shakirstan: 2010

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

THE ART OF TRANSLATION

It is a pity that many people will have to appreciate Ghalib only in translation. All lovers of
poetry will sympathize with Robert Frost who said that ‘poetry is what is lost in translation’. The
French say that translation is treason. The Japanese go further and say a translation is like the
underside of a carpet – the threads are all there, but the exquisite beauty of the design is
absent. Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Urdu poetry form an organic continuum and there are
metaphors, allusions, conceits and tropes that are common to poetry in these languages. It
would require too much elucidation and effort to explain the depths and heights of Ghalib’s
poetry. Hence, I shall offer just a few simple samples from Ghalib rendered into English.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Osho Whirling Dance

Sufi Dance - Sema

Sufi Poet Attar

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD, peace be upon him

The Messenger of Allah, pbh, was born in 570 A.D in Arabia. There were only three major owns in Arabia in those days. They were Makkah, Taif, and Yethrib. Muhammad, pbh, was born at Makkah. In those days Makkah was an imprtant town because it was at the junction of many trading routs. It was famous as the home of Kabah where people used to come from far off places to worship. The original Kabah was built by Prophet Ibrahim, pbh, and his son, Prophet Ismail, pbh.

His mother's name was Aminah bint Wahb. His father's name was Abdullah who had died two months before his death. Abdullah' father was Abd al-Muthalib. He was the head of the Quraysh tribe, guardian of Kabah and the protector of the pilgrims who visited this holy place. He was respected by all. He was happy at the birth of his grandson and gave the name of Muhammad to the baby. Muhammad in Arabic means 'one who is worthy of praise'.

Jubair bin Mutim, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, pbh, said:

"I have five names: I am Muhammad and Ahmad; I am al-Mahi, through whom Allah will eliminate al-kufr; I am al-Hashir, who will be the first to be resurrected, and I am also al-Aqib, (i.e. there will be no Prophet after me). Abu Musa Abdullah bin Qais narrates that the Messenger of Allah, pbh, said, " I am Muhammad; I am Ahmad; I am al-Muqaffi (the last in succession), and I am the Prophet of repentance and the Prophet of mercy."

On another occasion, the Prophet, pbh, said: "And I am the Prophet of al-Malhamah." 'al-Malhamah' means 'fighting' in Arabic. Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, pbh, said: "I am Mohammad and Ahmad; I am al-Hashir (first to be resurrected), I am al-Mahi, through whom Allah will eliminate kufr. On the Day of Judgement, the banner of praise will be with me, and I will be the leader of the Messengers, and their intercessors."

Allah says about the Prophet, pbh, in His Book, "Bringer of good news and warning". (al-Baqra 2:119)

Again Allah calls him: " Merciful and full of pity". (al-Tawbah 9:128) And Allah calls him: "A mercy to the world". (al-Anbiya 21:107)

WET NURSING

It was an Arab custom in those days that mothers would give their babies to suckling mothers. These suckiling mothers would carry the babies to their desert home and suckle the babies for a certain amount of money. Aminah gave the little baby Muhammad to a wet-nurse Halimah. The baby grew up well in the desert with Halimah and her family. When the child was three years, Halimah brought him to his mother.

When the child was six, his mother, Aminah took him to Yethrib so that the child could meet his uncles there. The child enjoyed the journey. In Yethrib, he enjoyed his stay there. He learned to swim in the company of his cousins. On the journey back to Makkah, his mother fell ill. Her servant maid, Barakah was with them. She nursed the ailing mother, but after a few days, she died on the way. Now the boy was under the protection of the loving care of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. After two years, his grandfather died. After his death, his uncle Abu, Talib adopted his nephew.

As a boy he used to take care of the sheep of Abu Talib. When he was a boy of twlve years, Abu Talib took him on a journey to Busra, in Syria. There a monk, Bahira saw the young Muhammad, pbh, and recognized the signs of Prohethood. The monk asked Abu Talib to return with he boy to al-Aqabah, so that the Jews might not do him any harm. Immediately, Abu Talib made arrangements to send the boy back to Makkah under the protection of his servants.

