"Old age is a Bounty"

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 "Old age is a Bounty" Or "Old is Gold"; How?

Life is a journey; it is pleasant, beautiful and enjoyable too, but only as long as there is health. The journey of life continues to gallop unhindered from one stage to other. Every human being who crosses the boundary of boyhood from the early age of infancy and enters the field of youth does not consider himself less than a Romeo and Lord Cupid. It is an inherent desire of all humans to remain young even with growing age. But most people want to hold on to time at youth and the journey to the next destination seem to be difficult.

There comes a point in life when one day suddenly one meets a white bearded old man who enquires about childhood neighborhood? Then he explodes a bomb when he tells that he too was a resident of the same street and was a classmate of the younger brother of the Excellency. Now when the poor soul faces the mirror, the question follows him, "Is he young? The obvious answer is "No, You are old"; screams the image from the mirror.

Youth is also a strange phase of life? But man cannot realize the magic of youthfulness in his youthful days; because at that time he is in rage of youthful buoyance. The problem comes, when the old age starts to catch up; and man doesn't want to buy that reality and wishes to remain young forever. But old age is a reality in which a man's hands and feet get slow naturally, and he losses the strength and power that once were in youthful age. The man develops hunch and losses speed and an Urdu Poet Qamar Jalalvi found an interesting excuse?

The hunch in my back is not due to old age;

I have bent because am searching where the youth has gone.

A man continues to grow in age with every tickle of time which never stops and old age eventually catches up all humans. Man lives in great struggle to stay young and youthful desires never end. Hafeez Jalandhri is famous Pakistani poet who has rendered a poem "Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon" meaning " I am still Young" and that was probably written in the same context as discussed above. In the following the English translation of the poem is presented:-.

The air is so pleasant;

The flowers are blooming blisteringly;

Thousand songs being sung;

It's spring everywhere.

Why are you moving away dear butler?

Come back, come to your job!

Hey, what are you waiting for?

Pick up the glass; pick up the glass.

Take the glass and fill up the drink;

Give the bowl full to me;

Look towards the brighter side;

Look at the ambiance; don't be fool.

Those black dark clouds;

Have spread over the horizon;

A crowd of social drinkers;

Are on the way to bars.

Why do you mistake me?

Don't take me frightened;

Ascetic thoughts of old age are still away;

I am still young

Yes, Worships are observed;

Salvation is also desired;

Am mad about good deeds;

One do thinks about punishment.

But listen, O dear Preacher;

You are a strange being;

Have the youth and love;

Ever being separated or disassociated?

The flamboyant beauties showing off;

Tempting exuberance and vivacity; 

May the winds be perfumed;

So, why not desire curiosity be sparked?

The painters of the temptations;

Spread all here and there;

Tempt for flowing luxury;

How can a poor man escape from?

Let's make the story short;

Your point of view;

May be correct; but!

I am still young.

The hiking on the mountains;

The wandering about the streets of the beloved;

The bustling songs of bristle bills;

The laughter of young beauties.

If a match is made;

So hustle and bustle is over;

If sometimes the luck fell asleep;

One ends up laughing and other crying.

There are love stories;

Which contain juicy youthfulness;

Of advances from one party;

And boasting from other party.

There is sky over this earth;

All we see are heartwarming beauty;

These are life giving;

Shall these be left alone?

Yes, death is a reality;

I will not take it seriously for now;

No, not yet; because;

I am still young

No worries about food and drink;

No highs or lows;

No botheration of existence and being;

Nor about promises of day of creation.

Hope and despair, not at all;

Senses and Conjecture are meaningless;

Lost all in the presence;

All is lost when have glasses of drink.

There shall be no shortage of Champaign;

Glass be filled, one after the other;

The party shall flourish;

The hustle and bustle must continue.

Play that song; O musician;

Of happiness and sorrow;

The songs must have sound effect;

To evoke emotions in the soul.

Every one shall say;

Don't hold back; O Bartender;

Keep offering the Drinks;

I am still young

Akhtar Payami has also rendered a poem "Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon"; "I am Sill Young"; an English translation is presented here.

"I am still young"!

If you are young, give a pulse to the life;

If you are young, erase the black marks of time;

Why is there fire, why not put it off?

"I am still young"!

If you are young, why are you afraid of storms?

If you are young, why are you dying for help from anyone?

Why are you dressing up like a new bride?

"I am still young"!

When you are young, Life is no all about drinking and dressing up;

If you are young, life is not only for flirting;

There are also clouds on the sky, as moon doesn't shine all nights;

"I am still young"!

If you are young, then why be a burden on some one's shoulder?

