Call Of The Marching Bell [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

THE
CHILD
AND
THE
CANDLE

Introduction

This
apparently simple poem is highly charged with sophisticated TaÅawwuf and
so is very difficult to understand. It is based on the theories of Wadat
al‑Wujd" and Wadat al‑Shuhd for which see Chapter 3 paragraph of
the same name. The poem, which belongs to the pre-1905 period is based on the
former as is apparent from part three. In the poem "Light" manifestation of God,
and "Beauty" means the Existence of God. Consequently, I have written both these
words in capitals.
Translation

O Child with moth-like nature , "How strange that

You keep gazing at the flame of the candle for hours

What is this movement, when you are in my lap?

Are you intending to embrace the light?

Though your tiny heart is surprised at this spectacle

But this is recognition of some object already seen!1

The candle is but a flame, you are the Light embodied

Ah! In this assembly that is manifest, you are concealed 2

It is not known why the Nature's hand made it manifest!

And concealed you in the dark soil's mantle

Your light has been concealed under the veil of Intellect! 3

The veil of Cognition is a mere mist to the wise eye!

What is called life really a mirage it is

A dream, a swoon, an ecstasy, oblivion it is

The Nature's assembly is the Beauty's boundless ocean

For the discerning eye every drop is the Beauty's storm

Beauty is in the frightening silence of the mountain

In shedding of sun's light, and in night's darkness

It is in the morning sky's mirror-like glitter

In the night's darkness and in the twilight's floridity

It is in the disappearing relics of the old magnificence

In the small child's effort to commence speaking

It is in the harmony of the denizens of the rose-garden

In the nest-building efforts of the tiny little birds

In the mountain stream, in the ocean's freedom is Beauty

In the city, the forest, the wilderness, the habitation is Beauty

The soul but longing for some lost object is

Or else why is it lamenting in wilderness like a bell ?

It is restless even in this general splendor of Beauty

Its life is like a fish out of water

Explanatory
Notes

1.
This is the first hint in the poem that the candle's light is the same light as
the Light of God seen by Man on the Primeval Day.

2.
Allusion to the manifest glow of the candle in the transparent mantle of glass
and the veiled Light of God in the opaque earthen mantle of human body.

3.
Allusion to the vision of the Light of God. This and the remaining verses mean
that God and His Beauty is present in the multitudes of worldly objects
mentioned in those verses. He can be discerned by the discerning eye with the
help of Khud. The Holy Qur'n also teaches us to understand God from the
objects of the universe and Man's own self, which is Khud. The power of
Khud distinguishes Man from and makes him superior to the rest of the
creation of God. However, Knowledge or Intellect conceals Khud and with
it the Light of God fades away from Man's eyes. This Light dawns only when Man
throws away the earthly mantle of Intellect and activates the Love of God.
Allmah Iqbl's works are replete with this thought. However, a small sample is
presented here:

(179) Love is complete Presence, Knowledge complete veil

Knowledge the obvious question, Love the veiled answer

(180) Love is
complete Faith! And Faith the gate's opening

Knowledge is a produce of the Book ! Love the Mother of the Book

(Appendix III, No. 32)