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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)
Article 9/123 Al-Huda.com
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