Is Human Existence an Accidental Phenomenon: Firdausi's Lamentation
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
4 May 2023
On the wall
of my small pad inscribed are the immortal words of Abul Qasem Firdausi in
Persian. Here's the English translation of his lamentation:
“I turn to right and left in all the earth. I see no signs of justice,
sense or worth: A man does evil deeds and all his days are filled with luck and
universal praise. Another is good in all he does- he dies a wretched, broken
man whom all despise."
So
poignantly true! There's no answer to Firdausi's bewilderment in any religion,
faux spirituality and abstruse metaphysics: Why does ill-fate befall those
who're inherently good and how come all scum of the earth enjoy life to the
hilt and nothing untoward happens to them?
The great
Firdausi, known to be an Aghnaan (an early modern Persian word for a
compassionate soul: Ain/Ghain/Noon/Alif/Noon) in Persian folklore, himself
remained at the receiving end throughout his life. He wrote 'Shahnama', one of
the greatest and longest epics in the annals of world literature which has
60,000 couplets and spent 35 years in writing the great epic. Yet, his patron,
Sultan Mahmoud of Ghaznavi, didn't suitably remunerate the legendary poet despite
his promise.
Firdausi
died in abject penury, wondering why bad luck always assails the good humans.
It's said that he turned a heretic or an apostate and stopped offering Namaz
towards the fag-end of his life. But that's inconsequential. What intrigues all
thinking people is: Why this happens.
Eastern
religions, believing in reincarnation, has a semblance of explanation that it's
Gaye Janm Ka Paap/Punya (the good/bad deeds of the past life). While it
doesn't hold water, Semitic faiths, not believing in the concept of rebirth and
soul, are all at sea while explaining this phenomenon and unfair 'divine'
justice. Nor does the Theory of Karma of the oriental religions explain this baffling
anomaly. Why do good people suffer, remains an unsolved mystery and unexplained
enigma.
Is human
existence an accidental phenomenon-Faqat Ik Saaneha ? Firdausi asked
this just before his death and his poor but self-respecting daughter had no
answer.
By the way,
Sultan Mahmoud finally sent him 60,000 gold coins when he realized his mistake.
Alas, it was too late. Firdausi's Janaza was being taken out when
Sultan's man arrived at Firdausi's doorstep with the gold coins!
Josh
Malihabadi, summed it up so beautifully,
“Zindagi
Thi Aur Zameen Ki Mustaqil Paabosiyaan
Ab Meri
Turbat Pe Jhukne Aasmaan Aaya Toh Kya
Jangalon
Mein Jo Musafir Sar Patak Ke Mar Gaya
Ab Use
Aawaaz Deta Kaarvaan Aaya Toh Kya "
I've not
translated it lest my poor English should spoil the essence of Josh's immortal
quatrain in Urdu. I shall appreciate if any reader has an explanation, even
plausible or specious, to this eternal conundrum.
-----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic
Website, African
Muslim News, Arab World
News, South Asia
News, Indian Muslim
News, World Muslim
News, Women in
Islam, Islamic
Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia
in America, Muslim Women
in West, Islam Women
and Feminism