Shikwa

Shikwa is the most famous poem of Dr. Iqbal. There are two parts of this poem named "Shikwa" and "Jawab-e-Shikwa". Main theme of these two poems is taken from the famous poems of John Milton named "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained". Please click here to get benefited of John Milton's great work.

Dr. Iqbal used wonderful Urdu vocabulary in this poem and highlighted achievements of Muslims. In Shikwa, he played an oppressed and frustrated  Muslim who is being complaining to Allah Almighty. In its second part, he assumed if Allmighty Lord Himself is addressing to this complaining Muslim and answering to his protest. Unfortunately, instead of getting some point out of this wonderful work, some rigid and narrow minded so called Muslim scholars of that era declared Dr. Iqbal a rebellious minded person who is being disrespectful to God. But in the long run, this poem proved its worth and it is still applicable for the whole Muslim world even today.

            Ajmi khum hai tou kya, ma'y tou Hijazi hai meri

            Naghma Hindi hai tou kya, la'y tou Hijazi hai meri