The Moslem Sunrise, July 1921
Urdu poem of his (Hazrat) MB Mahmud Ahmad[ra], the head of the Ahmadia Moslem Community, addressed to the young students at Qadian, India.
Rendered into English verse by Dr MM Sadiq and Madam Rahatullah (Ella May Garber)
1
O! ye tender plants of the Nation,
To you I have something to say;
Providing my Message
May flash not away.
2
Advice I would give
To the Nation’s youth;
That they may not say,
I withheld the Truth.
3
When we pass away, the burdens
Of life, you will have to bear
So be not seekers of idle rest
But do and dare.
4
Serve the Faith with the heart
Filled with God’s sweet grace
And let not a thought of compensation
Cloud your face.
5
Let your eyes fill with tears
And your heart burn with love
Let your spirit ascend beyond
Islam’s more name, to the realms above—
6
No bragging in the head,
No thunder of wrath in the eye,
No desire for revenge, no curse on the lips
Which would cause thy brother to sigh.
7
The well-wishing of Brethren
Always keep in sight
Neither criticize, nor mischief-make
But cling to the right.
8
Be free from jealousy
And contentment create,
Make not gold your beloved,
Nor silver your charmed mate.
9
With full attention continue
Offering prayers and keeping fast;
Obeying God’s commandments
Which were written in the past.
10
If you have wealth be charitable
In giving alms to those who need
Fear not the days of trouble
If the needy you would feed.
11
You must learn and remember
That a Muslim shines more bright
If he makes a pilgrimage
To the Holy Land of Light.
12
Let Zikr be your habit
Remembering God in prayer
When the Beloved is kept in mind
It is impossible His name not to declare.
13
Let not reason be the ruler
O’er Faith which is salvation
Blind is the reason if it be not
Guided by the sun of Revelation.
14
Cling fondly to all the Truth
Whenever and wherever you find
Follow not the imagination
Calling it knowledge of the mind.
15
The believers who love Muhammad[sa]
Be not an enemy to them
But keep yourself aloof from those
Who would the Prophet condemn.
16
Live in peace, taking no part
With those who trouble create;
Cause no anxiety nor disturbance
For the rulers of the State.
17
Consider the age of youth
As a favour great
That in the days to come
You may not say it is too late.
18
Beauty is good in all cases
But seek it with great care
May be that you think
To be a gain is a snare.
19
Should you become a statesman,
A general or a physician;
If your heart in Islam is not steeped,
You will not please us with your position.
20
Keep self-respect for bad it is
To lack dignity of mind;
But also to others be respectful
Sincere and kind.
21
Whether in prosperity or poverty
In riches or need
Never cease for a moment
In spreading Islam’s seed.
22
If you conquer the world
You have gained nought
If the wild and terrible self
You have not subdued and taught.
23
Do not spoil the good done
By reminding of an obligation
Lest the thread of communion be broken
Letting you fall from near the roof to the foundation.
24
Forget not that delicacy
Is the women’s share
He is no man whose body is as rose-leaf
And cannot hardships bear.
25
Drop not down at the sight
Of wine like a fly
Look carefully, for at the bottom
Of the cup dregs may lie.
26
You must know that the honours
From the Blessed One’s school
Are always accompanied
With persecutions from the fool.
27
Very hard is the task
The goal is far away
O my faithful ones, be not
Indolent; but work without delay.
28
If step you will upon the path
Of sincerity and loyalty
There will be no difficulty which you cannot
Surpass, even to the royalty.
29
Let your actions put us not to shame
On judgment day nor trouble for us make
In the task of Faith let not
Your lessons be half-done for your own sake.
30
We are continuing our work
Somehow or other,
Be careful, lest the Movement
In your time may suffer.
31
My prayer for your sake
O dear ones is this
May God keep you under His shade
Bringing no failure, but bliss.
32
May you be safe from the darkness
Of grief, pain and sorrow —
And may the evening shade ne’er cast its shadow
O’er your sunlight of the morrow.
(Amen)
Listen O earth! And bear witness O Heaven! That I have received an inspiration from on High, and have found access to the Divine mysteries. (Ahmadas)
(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original in The Moslem Sunrise, July 1921)