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Introduction
Prayer is written by Kashmiri Poet G.A. Mehjoor and translated into English by Prof. G.A. Malik. The poem is addressed to Almighty Allah. In the poem, the poet prayer to Allah to lead him on the right path and give him knowledge. He also prayer Him to save him from bad things. The poem has been divided into two parts. Let us discuss the poem word by word.
Poem
Video
Part 1
Lord! You are my hope and trust, lead me to the way of truth: How long shall I dwell in ignorance! Pour me the nectar of knowledge. Lend ear to my wailing and pleas, cure me of ills and pains; Be kind each moment to me; let me never feel in want. Save me from sloth, infirmity and doubt, Surcharge my heart with passion, zest and hope.
The poet prays to Lord (Allah) to lead him to the way of truth as He is his (poet’s) hope and trust. The poet does not want dwell (live) in ignorance. Hence he prays to Allah to pour on him the nectar of knowledge i.e. knowledge which is as sweet as nectar.
The poet prays to Allah to listen to his wailing and pleas i.e. cries and appeals and cure him of all ills and pains i.e. all those things which trouble him. He prays to Allah to be kind to him every time and let let him feel alone and helpless and needed. He prays to Allah to save him from sloth (laziness), infirmity (weak mental health) and doubt and fill his heart with passion, enthusiasm and hope.
Part 2
Let me not ever chant the sleep-inducing tales; Let me sing the songs which infuse life into the dead. Let me sing of that which inspires people with love, And causes all bitterness and hatred to vanish. You brought me to bloom with the earliest vernal breeze; Let not the burning heat of summer wither me grey. Like dew, how long shall I wait for the first flash of the sun? Awaken me with the flowers in the first stroke of the dawn. In form I am a man, in substance far from humanity, Subject me not to trials, shame not my human form. Forsaken by men am I, and so they call me Mehjoor, People may desert me thus but you don't abandon me Lord!
The poet prays to Allah not let him chant the sleep-inducing tales i.e. those things which take him towards ignorance. Instead he wants to sing the songs which infuse life into the death i.e. he wants knowledge which he can spread across the world and take away the ignorance.
He further prays to Allah to sing songs which inspire people with love and take away all bitterness and hatred. In other words, he prays to bring sweetness and softness in his language so that he may spread love and take the hatred and bitterness away.
The poet says that Allah made him bloom with the earliest vernal breeze i.e. flourish with spring blossoms and prays Him to save him from burning heat of summer. In other words, he prays to Allah to save him from all types of troubles and difficulties of life.
He then raises a rhetorical question asking how long should he wait, like dew drop, for the first flash of the dawn i.e. he asks Allah how long should he wait for his prayers to get answered. He prays to awaken him with the flowers in the first stroke of sun i.e. he prays to Allah to enlighten his mind with His blessings as a flower blooms with the first rays of sun.
According to the poet, he may be a human, but in reality, he is far from humanity i.e. good deeds. Hence he prays to Allah not to put him in to harsh tests and also save him from humiliation and shame because of his deeds.
In the end, the poet says that he is abandoned by all. This is why he is known as “Mehjoor“. He does not care about humans, but he prays to Allah not to abandon him because He (Allah) is the only hope of the poet.
Further Reading
Prayer Poem Class 10th Questions and Answers
