The preceptor’s teaching was, O foolish Muslim! ‘Necessary preparations are incumbent on the traveler.

The world’s ways have changed, such changes have come that those who were invaluable once are not even saleable now.

That bright flame of yours from which darkness escaped now is reduced to a spark, less bright than stars.

Cease to be the Invisible’s Lover, be the visible’s lover; now influence of the visible God is triumphant over nations.

In this garden success for your efforts is not possible; your snare is worn out and the fast-flying bird is clever.

In this age education is the cure for nations’ maladies: Education is like a lancet for the diseased blood.’

By the leader’s suggestions love of education developed in me. Obeying the command of Khizar is incumbent on the wanderer of the wilderness.

But the discerning eye should see my misfortune: ‘Went to pull thorn from foot, the litter disappeared from the sight; I was negligent for a moment it moved by a hundered years.’ (This is the climax and the raison d`etre of this poem. It means that the apparently slight error of the Muslim Ummah in obtaining and accepting Western education uncritically has resulted in its doom.)