Couplets › Action
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
Baagh-e-bahisht se mujhe hukm-e-safar diya tha kyun
Kaar-e-jahan daraaz hai ab mera intezaar kar
Kaar-e-jahan daraaz hai ab mera intezaar kar
“Why was I given the command to depart the garden of paradise? The work of the world is long now — so wait for me.”
Romanहिन्दी
बाग़-ए-बहिश्त से मुझे हुक्म-ए-सफ़र दिया था क्यूँ
कार-ए-जहाँ दराज़ है अब मेरा इंतिज़ार कर
कार-ए-जहाँ दराज़ है अब मेरा इंतिज़ार कर
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Spoken in the voice of restless humanity, this verse turns exile into a vocation. Sent out of an effortless paradise into the unfinished world, the human being does not beg to return — there is too much work to be done. The world's task is long, and the worker asks only for time.
For You, Today
Iqbal reframes being thrown into a hard, unfinished situation as being handed real work. Rather than longing for an easy paradise you left behind, his answer is to roll up your sleeves — the task is long, and that is the point.
In the same spirit
Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Beyond the stars there are worlds yet — there are still more trials of love to come.
Aspiration · Love · Restlessness
Mohabbat mujhe un jawanon se hai
Sitaron pe jo dalte hain kamand
Sitaron pe jo dalte hain kamand
My love is for those young ones who cast their lasso upon the stars.
Youth · Aspiration
Lab pe aati hai dua ban ke tamanna meri
Zindagi shama ki surat ho khudaya meri
Zindagi shama ki surat ho khudaya meri
My longing rises to my lips as a prayer: O God, may my life be like a candle's flame.
Hope · Aspiration