Translated by Asghar Vasanwala
Here is one more thought provoking verse of Ghalib and its explanation.
For Urdu Explanation, please click the following link
http://lists.elistx.com/archives/blank/201001/gifjIyPHCXu6E.gif
Or
Ta’at meiN ta, rahe na mai wa angbiN ki laag Ta’at=prayer mai=wine angbiN=honey
Lest prayer becomes a barter for heavenly wine and honey
DozaKH meiN Daldo, koi le-kar bahisht ko Laag= greed Dozakh= hell Bahisht=heaven
Someone please, push heaven into hell
People worship God for reward. Muslims believe if they worship or Ta’at Allah, heaven is reward, where they will be presented with river of unique wine and brooks of honey. However, Ghalib thinks this as barter or greed. Ghalib thinks worshipping or practicing Ta’at of God should be for sake of his love and not for any reward. Therefore, he says it will be better if someone throws heaven into hell and destroys it. If this happens, then worship will not be a quid pro quo for a reward. It will be just for the sake of God’s love. In Sufism Allah is beloved. Lovers love beloved for the sake of her love and not for any reward. The great Sufi Rabia Basri (717-801) once carried fire in one hand a water bucket in other and passed through a market in Basra. Some one asked what the meaning behind her act was. She said with fire I want to burn heaven and with water, I want to silence hell. Then only people will worship God for his love and not for reward of heaven and fear of hell.
These ideas are very different from common practices. Devotees go mausoleum-to-mausoleum, temple to temple, and church to church worshipping and offering gifts/nazranas to idols and tombs. In return, they expect resolution of family problems, fix of money problems, success in business, restoration of health, and receive other rewards. As if, these offerings are going to benefit deity, or saint. It is difficult to understand how can pouring of milk on deity or offering of Chadar (wreath) to saint’s grave, would delight the deity or the saint. As it happens, racketeers, embezzlers, robbers, and thieves give offerings after their successful endeavor, as if deities and saints were partners in their crimes. Instead, people should offer comfort to the poor and the needy. Pouring buckets of water in a brimming lily pond, when rose bushes go dry, is stupidity.
The above Ghalib thought, Iqbal expresses in less dramatic term.
Sodagiri nahiN hai, yeh Ibadat KHuda ki hai
Ae be-KHbar, jaza ki tamanna bhi chhoR de
This is God’s worship, not a business.
Oh unaware person, desire not any reward