عَدَتْكَ حَالِيْ لاَ سِـرِّي بِمُسْـتَتِرٍ عَنِ الْوُشَـاةِ وَلاَ دَائِي بِمُنْحَسِـمِ

10/10. My state (of love) has reached you, (now) my secret is no longer concealed from those who malign (me), nor is my sickness
 coming to an end.

عَدَتْكَ حَالِيْ- My state (of love) has reached you. If this meaning is taken, then this is an informative sentence (al-jumlatul-khabariyyah.)

However, others have stated that this is actually a duaa, which means, “May Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo make it such that you become like me. You too should gain the love of Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam.”
Some have stated that this is actually a curse, “May Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo make it such that you too are afflicted with this sickness of love. Then you will stop criticizing me.”

In this portion, the poet states that his sickness will not come to an end, but only increase, no matter what those who are his enemies state.  

مَحَّضْتَنِي النُّصْحَ لكِنْ لَسْتُ أسْمَعُهُ    إِنَّ الْمُحِبَّ عَنِ الْعُذَّالِ فِيْ صَمَمِ

11/11. You (O listener) have sincerely advised me (and) I have not paid any attention to it. Verily, a (true) lover is deaf to those who advise (and criticize him).

Thus far, the poet has asked those opposing him not to criticize him. When they have not stopped, the poet says to him, changing his approach, “I accept that you are sincere. You are advising me for my own benefit. However, I cannot accept your advice. It is a common rule that a lover never listens to the advice of those advising him.”

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam has stated,      

حُبُّكَ الشَّيءَ يُعْمِي وُيصِمُّ

Your love for something makes you blind and deaf.
(Abu Dawood no. 5130)

From this, an important lesson is derived for those engaged in the service of Islam. The true lovers of Islam should continue with steadfastness in their mission.
They should not be concerned with those who oppose them, no matter in which form they appear. At times, they will criticize and mock one, whilst at other times, they will appear in the guise of well-wishers and sincere supporters.    

  اِنِّي اتَّهَمْتُ نَصِيْحَ الشَّيْبِ فِيْ عَذَلٍ   وَالشَّيْبُ أَبْعَدُ فِيْ نُصْحٍ عَنِ التُّهَمِ

12/12. I placed an accusation on old age – which is a sincere well-wisher, when it reproached me. (No doubt,) old age in advising is very far above (any) suspicion.

Here the poet explains one other reason for not accepting the advice of his detractors. He states that old age is a sincere and compassionate advisor, it encourages a person to leave sins and to turn towards the Hereafter.
There is no possibility of it having any ulterior motives. Then too, he did not heed its advice.
When he did not accept the advice of such a sincere well-wisher, how can he accept your advice?

Importance of Old Age

Old age has been specifically mentioned as it has great importance in a person’s life. It reminds a person continually of his impending death. Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo states,

                 وَجَاءكُمُ النَّذِيرُ
A warner has come to you. (Faatir verse 37)

Many scholars of tafseer like ibn Abbaas RadhiAllaahu Anhu, Ikrimah Rahimahullaah, Abu Ja’far Al-Baaqir Rahimahullaah, Qataadah Rahimahullaah, Sufyaan ibn Uyainah Rahimahullaah have all stated that the warner refers to old age/white hair.

When Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu became the Khaleefah, he commanded a Bedouin to stand outside his house daily and call out,

يا عمر! لا تنس موتك و اعمل في الدنيا بقدر مقامك فيها

O Umar, do not forget your death! Make effort in this world
according to your stay here.

However, when Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu saw white hairs on his blessed beard, he stopped the Bedouin from calling out and said, “Now my warner and reminder is before my eyes. I do not need you to remind me.”
(Aseedatush Shahdah, commentary of Qaseedah Burdah of Kharpooti page 31)

Waathilah ibn Asqa’ RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

خَيْرُ شَبَابِكُمْ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِكُهُولِكُمْ، وَشَرُّ كُهُولِكُمْ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِشَبَابِكُمْ

The best of your youngsters are those who imitates their seniors, and the worst of your seniors are those who imitate their juniors.
(Musnad Abu Ya’laa no. 7483)

To Be Continued

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