NAGHMA-E-MUHAMMADI - Goethe's Song for Muhammad (PBUH) | Mahomets Gesang in Urdu

Na'at by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Translated into Urdu by Dr. Shan-ul-Haq Haqqee

Poem (Nazm/Naat): Naghma-e-Muhammadi (Song for Muhammad/Mahomets Gesang)
Recitation: Raheel Farooq

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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a towering figure in Western literature, is known for his deep intellectual curiosity and engagement with different cultures and philosophies. His interest in the Orient, particularly in Islam, is well-documented. Goethe’s West-östlicher Divan (West-Eastern Divan), a collection of poems, reflects his profound admiration for Eastern thought, culture, and spirituality. One of the gems from this collection is "Song for Muhammad" (Mahomets-Gesang), a beautifully crafted poem that celebrates the spiritual journey of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This poem stands as an allegorical masterpiece, intertwining nature with divine inspiration to convey the essence of the Prophet's mission and its impact on humanity.

Below is the full translation of Song for Muhammad from German to English by Emily Ezust:

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Song for Muhammad
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Behold this rocky spring,
bright with joy
like a twinkling star;
above the clouds
its youth was nourished
by good spirits
among the cliffs in the bushes.

Fresh as a youth
it dances out of the cloud
down to the marble rocks,
cheering again
to the sky.

Along mountainous paths
it chases after colorful pebbles,
and with the step of a young leader
its companion-springs journey
with it onward.

Below in the valley
flowers appear from its footprints,
and the meadow
derives life from its breath.

But no shaded valley can stop it,
no flower,
clasping its knees
and imploring it with loving eyes:
toward the Plains it presses its course,
twisting like a snake.

Brooks nuzzle up
sociably. Now it treads
into the Plain, resplendent with silver,
and the Plain grows silver too,
and the rivers of the Plain
and the brooks of the mountains
cheer and shout: "Brother!
Brother, take your brothers with,
take them with you to your ancient father,
to the eternal ocean,
whose outstretched arms
await us,
who, ah! has opened them in vain
to embrace his yearning children;
for the bleak wasteland's
greedy sand devours us; the sun above
sucks up all our blood; a hill
clogs us into a pool! Brother,
take your brothers from this Plain,
take your brothers from the mountains,
take them with you to your ancient father!

Come all of you! -
and now [the spring] swells
more grandly: an entire race
lifts the prince up high!
And in rolling triumph
it gives names to the lands and cities
that grow in its path.

Irresistibly it rushes onward,
leaving a wake of flaming-tipped towers
and houses of marble - creations
of its bounty.

Like Atlas it bears cedar houses
upon its giant's shoulders;
over its head, the wind noisily
blows a thousand flags
as testimony of its glory.

And so it brings its brothers,
its treasures, its children,
effervescent with joy,
to the waiting parent's bosom.

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Goethe’s engagement with the Orient went beyond mere literary curiosity. He was fascinated by the Islamic world, particularly by its poetic and spiritual traditions. Goethe’s exploration of Islam, which included studying the Quran and learning Arabic, led him to a greater appreciation of the universality of divine truth, irrespective of religious or cultural boundaries. Song for Muhammad is a testament to this admiration, where Goethe uses nature as a metaphor to trace the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) spiritual journey, transforming his poem into a universal parable of enlightenment.

Shaan-ul-Haq Haqqi: The Urdu Translator

The Urdu translation of Song for Muhammad by Dr. Shaan-ul-Haq Haqqi stands as a faithful reflection of Goethe's poetic intent. Haqqi, a distinguished poet, translator, critic, and lexicographer, was known for his expertise in bringing Western literary works into the realm of Urdu literature. His translation of Goethe’s work reflects not just the original meaning of the words but also captures the spiritual essence and philosophical depth that Goethe embedded in his poem.

In Song for Muhammad, Goethe crafted a timeless ode not only to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but to the universal experience of spiritual growth and enlightenment. His symbolic use of natural elements such as springs, rivers, and oceans illustrates the transformative power of divine truth and the unity it fosters among those who seek it. This poem, as translated into Urdu by Shaan-ul-Haq Haqqi, continues to resonate with readers across cultural and linguistic boundaries, standing as a testament to Goethe’s profound understanding of the human spiritual experience.

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