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Newsletter for November 2011

 

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Iqbal and Rumi search for Immortality!

In Javid Nama (1932), the fifth book of Iqbal’s poetry, the spirit of
Maulana Rumi takes Iqbal on a heavenly journey in search of
immortality. As they pass the planet Mars, Rumi mentions that the
Martians have discovered an inside-out mode of existence: “While our
hearts are captivated and controlled by our bodies, the bodies of the
Martians are contained in their hearts.” On Rumi’s suggestion, they
take a brief tour of a Martian city, Marghdeen.

Here is an account of marghdeen, summarized and translated here
from Iqbal's Persian verses:

WELCOME TO MARGHDEEN

The city of Marghdeen is a magnificent place with tall buildings. Its
people are beautiful, selfless and simple; they speak a language that
sounds melodious to the ears. They are not after material goods;
rather they are the guardians of knowledge and derive wealth from
their sound judgment. The sole purpose of knowledge and skill in that
world is to help improve the life. Currency is unknown, and
temperaments are not to be governed by machines that blacken the sky
with their smoke. The farmers are hardworking and contented – there
are no landlords to plunder their harvest, and the tillers of the land
enjoy the entire fruit of their labor. Learning and wisdom don’t
flourish on deceit and hence there is neither army, nor law keepers
are needed, because there is no crime in Marghdeen. The marketplace is
free from the noisy shouts and heartrending cries of the beggars.

“In this world there is no beggar,” said the Martian Astronomer, “Nor
anyone is poor; no slave, no master – no ruler and thus none
dominated.”

I said, “Being born a beggar or a destitute, to be ruled or
suppressed, is all by the decree of God. He alone is the architect of
destiny. Destiny cannot be improved by reasoning.”

“If you are suffering at the hands of destiny,” replied the Martian
astronomer with a visible anger, “It is not unfair to ask God for a
new one. He has no shortage of destinies for you. Failure to
understand the mystical significance of destiny has led the
inhabitants of the Earth to lose their identities. Here is a hint to
the secret of destiny: change yourself and your destiny will change
with you. If you are dust, you shall be scattered by the wind. But if
you become solid as a rock, you can break the glass. If you are
dewdrop, then you are destined to fall but if you are an ocean, then
you will remain. To you, faith means conformity to others while your
imagination remains confined because you do not conform to yourself.
Shame on the faith that serves like an addiction to opium!”

Then he paused, and added, “A gem is a gem as long as you think it is
valuable, otherwise it is just a stone. The world will shape itself
according to your perception of it. The heavens and the earth too will
adjust.”

courtesy: Dr. Iqbal Society of North America (DISNA)

 

 

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