MARRIAGE TO KHADIJAH

Muhammad's experience of trading and his reputation of excellent manners brought him to the attention of Khadijah. She was a beautiful nd wealthy widow. She belonged to the family of merchants and she herself had her business. Khadihjah offered her goods to Muhammad to take them to Syria for trading. The trade trip to Syria was very successful and he brought good profit to Khadijah. She was very happy about the new business partner. Her servant, Maysarah, who accompanied Muhammad, pbh, to Syria also gave good report of his honesty in trading, and his excellent behaviour towards others. Khadijah was very impressed and she wanted to marry him. She conveyed her intention through her friend, Nufaysah. Muhammad, pbh, consulted his uncle and other family members. All happily agreed to this marriage.

HILF AL-FUDUL

One day a trader brought goods to Makkah to sell. But some wicked people of Makkah stole his goods. The helpless trader called for help, but nobody came forward to help him. He wrote a poem about what the people of Makkah did to him. He recited the poem loudly at the marketplace to attract the attention of the people. One of Muhammad's uncles, Zubayr heard this painful poem and felt ashamed.

Zubayr called a meeting of the elders of the town. This meeting discussed how helpless people face problems in that holy town of Makkah. The people formed an organisation to protect the helpless people. This organization was called 'Hilf al-Fudul'. Muhammad was an enthusiastic member of this organization. The members of Hilf al-Fudul took a pledge that they would come to the protection of all those people who were weak, even if they are from outside of Makkah.

Many years later, Muhammad, pbh, still considered this organization to be an important organization. He said, "I am not prepared to break my pledge, even against a herd of camels. If somebody should come to me even today, I would hurry to help him by virtue of that pledge."

His love for justice, his quick understanding of problems, and his real interest in his fellow beings made him a leader of people. People came to rely on him and his honesty. Often people would come to him with their disputes to settle them. He became famous among the people as 'al-Sadiq' .

BLACK STONE DISPUTE

In 605 A.D the draperies of the Kabah caught fire. In this fire accident the structure of Kabah was also damaged. They decided to reconstruct it. Each person contributed according to his capacity. Muhammad also participated in this reconstruction. He used to carry stones on his shoulder. One day there was a dispute among the people as who should refix the black stone to its place. Somebody suggested that the matter be left to Providence. They all agreed to accept the suggestion of the person who would enter there at that time. It so happened Muhammad just then entered to work there as usual. They all cried in one voice, "al-Sadiq has come". He listened to them and understand their problem. It was the problem of their ego. He asked them to bring a sheet of cloth. He spread the sheet on the ground and placed the black stone on the sheet. He asked all the leaders of the tribes to hold the corners of this sheet and take it to the wall. They brought it to the wall. He took the stone and placed it on its place. Everybody was happy that the problem was solved so easily. At that time,Muhammad, pbh, was thirty-five years old.

CAVE OF HIRA

After his marriage to Khadijah, he lived a comfortable life of a wealthy merchant. But soon he gave up all and often went to spend most of his time in the Cave of Hira. This Cave is about three miles from Makkah. He would stay alone in that cave as long as the food and water lasted. Often he used to go there and spend his time in prayer and meditation. Muhammad, pbh, as forty years old in 610 A.D. It was the month of Ramadan. As usual, he was sitting alone in the Cave of Hira. Archangel Jibril appeared before Muhammad, pbh, in human form. Jibril commanded him, "Read!". "I cannot read," replied Muhammad, pbh. The angel held Muhammad, pbh, tightly by the shoulders and shook him. And then Jibril taught him:

Read, in the name of your Lord who

created, created you from a clot. Read.

And your Lord is the Most Generous Who

taught by the pen, taught man what he did

he did not know.

These are the first verses Allah revealed to Muhammad, pbh, through Jibril. This new experience not only surprised him but confused him. He was feeling as if he was abut to fall sick. He rushed back to the comfort of home. He narrated what happened to him in the Cave of Hira. Khadijah comforted him. She assured him that his Lord would not harm him. She took him to her cousin, Waraqah. He was a man of knowledge. He assured Muhammad, pbh, the revelation was from the same source the Prophet Musa, pbh, had his message. It was from the same source the Prophet Isa, pbh, had his message.

Muhammad, pbh, realized Allah not only gave him guidance but chose him as His Messenger. He continued to receive the message of Allah for twenty three years.