Muneer Bhatti

Shikwa to the God

A sharp and biting satire on dictatorship regimes around the world. Ahmad Faraz was arrested right after the mushaira for reciting this nazm.

"Shikwa" (Complaint") and "Jawab-e-Shikwa" ( "Response to the Complaint") are poems written by Muhammad Iqbal, in the Urdu language, which were later published in his book Kulliat-e-Iqbal. The poems are often noted for their musicality, poetical beauty and depth of thought. The central idea of the poem Shikwa is that God is not fulfilling his promise to protect followers of the Prophet from loss and a decline in fortune. In Jawab-e Shikwa God answers directly that he has not broken his promise; instead it is  the Muslims, his followers, who have turned away from the Path.

This Nazm is written by the great urdu poet and song writer Sahir Ludhiyanvi.