69. If God Be Within the
If God be within the mosque, then to whom does this world belong?
If Ram be within the image which you find upon your pilgrimage,
Then who is there to know what happens without?
Hari is in the East; Allah is in the West.
Look within your heart, for there you will find both Karim and Ram.
All the men and women of the world are His living forms.
Kabir is the child of Allah and of Ram:
He is my Guru, He is my Pir.
Summary
In this poem, Kabir challenges the idea of confining God to specific places, such as mosques, temples, or religious idols. He questions if God is truly present only in a mosque, then who governs the rest of the world? If divine presence is limited to a pilgrimage idol, then what about the vast existence outside?
Kabir rejects religious divisions, stating that Hari (Hindu name for God) is in the East and Allah (Islamic name for God) is in the West. However, the true presence of the Divine is within one’s own heart, where both Karim (a name for Allah) and Ram (a Hindu deity) reside together.
He further emphasizes that all human beings are manifestations of the Divine, reinforcing the idea of universal oneness. Finally, Kabir proclaims that he belongs to both Allah and Ram, seeing no distinction between Hindu and Muslim spiritual guides (Guru and Pir), embracing both traditions as one.
Line 1: IF GOD BE within the mosque, then to whom does this world belong?
- Difficult words/meanings:
- Mosque: A place of worship for Muslims.
- Belong: To be owned or associated with.
- Explanation:
- Kabir begins by questioning the idea that God is confined to a mosque. If God is only within the mosque, then who governs or sustains the rest of the world? This rhetorical question challenges the notion of limiting God to a specific place.
- Context:
- Kabir critiques the tendency to localize God within religious structures. He emphasizes that God is omnipresent and cannot be confined to any one place, whether it be a mosque, temple, or any other sacred site.
Line 2: If Ram be within the image which you find upon your pilgrimage, then who is there to know what happens without?
- Difficult words/meanings:
- Ram: A Hindu deity, an incarnation of Vishnu.
- Pilgrimage: A journey to a sacred place for religious reasons.
- Without: Outside or beyond.
- Explanation:
- Kabir questions the belief that God (Ram) resides only in the idols worshipped during pilgrimages. If God is limited to these images, who then oversees the world beyond them? This line challenges the idea of idol worship and the localization of the divine.
- Context:
- Kabir critiques the practice of idol worship and the belief that God can be contained within physical forms. He advocates for a more expansive understanding of God’s presence, which transcends physical boundaries.
Line 3: Hari is in the East: Allah is in the West.
- Difficult words/meanings:
- Hari: Another name for Vishnu or Krishna in Hinduism.
- Allah: The Islamic name for God.
- East/West: Symbolic directions representing different religious traditions.
- Explanation:
- Kabir points out the division between Hindu and Islamic conceptions of God, with Hari associated with the East and Allah with the West. This line highlights the geographical and cultural separation of religious beliefs.
- Context:
- Kabir lived in a time of religious tension between Hindus and Muslims. By mentioning both Hari and Allah, he acknowledges the diversity of religious traditions but also critiques the divisions they create.
Line 4: Look within your heart, for there you will find both Karim and Ram;
- Difficult words/meanings:
- Karim: A name of Allah, meaning “the Generous.”
- Ram: A Hindu deity, symbolizing divine virtue.
- Explanation:
- Kabir directs the seeker to look within their own heart, where both Karim (Allah) and Ram (Hari) reside. This line emphasizes the unity of the divine and the importance of inner realization over external religious practices.
- Context:
- Kabir’s message is one of spiritual unity. He suggests that the divine is not confined to external forms or traditions but can be found within the heart, transcending religious boundaries.
Line 5: All the men and women of the world are His living forms.
- Difficult words/meanings:
- Living forms: Manifestations or embodiments.
- Explanation:
- Kabir declares that all human beings, regardless of gender, are living manifestations of the divine. This line underscores the idea that God is present in every individual.
- Context:
- This line reflects Kabir’s belief in the immanence of God—the idea that the divine is present within all creation. It promotes a sense of equality and reverence for all human beings.
Line 6: Kabir is the child of Allah and of Ram: He is my Guru, He is my Pir.
- Difficult words/meanings:
- Child: A follower or devotee.
- Guru: A spiritual teacher in Hinduism.
- Pir: A spiritual guide in Sufism (Islamic mysticism).
- Explanation:
- Kabir identifies himself as a devotee of both Allah and Ram, transcending religious boundaries. He acknowledges both Hindu and Islamic spiritual traditions, seeing them as paths to the same divine truth.
- Context:
- Kabir’s declaration of being a child of both Allah and Ram reflects his syncretic philosophy, which seeks to harmonize Hindu and Islamic teachings. He rejects religious exclusivity and embraces the universality of spiritual truth.
Summary of the Poem:
Kabir’s poem critiques the localization of God within religious structures and idols, emphasizing instead the omnipresence of the divine. He challenges the divisions between Hindu and Islamic traditions, urging seekers to look within their hearts to find the unity of Karim (Allah) and Ram (Hari). Kabir’s message is one of spiritual inclusivity, equality, and the recognition of the divine in all human beings. By identifying himself as a child of both Allah and Ram, he embodies the harmony of diverse religious paths.
