⚠️ Jawab-e-Shikwa | Urdu Qawwali | Allama Iqbal - Fareed Ayaz Qawwal (Lyrics & English Translation)

Performed By: Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad
Kalaam By: Allama Muhammad Iqbal
Lyrics and Translations: Bhaijaan Yousufi
Raag: Shahana
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Intro to Shikwa:
In 1909 Allama Iqbal wrote a poem called "Shikwa", which I would translate as "Grievance" instead of "Complaint" which is often used online. It was a set of assumed grievances that Allama Iqbal voiced on behalf of Muslims in particular against God himself. In short, although, a remarkable feat of poetry, the religious elite were very upset with Allama Iqbal. Their resentment for his writing was raised to such a level that Fatwa's (religious rulings) were passed against him for what they deemed sacrilegious writings.
Intro to Jawab-e-Shikwa:
So after much deliberation, Allama Iqbal finally wrote the "Jawab-e-Shiwa" or "Responding to Grievances", which was a poetic form of what was to be God's counterarguments to all the grievances. Jawab-e-Shiwa became even more popular than Shikwa. And the cherry on top was the fact that the religious elite rescinded their rulings against Allama Iqbal in his favor due to what they now deemed as the epitome of devotional poetry.
Starting:
The original soundtrack has two halves. The first half is filled with lines of "Shikwa". But I wanted to start with the second half, where the lines of "Jawab-e-Shikwa" start.
Quwwate Baazuwe Muslim:
This line gives the sense that Muslims were not only filled with pride that they've completed God's work. But they almost sound pompous, as if to say as a favor to God, "Who Else Would Do This Labor Intensive Work With Pure Devotion, But Us"?
God's Answer:
Right away, God dives into waking the griever up from a haze of pride and self-righteousness when he asks "Who Do You (Dare To) Address?"; similar to how wudu (ablution) would wake up the worshipper before prayer. Needless to say, He is God, the Almighty, and needs not anyone or any community to do His bidding. It is He who graces the creatures with His Lordship.
We (Plural):
The writer uses "we" in a similar manner as Allah does in many instances in his Glorious Quran. Something that Our Honorable Sarkar would often say is that there are qualities of Allah that He doesn't share with anyone. And then, there are those qualities that He shares with only His Most Beloved, Prophet Muhammad (SAW). In short, when Allah made a promise through Prophet Muhammad (SAW), He says, "We Have Promised To Give."
Phir Maang:
Allah cherishes that his creation asks of Him alone. Who else can fulfill the needs of creation but God himself? God only fulfills his role as a provider, if there's someone to provide to. It's a bit of a Ying and Yang.
Ghulaami:
One of Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) teachings was not to pray to false idols. To pray to those things that we have created ourselves is lowering our own being. And this is not limited to images and idols alone. The Sufis have gone further to explain that even our own ego, anger, envy, lust, etc are none other than the idols within us and that we too are a shrine of false idols. It is like being shackled in slavery by one's own creation.
Thei Toh Aaba Woh:
We as a Muslim Ummah have been parading on the outstanding devotion of those that came before us, and never to have shown nearly that devotion ourselves. God in other words is doubtful if we're even Muslims, to begin with.
Haatim Ke Haathoñ:
Whether the lines talk about Alexander The Great or Haatim Tai', whose graciousness became folklore and legend, all goes to say that no matter who does what; It's always God behind the veil.
Mayoos:
Disappointment and despair are characteristics of only those who cannot fulfill the desires of their devotees. God the All-Powerful has set a promise to give to one's heart's content in the afterlife. So he not only commands us to negate hopelessness, but it is also not compatible with our human psyche. It's like a computer with a virus. It can occur, but it shouldn't.
Baaz Aa:
The singers added a bit of Hazrat Maulana Rumi's Farsi Kalaam here for those that were wondering.
Ishq:
I've translated it as "passion" because Ishq, even at its root level is beyond love or infatuation. Now we simply have to start reorganizing our brains to understand that words like, Love, Infatuation, Passion, etc have a much higher meaning in the devotional realm than simply human-to-human skin contact. That is NOT passion! Those are animal instincts that just about every animal is innately born with.
Muhammad Se Wafa:
And the Jewel of the Poem is finally a message to those that remain loyal to Allah's Beloved. Imagine what a gift it must be that God is willing to bestow when he says, "This World Is Nothing In Comparison" to the power He's willing to ordain in return for that sincere loyalty.
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Start: (0:00)
Quwwate Baazuwe Muslim: (0:33)
Kis Se Mukhatib: (1:03)
Aa Aa, Idhar Aa: (1:55)
Safhaey Dehr: (2:13)
Thei To Aaba: (2:49)
Paida Sikandar: (3:44)
Baaz Aa, Baaz Aa: (4:51)
Aqal Hei Teri: (5:46)
Ki Muhammad Se Wafa: (6:59)
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[@tariqbhatti7852]

Thank you for such a wonderful contribution to learning more about the key concepts underlying Islam and the Sufi Path. Your detailed description and elaboration helps one delve deeper than just the enjoyment of the poetic beauty and the particular Qawwali rendition. It helps one move towards understanding, as per the Quote of Hazrat Baba Shah Mehmood Yousufi that you have presented at the beginning. Not just listen, read and repeat but Understand.
With much Appreciation and Gratitude,
Tariq.

[@RagaOne]

Thank you for being ever supportive big brother.

[@raajs9905]

THANK YOU BHAI JAAN FOR THE TRANSLATION ❤️

[@RagaOne]

You're very welcome Brother.

[@muhammad199]

Such detail in the description. Very informative.

[@RagaOne]

Glad you liked it

[@manpetro]

Gratitude!!!! Excellent

[@RagaOne]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@meerhali7756]

Thanks for translation in simple words

[@RagaOne]

You're most welcome Meer. In fact, it really excites me when people find our efforts helpful. Ty for your support.