Their Ulema — Page 18
[ 18 ] Poets Mourning the Misery of Muslims As far as Muslim poets are concerned, their poetry on the miserable conditions of the Muslims is heartrending. Maul a n a Ha l i wrote a requiem. And then the way ‘All a mah Iqb a l described this [the Muslim condition] in his famous Shikwah [ Complaint ] and Jaw a b-e-Shikwah [ Reply to the Complaint ] is a long story. Let me read you a few couplets. Maul a n a Ha l i says: There remains neither the faith nor Islam. The only thing left is the name of Islam. Comparing Islam to a garden he writes: Then you will see a garden, utterly in ruins, where dust flies everywhere relentlessly. There is no sign of life in it. The green branches have fallen off, dead. It is unable to blossom or bear fruit. Its trees are only good for burning. And then with great anguish, Maul a n a Ha l i addresses the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa : Oh Most Special of the Special Prophets, it is time for prayer. A very strange time has descended on your ummah.