SELF-CONTROL

Thy soul cares only for itself, like the camel:

Be a man, get its halter into thine hand,

That thou mayst become a pearl albeit thou art a potter's vessel.

He that does not command himself

Becomes a receiver of commands from others.

Love and fear were mingled in thy making:

Fear of this world and of the world to come, fear of death,

Fear of all the pains of earth and heaven;

Love of riches and power, love of country,

Man, in whom clay is mixed with water, is fond of ease,

Devoted to wickedness and enamoured of evil.

So long as thou hold'st the staff of "There is no god but He,"

Thou wilt break every spell of fear.

His neck is not bowed before vanity.

Fear finds no way into his bosom,

heart is afraid of none but Allah.

Whoso dwells in the world of Negation.

He withdraws his gaze from all except God

And lays the knife to the throat of his son.

Though single, he is like a host in onset:

Life is cheaper in his eyes than wind.

The Moselm's heart deems prayer a lesser pilgrimage.

In the Muslim's hand prayer is like a dagger.

Killing sin and forwardness and wrong.

Fasting makes an assault upon hunger and thirst.

The pilgrimage enlightens the soul of the Faithful:

It teaches separation from one's home and destroys attachment to one's native land;

It is an act of devotion in which all feel themselves to be one,

It binds together the leaves of the book of religion,

And makes equality familiar;

It fortifies the heart with righteousness,

It increases wealth and diminishes fondness for wealth.

All this is a means of strengthening thee:

Draw might from the litany "O Almighty One!"

That thou mayst ride the camel of thy body. Allama Iqbal