Questions on the Burushaski Poems of cAllamah Nasir
Tags:
1. Tell us which is [cAllamah] Nasir's first Burushaski poem? Who is it about, and when was it written?
2. How many poems are there in Diwan-i Nasiri? What is the number of couplets in it? How many poems are there in Bihishte Asquring? How many couplets are there in it?
3. What is the overall subject of both these books? Hamd? Nact? Manqabat? Can you tell us how many times in total the words "Imam", "Sultan" and "Karim" appear in them?
4. In this collection of carifanah poems of [cAllamah] Nasir al-Din, how many poems are in praise of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah and how many are in praise of Hazir Imam?
5. Are there any verses of a historical nature in this collection? Is there the sweet mention of the Silver Jubilee in these poems? Identify such poems.
6. Which of the poems are about the blessed arrival and holy didar of the exalted Imam? When was such a poem or some of its verses recited in the holy presence of the Imam of the time? Who recited these verses in Gilgit and Hunza?
7. Are there any sufic poems in the anthology of Nasir al-Din? If so, give us their titles.
8. Which of these poems are in the form of prayers? Recite their opening couplets. Have you read the poem in praise of ab-i shifa? And the poem about the sacred farman of the King [i.e., Imam] of the time?
9. Is there a holy farman from the Imam of time regarding his acceptance of these poems? Through which celebrated Council was this farman received and in which book is it preserved?
10. It is said that the Burushaski poetry of cAllamah Nasir has brought about a silent revolution in the region; is this true? Give some examples.
11. What are the various topics in these beautiful Burushaski poems? Is it true that there is a variety of subjects in the verses of some poems, while other poems have the same subject from beginning to end?
12. The wise men of the region say that the Burushaski poetry of cAllamah Nasir Hunzai is unique, unprecedented and eternal. They also say that it will not only be of immeasurable benefit to the fortunate jamacat, but will also be of great interest to the Burushaski-speaking community and researchers from all over the world. What is your opinion?
13. Have you read those holy sayings of Hazrat-i Mawlana Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah that talk about the progress in knowledge and spirituality of the entire jamacat? Since Hazrat-i Imam cherishes the progress of the jamacat, our celebrated and great Pirs would also have loved this, and there is no doubt that parents always want their children to prosper and progress.
14. Are there several prophecies and glad tidings in this collection of poems? If your answer is affirmative, give some examples.
15. It was not a planned programme, but a mere coincidence that those lovers of Mawla who attained the great bliss of reciting Nasir's first Burushaski poem for the very first time were two famous sergeants of the Gilgit Scouts, who belonged to the Diramating family. Can you tell us their names?
16. The context of the poetry of cAllamah Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai is the Qur'an and spirituality. Thus, without a shadow of a doubt, each one of his poems can be translated and explained in the form of a separate book. A bright proof of this reality is the book "Rumuz-i Ruhani (Spiritual Secrets)". Have you read this book?
17. God's perfect power is extremely marvellous. He has bestowed upon some of His servants the extremely sweet and pleasing bounty of a melodious voice (lahn-i dawudi). Thus, for more than half a century, an Israfili army has been rendering sacred service to the entire jamacat through the instruments and ardour of love. Will you shed some light on this reality?
18. There is a very beautiful and elegant historical poem that refreshes the memory of Mawlana Hazir Imam's visit to China. Tell us its title and the number of couplets in it.
19. By the grace and mercy of Allah, every manqabat-reciter is a teacher of Mawla's love as well as a living school and an amazingly melodious organisation for service. Do you think this statement is true?
20. Who is this Israfili army, through whose instruments and voice a small resurrection is taking place in the assembly of lovers? Here we recall a [Burushaski] verse of our revered teacher, which translates as: "O companions, come! Resurrection is taking place, so assemble at the place of remembrance (dhikr). Listen! The melody of Israfil in the ear of the one who remembers (dhakir) is very sweet". Recite the original Burushaski verse.
21. Have you read the book Zabur-i cAshiqin (The Psalms of Lovers) in detail? What subject does it deal with? What problems does it discuss?
22. Why did the revered teacher call the trumpet of resurrection "The Trumpet of Love (i?s?qe burg?u?)"? Also, why did he remember the Master of the Trumpet by the name of "The Israfil of Happiness (s?urayee?s?e Israafi?il)", even though resurrection and many other things related to it are extremely frightening?
23. cAllamah Hunzai, intoxicated with true love, compared his existence to a flute and said that a flute's melody of love is not composed automatically, but is the miracle of the blowing and the fingers of the person who plays it. Tell us the original [Burushaski] verse along with its translation that conveys this meaning.
24. There are two words for flute in Burushaski: gabi? and pure?elo. There is no example of the trumpet of Israfil in this world. However, because its melody is to some extent similar to that of the flute, the trumpet of resurrection is called gabi? or pure?elo. As cAllamah sahib says: Je da?yalam su?ure israafi?il pure?eluwe moojiza?a he?enan + Qiyaamthte gon duwthrilaa qheér ye muú dthalin le éerin dan. Translate this verse.
25. The Ismaili religion is full of gems of macrifat, and macrifat is another name for the recognition of Imam. Millions of thanks to God that every single book of our revered teacher is full of this eternal wealth. There is a verse: Nasi?ir me?ne e?eltiraan Qur'a?ane birki?s?? + Zamaana?a rahnuma?a alha?mdulillaa. "Qur'a?ane birki?s?" means the treasure of the Qur'an. It is in the Hidden Book (kitab-i maknun). Tell us, where in the Qur'an is the verse of the Hidden Book?
26. The love for God, the Prophet and the Imam is the origin and the foundation of religion, without which no worship or good deed can be accepted. To achieve this lofty goal, by the grace and mercy of Allah, very useful work has been done here, both in prose and poetry. Tell us whether the hamd, nact and manqabat, which are full of the kernel of knowledge and wisdom, are not the best means of religious love?
27. This Divine decree is through both speech (qawli) and action (ficli): Whenever Allah bestows the eternal wealth of knowledge upon one of His servants, there is [hidden] with it the command that he should give the zakat of knowledge. If he does not do this, he becomes one of the unjust (zalimin), because the knowledge given to him is meant to be spread. Isn't this right?
28. It is evident to the people of wisdom that the only cure for the disease of ignorance is knowledge. There is also no doubt that knowledge is both the cure and the food for the intellect. So, these Burushaski poems certainly contain both true love and spiritual knowledge. What is your opinion on this matter?
29. Has there not been a special favour from Allah on those who speak and understand Burushaski? Is it not the infinite mercy of God that Burushaski is becoming a language of literature? Isn't Burushaski among the local languages?
30. We want all the languages of our beloved region to flourish and make significant progress. In this respect, the countless services to the language that cAllamah Nasir has diligently rendered are all exemplary. However, now and in the future, every prudent person can render useful services to his or her mother tongue. Is it impossible to do so?
31. May Allah, the Exalted, guide all His servants to perform virtuous deeds! May His great name be exalted, and may the people of faith attain the luminosity of heavenly love! Amin!!
Danishgah-i Khanah-yi Hikmat, Gilgit Centre 21 July 1998
| Chapter Index |