Song of Muhammad (PBUH)

 Introduction:

By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

Review by Shumaila Munib

The literature has no religion, but it cannot be denied that literature is not created in a vacuum. Similarly, literature is above the distinction between religious and non-religious and Islamic and non-Islamic. As Muslims, we believe that the religion of Islam is in accordance with the requirements of human nature. It is a complete code of life; hence, it seeks to promote positive and enduring values of life. No matter who the creator is, he is always the bearer of truth and positive thinking. This is our opinion about the German poet Goethe. He was greatly influenced by Islamic thought and influenced by Eastern poets; Hafiz was his favorite poet. The name of Goethe’s diwan is “West-Ostlicher diwan,” meaning Western and Eastern diwan. Its Arabic name, suggested by Goethe himself, is “Al-Diwan al-Sharqi llal al-Mufab al-Maghrabi.” Goethe writes in his Diwan under the title “Hafiz Name” that “Acknowledge! Eastern poets are more talented than western poets. Goethe also wrote a Naatiya poem called “Mahomets Gesang”. In this Naat (song for Mohammed), he describes the flow of a river that goes from the mountains to the sea in its course. Each part of it describes a chapter or topic.” The poems are in the form of a metaphor that begins with a spring and gradually increases and develops spiritual strength in its intensity so that it can enter the ocean with great glory. There is also some evidence that Goethe was influenced by Islamic thought. In 2001, the book “Goethe and Islam” by Katharina von Mommsen was published. Before this, there is no clear mention of Goethe being influenced by Islam in any book. Catharina states in her book that Goethe was deeply interested in Islam but was still far from converting to Islam. Second, in 1771, when Goethe was 23 years old, he had a translation of the Holy Quran. Mostly Goethe had Meggerlin’s German translation of the Qur’an with him, but he kept improving this translation. He used to write down the verses that he liked the most or the subjects that he wanted to adapt into his poetry. He wrote in a letter to his friend Herder, “My heart wants me to pray as Prophet Moses prayed in the Qur’an: God, make room in my narrow chest. It is believed that this letter was written in 1772. Then Herder, who was also Goethe’s friend, considered the Qur’an to be a revealed book like the Bible. Schiller and his wife testify that Goethe had translated some verses of the Qur’an and recited them in a gathering, but he also copied the Qur’anic prayers and wrote them down himself. There is no more space for this story here. I just tried to describe Goethe’s dignity towards Islam and his love for Muhammad.

Here we read his poem “Song for Muhammad (PBUH)” Translation from German to English by Emily Ezust.

Poem Song of Muhammad (PBUH):

Behold this rocky spring,

bright with joy

like a twinkling star;

above the clouds

its youth was nourished

by good spirits

among the cliffs in the bushes.

Fresh as a youth

it dances out of the cloud

down to the marble rocks,

cheering again

to the sky.

Along mountainous paths

it chases after colorful pebbles,

and with the step of a young leader

its companion-springs journey

with it onward.

Below in the valley

flowers appear from its footprints,

and the meadow

derives life from its breath.

But no shaded valley can stop it,

no flower,

clasping its knees

and imploring it with loving eyes:

toward the Plains it presses its course,

twisting like a snake.

Brooks nuzzle up

sociably. Now it treads

into the Plain, resplendent with silver,

and the Plain grows silver too,

and the rivers of the Plain

and the brooks of the mountains

cheer and shout: “Brother!

Brother, take your brothers with,

take them with you to your ancient father,

to the eternal ocean,

whose outstretched arms

await us,

who, ah! has opened them in vain

to embrace his yearning children;

for the bleak wasteland’s

greedy sand devours us; the sun above

sucks up all our blood; a hill

clogs us into a pool! Brother,

take your brothers from this Plain,

take your brothers from the mountains,

take them with you to your ancient father!

Come all of you! –

and now [the spring] swells

more grandly: an entire race

lifts the prince up high!

And in rolling triumph

it gives names to the lands and cities

that grow in its path.

Irresistibly it rushes onward,

leaving a wake of flaming-tipped towers

and houses of marble – creations

of its bounty.

Like Atlas it bears cedar houses

upon its giant’s shoulders;

over its head, the wind noisily

blows a thousand flags

as testimony of its glory.

And so it brings its brothers,

its treasures, its children,

effervescent with joy,

to the waiting parent’s bosom.

