A conversation in Paradise

Hatif said to me that in Paradise one day Sa’di of Shiraz addressed Hali in this way

“O with the pearl of whose poetry’s skyilluminating light The falcon became companion of moon and stars’ light!

Relate to me what the story of the Indian Muslim is Is he lagging at the halt or busy in exertion is?

Is some warmth of din left in his veins? The heat of whose call was once burning the sky”

Hali was moved by the talk of the Shaikh He started weeping and saying, “O man of miracles!

When the sky turned over the leaf of time The call came that respect was possible only with education!

But this has produced wavering in fundamental beliefs Secular benefits were obtained, but din had been undermined

Goals also become exalted if the din is preserved The youth’s nature is paralyzed and very low keyed

Concordance among individuals is kept only with din Din is the plectrum if national congregation is the musical instrument

If the foundation of the garden’s wall is shaken It is clearly the beginning of the garden’s end

As the water of Zamzam was not available to it Some manner of atheism is appearing in the new progeny

Do not talk of this in the audience of the Lord of Yathrib Lest Muslims of India consider that this is my back-biting”

Dates cannot be obtained from the weeds we have sown Brocade cannot be obtained from the wool we have spun”