Couplets › Selfhood
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
Bagh-e-bahisht se mujhe hukm-e-safar diya tha kyun
Kaar-e-jahan daraz hai ab mera intzar kar
Kaar-e-jahan daraz hai ab mera intzar kar
“Why did You order me out of 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 इन्तज़ार कर
कार-ए-जहाँ दराज़ है अब मेरा इन्तज़ार 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
Iqbal, audacious as ever, turns Adam's exile into a boast. You expelled me from Eden — well, the work I have to do on earth is vast, so now You must wait for my return. The human being reframes banishment as a grand commission.
For You, Today
Iqbal takes a setback, even expulsion, and reframes it as a mission with a long runway. What looked like punishment becomes purpose. The work is big; that is reason to make the world wait, not to despair.
In the same spirit
Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pehle
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Raise your selfhood so high that, before issuing every decree of destiny, God Himself asks you: tell me, what is your wish?
Selfhood · Courage
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
Nahin tera nasheman qasr-e-sultani ke gumbad par
Tu shaheen hai, basera kar paharon ki chattanon mein
Tu shaheen hai, basera kar paharon ki chattanon mein
Your nest is not on the dome of a royal palace. You are a falcon — make your dwelling on the rocks of the mountains.
The Falcon · Freedom · Courage