Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismail (ra) — Page 78
78 These are just a few lines from a long poem. Incidentally, the title of this particu lar poem is same as the title of his anthology – “ Bukhār - e - Dil ”. Perspectives seem to change entirely, in the world of Mysticism. Let us examine, for instance, how Ḥaḍrat Mir Sahib ra uses the expression "rival". Generally speaking, this term is not taken very kindly in the material world. With reference to worldly love, more than one suitor for one beloved, would mutually be considered as "rivals", and in all likelihood, would be anything but each other's well - wishers. In the celestial zone, however, God is the "one and only" Beloved, and all those who love Him are, in a metaphorical sense of course, mutually rivals. The difference is that when the "beloved" is God, all those who love Him, the "rivals" so to speak, also become mutually dear to each other. The term used for "rival", in Urdu, is raqīb. Ḥaḍrat Mir Sahib 's mystical poetry has given a new dimension to this term, when compared with traditional Urdu poetry. The line, “ Friends and rivals both, were moved to tears " , clearly depicts a situation of se veral worshipers worshiping together, presumably in the mosque, where the emotional state of one worshiper tends to stir similar emotions in the hearts of other worshipers present there. In another poem of his, using this very same expression of raq ī b , as in rival, Ḥaḍrat Mir Sahib ra writes: W hen I am not among my rivals, I am lost For he, who is not Yours, cannot be mine. - [ Bukhār - e - Dil ]