Epilogue of Iqbal’s Javid Nama: Address to Javid and Posterity
Dr. Allama Iqbal concludes Javid Nama with a concise advice for his son Javid as well as all all future generations:
“This book [Javid Name] has come to an end but I still have something to say that cannot be said. The effort of saying it makes it more complicated as the words and sounds blur it. Grasp it from my eyes and from my passion.
To say ‘There is no god except Allah’ means that you should never lower yourself before anyone or anything in this world. One who doesn’t believe in oneself is an infidel, worse than one who doesn’t believe in God. Look at the evils of the world around you and protect yourself from them. Our teachers give all the wrong messages to our youth, since they take away the natural flare from the soul. Take it from me that all knowledge is useless until it is connected with your life, because the purpose of knowledge is nothing but to show you the splendors of yourself!
Religion starts with courtesy and attains its perfection through love. Do not slander anyone, for the Muslims and non-Muslims all belong to the same God. Beware of the dignity of the human being and remember that your humanity lies in showing respect to other humans. One who loves God should be kind to everyone, just as God Himself is merciful to people of all religions.
Do not serve your body at the cost of your soul, and learn to take pride in poverty even if you become a wealthy noble. Try to find a true guide and if you fail to do so, follow Rumi just as I took him for my guide. People have learnt to dance like dervishes but they haven’t learnt the dance of the soul, which moves the order of universe, but the soul cannot dance until you shake off fear and expectation from everyone except God. Stay away from grief because grief indicated a weakness of faith and turns youth into old age.
O my child! If only your soul could learn to dance, then that is the secret of the religion of Muhammad that I am disclosing to you, as I lie praying for you in my grave.”
Javidname in Allama Iqbal’s Handwriting
