Philosophical poem · 1920
The Secrets of the Self (Asrar-i Khudi)
A philosophical poem, translated from the Persian
Translated by Reynold A. Nicholson (1920)
Iqbal's Persian masnavi of 1915, the poem that made his name, in Nicholson's English verse: a Prologue and eighteen chapters on the strengthening of the Self through love and desire, with tales of a tiger and sheep, a diamond and a coal, and a Brahmin and a Sheikh.
Contents · 19 parts
- Prologueabout 190 lines
- I. Showing that the system of the universe originates in the Self and that the continuation of the life of all…85 lines
- II. Showing that the life of the Self comes from forming desires and bringing them to birth58 lines
- III. Showing that the Self is strengthened by Loveabout 120 lines
- IV. Showing that the Self is weakened by asking50 lines
- V. Showing that when the Self is strengthened by Love it gains dominion over the outward and inward forces of the universe55 lines
- VI. A tale of which the moral is that negation of the Self is a doctrine invented by the subject races of mankind in…98 lines
- VII. To the effect that Plato, whose thought has deeply influenced the mysticism and literature of Islam, followed the…43 lines
- VIII. Concerning the true nature of poetry and the reform of Islamic literatureabout 150 lines
- IX. Showing that the education of the Self has three stages: Obedience, Self-control, and Divine Vicegerencyabout 160 lines
- X. Setting forth the inner meanings of the names of Aliabout 120 lines
- XI. Story of a young man of Merv who came to the saint Ali Hujwírí--God have mercy on him!--and complained that he was…64 lines
- XII. Story of the bird that was faint with thirst47 lines
- XIII. Story of the diamond and the coal41 lines
- XIV. Story of the Sheikh and the Brahmin, followed by a conversation between Ganges and Himalaya to the effect that the…93 lines
- XV. Showing that the purpose of the Moslem’s life is to exalt the Word of Allah, and that the Jihád (war against…71 lines
- XVI. Precepts written for the Moslems of India by Mír Naját Nakshband, who is generally known as Bábá Sahrá’íabout 150 lines
- XVII. Time is a sword89 lines
- XVIII. An invocation93 lines