Ju-e Aab:

Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s Persian translation is the best example of this poem. This translation is included in Payam-e-Mashriq under the title of ‘Ju-e-Aab’.

نگر کہ جوئے آب چہ مستانہ می رود

ما نندِ کہکشاں بہ گریبانِ مرغزار

در خواب ناز بود بہ گہوارۂ سحاب

وا کرد چشمِ شوق بہ آغوشِ کوہسار

از سنگریزہ نغمہ گشاید خرامِ او

سیمائے او چو آئینہ بے رنگ، بے غبار

زی بحرِ بے کرانہ چہ مستانہ می رود

در خود یگانہ از ہمہ بیگانہ می رود

در راہِ او، بہار پری خانہ آفرید

نر گِس دمید و لالہ دمید و سمن دمید

گُل عِشوہ داد و گفت یکی پیش ما با یست

خندید غنچہ و سَرِ دامانِ او کشید

نا آشنائی جلوہ فروشانِ سبز پوش

صحرا برید و سینۂ کوہ و کمر درید

زی بحرِ بے کرانہ چہ مستانہ می رود

در خود یگانہ از ہمہ بیگانہ می رود

صد جو ئے دشت و مرغ و کہستان و باغ و راغ

گفتند اے بسیط زمیں با توسازگار

ما را کہ راہ از تنک آبی نبردہ ایم

از دست بُردِ ریگِ بیا با ں نگاہ دار

وا کر دہ سینہ را بہ ہوا ہائے شرق و غرب

در بر گرفتہ ہمسفرانِ زبون و زار

زی بحرِ بے کرانہ چہ مستانہ می رود

در خود یگانہ از ہمہ بیگانہ می رود

در یائے پُر خروش زِ بند و شِکن گذشت

از تنگنائے وادیٔ کوہ و دَ من گذشت

یکساں چوں سیل، کردہ نشیب و فراز را

از کاخ ِ شاہ و بارہ و کشت و چمن گذشت

بیتاب و تند و تیز و جگر سوز و بے قرار

در ہر زماں بہ تازہ رسید از کہن گذشت

زی بحرِ بے کرانہ چہ مستانہ می رود

در خود یگانہ از ہمہ بیگانہ می رود

Here I mention poem “Ju-e Aab “in English:

Behold how deeply engrossed the stream of life moves onward?

Slashing through meadows, it moves like the Milky Way galaxy!

It was sound asleep in the cradle of the heavenly clouds.

And it opened its curious eyes in the lap of the mountains!

Its graceful motion strikes music from pebbles on its way.

Its forehead shining like white pearl and spotless mirror!

Towards the infinite ocean how fully engrossed it steadily flows.

Absorbed unto itself and completely focused on its goal, it flows.

In its path, spring created a heavenly fairyland to entice it.

Narcissus, tulip, and jasmine bloomed to attract its attention.

The rose tempted it and said: Stay with us here for a while.

And the rosebud laughed and pulled its cover amorously.

Completely unmindful of green-robed beauty merchants,

It passed through desert; and it rent asunder mountains.

Towards the infinite ocean how fully engrossed it steadily flows.

Absorbed unto itself and completely focused on its goal, it flows.

A hundred brooks from plains and meadows, from vales and dales.

Joining it and said: “O thou for whom the earth is a wide expanse!

“Stricken with drought, we have fallen by the way.

Protect us from the pillage of the sandy waste!”

It opened its breast to the winds of the East and the West.

Pulling the weak and wailing fellow travelers, on its way!

Towards the infinite ocean how fully engrossed it flows.

Carrying a hundred thousand unique shining pearls, it flows.

The surging river flowed with vigor, over dams and barriers.

It pushed through the narrow gorges of valleys, hills, and dales.

Whether low or high, it leveled all in its path by it powerful force.

Flattening king’s palaces and ramparts; fields, and orchards alike!

Passionate and fierce, eager and heart-warming; it boldly journeys onward.

Creating fresh new human period of glory, bypassing old decadent world!

Towards the infinite ocean how fully engrossed it steadily flows.

Absorbed unto itself and completely focused on its goal, it flows.

Urdu Translation of this poem.

This poem has been translated into Urdu by Shan Ul Haq Haqi.

