In the Musaddas, Hali turns nostalgically to Islam’s glories, laments the decline of Muslim civilisation, and the lethargy of contemporary Islam. The poem brought back to life the society of their time far better than any scholarly construction could. No wonder it was recited at political and educational conferences and featured in bold calligraphy on the front pages of daily and weekly journals.
Hali’s construction of Islam, his understanding of himself as a Muslim, and as an Indian living in British India, are crucial in tracing the historical development of Islam in South Asia. Moreover his vernacular images and imaginings of the British government significantly influenced the popular views and everyday vision of Pax Britannia. Hali shared a political heritage and language which helped reconstruct Muslim identity in the 19th century.
The Musaddas has been translated and interpreted before. This new volume is just as important and interesting. Its editor Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, a descendant of Hali, has produced an admirable English translation. With her thoughtful introduction, she also illumines a chapter both in the history of 19th century India and the history of Islam in the subcontinent.