If you are young, why did the happy days turn away due yours failings?

Why the mind has become a place of sorrows and regrets?

"I am still young"!

If you're young, get on with life;

If you are young, move forward and take lead in change for good;

Go forward! Spread the message of revolution.

Old age is the final stage of life that comes after youthfulness and every phase of life is a wonderful journey if spent with love because there is no age limit and barrier for love. Every man needs a companion in all ages of life and especially in old age. The man needs a companion who is friendly, accommodating and kind during all stages of life. Now a translated version of a poem from Zakira Shabnam "You are truly very nice" is presented to show how one feels if he or she hear these words from his or her companion.

"You are truly very nice"

This loving phrase of yours;

Makes me live life easier;

In moments of despair in life;

It refreshes and brightens me.

Yours loving words;

Rings jingle bells in my ears;

Brings sparkles in my eyes;

Smiles emerge on my lips;

Whenever you say to me;

"You are truly very nice".

My lifeless soul comes to life;

I forget my pains and sufferings;

Captivated in the dome of my own self;

I start chirping and blooming;

Whenever you say that to me

"You are truly very nice".

I am wandering about in recalling you;

Drowned in the fragrance of your love;

I live centuries in moments;

Yes, I live centuries in moments.

And then I start thinking;

I think so;

If, I am really enchanting;

Those eyes watching me;

In fact, are very attractive.

The heart in which I dwell;

That heart is really very loving.

Inspiring me to live;

Your loving thoughts;

Are really very nice.

The truth is that;

It's not me but You, who is very nice;

"You are truly very nice".

Yes, you are very nice.

On a beautiful night, there is a moon in the sky, galaxies and stars. The night of a successful life is the age of retirement; Along with which comes old age. Thanks be to Allah Almighty that we the people of Pakistan today in old age are fortunate to be in much better economic conditions than our ancestors seventy years ago. Today's urban dignitaries have family, respect, fame and decent bank balance. What charm are we waiting for now? Do we not know what is the next destination of this life will be? Remember that old age is the last destination in the journey of life and the grave is the beginning of the next journey.

Death is thought to be the end of life,

In fact, it's the evening of life, the dawn of eternal life.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal

We must remember that old age is beautiful because by this time of age we are grandparents; paternal and maternal grandparents. We reach to this successful life stage after leading a meaningful life with our children and grandchildren; nephews and nieces around us. We live with family and friends. In these association of ours, we make memories, when we rejoice and party together. At the beginning of this new year, in one such gathering, the author's eight years old niece wrote the following message:-

Now a poem from Hamida Shaheen "Old age is a Bounty" is presented, which is the main purpose of this write up; because the author himself is knocking at the door of old age.

"Old age is a Bounty"

If; someone loves the silver of your hairs;

Someone still loves your eyes;

The smiles bloom like pink flowers on the lips;

When wrinkles are filled with light;

Old age is a bounty.

Someone listening to old stories with interest;

Someone chooses tiredness from heart and soul with love;

Remembering the youth, the heart fills with sadness;

If someone swims with you in the sea of sadness;

Old age is a bounty.

Silky kisses on wrinkled hands;

Become reverend sign of happiness, devotion, sanctity;

If, Sun bathing becomes bothersome, then someone extends the shade;

Umbrellas are stretched over, if it rains;

Old age is a bounty.

If you stagger a bit, supports come running for help;

They bring fresh newspapers, play old songs;

Favorite Books are in Sight Access;

Let there be fragrance of green season, with trees and birds;

Old age is a bounty.

If you see them, the stars shine in your eyes;

If you kiss them; Prayers glorify on the lips.

If scores of young relationships are available in the company;

And the beloved, partner of soul is besides in company;

Old age is a bounty

Now, in the end, an Arabic joke is presented; which says that a middle-aged man had two wives, one Hana and the other Mana.

Hana was a little old, so she used to pluck the black hairs in the man's beard saying that now you are also old, so these black hairs are not suitable for your dignity.

On the other hand, Mana would also break his white hair by saying that you are young now, the white hair is not worthy of your youth.

Within a short period of time, his beard was complete lost. When asked by people, he used to say. "Been Hana wa Manat Ghaat Lihana" is all fun in this sentence, but hidden in the Arabic language. The translation means that he lost his beard in the cycle of Hana and Mana.

We pray to ALLAH that the readers may be successful in all stages of life and be successful in this world and the hereafter. ALLAH Subhan Ta'ala has taught us this prayer "O our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the fire.

We should be sure of its authenticity in our old age that ALLAH Ta'ala has made us seek the good of both worlds and if life is lived in this way, then for sure the "Old age is a Bounty".