نغمۂ محمدی

شاعر : جان وولف وین گوئٹے

اردو ترجمہ : ڈاکٹر شان الحق حقی

وہ پاکیزہ چشمہ

جواوجِ فلک سے چٹانوں پہ اترا

سحابوں سے اوپر بلند آسمانوں پہ جولاں ملائک کی چشم نگہداشت کے سائے سائے

چٹانوں کی آغوش میں عہد برنائی تک جوئے جولاں بنا

چٹانوں سے نیچے اترتے اترتے

وہ کتنے ہی صد رنگ اَن گھڑ خزف ریزے

آغوشِ شفقت میں اپنی سمیٹے

بہت سے سسکتے ہوئے رینگتے،

 سُست کم مایہ سوتوں کو چونکاتا ،

 للکارتا ساتھ لیتا ہوا خوش خراماں چلا

بے نمو وادیاں لہلہانے لگیں

پھول ہی پھول چاروں طرف کھل اٹھے

جس طرف اُس ﷺ کا رخ پھر گیا

اُس ﷺ کے فیضِ قدم سے بہار آگئی

یہ چٹانوں کے پہلو کی چھوٹی سی وادی ہی کچھ

اُس  ﷺ منزل نہ تھی

وہ تو بڑھتا گیا

کوئی وادی ، کوئی دشت، کوئی چمن، گلستاں، مرغزار

اُس ﷺ کے پائے رواں کو نہ ٹھہرا سکا

اُس ﷺ کے آگے ابھی اور صحرا بھی تھے

خشک نہريں بھی تھیں ، اُترے دریا بھی تھے ۔

سیلِ جاں بخش کے ، اُس   ﷺ کے سب منتظر

جوق در جوق پاس اُس ﷺ کے آنے لگے

 شور آمد کا اُسﷺ کی اٹھانے لگے

راہبر ﷺ ساتھ ہم کو بھی لیتے چلو

کب سے تھیں پستیاں ہم کو جکڑے ہوئے

راہ گھیرے ہوئے ، پاؤں پکڑے ہوئے

یاد آتا ہے مسکن پرانا ہمیں

آسمانوں کی جانب ہے جانا ہمیں

ورنہ یونہی نشیبوں میں دھنس جائیں گے

جال میں اِن زمینوں کے پھنس جائیں گے

اپنے خالق کی آواز کانوں میں ہے

اپنی منزل وہيں آسمانوں میں ہے

گرد آلود ہیں پاک کر دے ہمیں

آ  ہم آغوش ِ افلاک کردے ہمیں

وہ رواں ہے ، رواں ہے ، رواں اب بھی ہے

ساتھ ساتھ اُس کے اک کارواں اب بھی ہے

شہر آتے رہے شہر جاتے رہے

اُس ﷺ کے دم سے سبھی فیض پاتے رہے

اُس ﷺ کے ہر موڑ پر ایک دنیا نئی

ہر قدم پر طلوع ایک فردا نئی

قصر ابھرا کيے خواب ہوتے گئے

کتنے منظر تہہ ِ آب ہوتے گئے

شاہ اور شاہیاں خواب ہوتی گئیں

عظمتیں کتنی نایاب ہوتی گئیں

اُس ﷺ کی رحمت کا دھارا ہے اب بھی رواں

از زمیں تا فلک

از فلک تا زمیں

از ازل تا ابد جاوداں ، بیکراں

دشت و در ، گلشن و گل سے بے واسطہ

فیض یاب اس سے کل

اور خود کل سے بے واسطہ

At the end, I must say that this explanation of Goethe’s poem “Mahomets Gesang” in honour of the Prophet is excellent! This poem was composed long before Goethe’s “West-Ostlicher” divan. River, streamline, and ocean analogies in this poetry allude to the glorious grandeur of the prophet’s figure. All the translations of this poem are also wonderful and admirable.

References:

1. Message of the East: Allama Iqbal. Iqbal Academy. Pakistan.

2. Qand-e-Parsi Raizni Far Hungi, Democratic Islamic Iran. New Delhi. Issue 91. September-December 2002.

3. Syed Sabih Rehmani, Naat Rang, 27, Published Naat Research Centre Karachi.

4.  Annemarie Schimmel, Gabriel’s Wing. A Study into the Religious Ideas of Sir Mohammad Iqbal.

5.The River and its Metaphors: Goethe’s “Mahomets Gesang”

6. Anil Bhatti: Iqbal and Goethe. J.N.U. New Delhi

7. Oxford Companion to German literature

8.Goethe’s Tribute to the Prophet – The Stream of Life

Title Image by Abdullah Shakoor from Pixabay