundlā sā sitārā tū hai

hai jo hañgāma bapā yurish-e-bulġhārī kā

ġhāfiloñ ke liye paiġhām hai bedārī kā

tū samajhtā hai ye sāmāñ hai dil-āzārī kā

imtihāñ hai tire īsār kā ḳhuddārī kā

kyuuñ hirāsāñ hai sahīl-e-faras-e-ādā se

nūr-e-haq bujh na sakegā nafas-e-ādā se

chashm-e-aqvām se maḳhfī hai haqīqat terī

hai abhī mahfil-e-hastī ko zarūrat terī

zinda rakhtī hai zamāne ko harārat terī

kaukab-e-qismat-e-imkāñ hai ḳhilāfat terī

vaqt-e-fursat hai kahāñ kaam abhī baaqī hai

nūr-e-tauhīd kā itmām abhī baaqī hai

misl-e-bū qaid hai ġhunche meñ pareshāñ ho jā

raḳht-bar-dosh havā-e-chamanistāñ ho jā

hai tunak-māya tū zarre se bayābāñ ho jā

naġhma-e-mauj hai hañgāma-e-tūfāñ ho jā

quvvat-e-ishq se har past ko baalā kar de

dahr meñ ism-e-mohammad se ujālā kar de

ho na ye phuul to bulbul kā tarannum bhī na ho

chaman-e-dahr meñ kaliyoñ kā tabassum bhī na ho

ye na saaqī ho to phir mai bhī na ho ḳhum bhī na ho

bazm-e-tauhīd bhī duniyā meñ na ho tum bhī na ho

ḳhema-e-aflāk kā istāda isī naam se hai

nabz-e-hastī tapish-āmāda isī naam se hai

dasht meñ dāman-e-kohsār meñ maidān meñ hai

bahr meñ mauj kī āġhosh meñ tūfān meñ hai

chiin ke shahr marāqash ke bayābān meñ hai

aur poshīda musalmān ke īmān meñ hai

chashm-e-aqvām ye nazzāra abad tak dekhe

rif.at-e-shān-e-rafānā-lakā-zikrak dekhe

mardum-e-chashm-e-zamīñ yaanī vo kaalī duniyā

vo tumhāre shohdā pālne vaalī duniyā

garmi-e-mehr kī parvarda hilālī duniyā

ishq vaale jise kahte haiñ bilālī duniyā

tapish-andoz hai is naam se paare kī tarah

ġhota-zan nuur meñ hai aañkh ke taare kī tarah

aql hai terī sipar ishq hai shamshīr tirī

mire darvesh ḳhilāfat hai jahāñgīr tirī

mā-sivā-allāh ke liye aag hai takbīr tirī

tū musalmāñ ho to taqdīr hai tadbīr tirī

kī mohammad se vafā tū ne to ham tere haiñ

ye jahāñ chiiz hai kyā lauh-o-qalam tere haiñ

{{hidden end}}

|salign=right|source=Muhammad Iqbal}}

Iqbal composed both the poems in the Arabic metre ramal. Shikwa is made of 31 stanzas of six lines each, while Javab-e-Shikwa is made of 36 stanzas of the same length. The first four hemistichs (misra) have the same rhyme and the last two a different one; i.e. the rhyme scheme is AAAABB. In the whole work four verses are in Persian.{{cite journal |last1=Bannerth |first1=Ernst|last2=Iqbāl|first2=Muhammad|title=Islam in Modern Urdu Poetry|journal=Anthropos |pages=606–607 |date=1942|volume=37/40|issue=4/6|jstor=40449063}}{{Subscription}}

class="wikitable"

|+Syllabic structure of a verse

style="text-align:center;"

! Stress

| –

| u

| –

| –

| u

| u

| –

| –

| u

| u

| –

| –

| –

| –

Syllable

| dil

| se

| jo

| baa

| t

| ni

| kal

| ti

| hai

| a

| sar

| rakh

| ti

| hai

In this metre, the next-to-last long syllable can be replaced at will by two short syllables; i.e., in the first verse of Shikwa, Iqbal replaced next-to-last long syllables by two short syllables:{{cite web | last=Pritchett | first=Frances | title="Shikvah" and Javab-e shikvah by Muhammad Iqbal | website=Columbia University in the City of New York | url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00urdu/iqbal/shikvah_index.html | access-date=2018-01-24}}

class="wikitable"
style="text-align:center;"

! Stress

| –

| u

| –

| –

| u

| u

| –

| –

| u

| u

| –

| –

| u

| u

| –

Syllable

| kyun

| zi

| yaan

| kaa

| r

| ba

| nu

| soo

| d

| fa

| raa

| mo

| sh

| ra

| hu

Translations

The available translations of both poems are:{{cite journal|last=Ghani|first=Abdul|title=An Invaluable Translation Of 'Shikwa' And 'Jawab-E-Shikwa'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X9fXAAAAMAAJ|editor-last=Zulfiqar|editor-first=Ghulam Hussain|journal=Iqbal: Quarterly Journal of the Bazm-i-Iqbal|year=2000|publisher=Bazm-i-Iqbal|publication-place=Lahore|volume=47|issue=1,2,3|page=87|oclc=831517581}}

  • The Complaint And The Answer (1943) by Altaf Husain
  • Complaint And Answer (1955) by A. J. Arberry
  • Shikwa And Jawab-e-Shikwa by Nawab Mahmood Ali Khan Tyro
  • Complaint And Answer (1981) by Khushwant Singh
  • Allama Muhammad Iqbal's Expostulation With The Almighty And Almighty's Censure (1977) by Suleman Zubair
  • Representation And Reply (1998) by Raja Sultan Zahur Akhtar
  • Shikwa & Jawab Shikwa: The Complaint and the Answer: The Human Grievance and the Divine Response (2015) by Abdussalam Puthige

Legacy

Both poems were sung by the Sabri Brothers, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the late Aziz Mian.{{cite book|author=Akbar Ahmed|author-link=Akbar Ahmed|title=Jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic Identity: The Search for Saladin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RqyniTHXFxUC&pg=PT126|access-date=19 January 2018|date=12 August 2005|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-1-134-75022-1|page=126}}

Both poems were recited together in Coke Studio Season 11. Shikwa was sung by Natasha Baig, while Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawwal & Brothers sang Jawab-e-Shikwa .{{cite AV media |url-status = live |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/LrCek73_e_M |archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCek73_e_M |title = Coke Studio Season 11{{!}} Shikwa/Jawab-e-Shikwa{{!}} Natasha Baig, Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad Qawwal |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

See also

References

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