Translation:
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.
Kalam-e-Mahmud
#part one