Couplets › Selfhood
From Zarb-e-Kalim, 1936 — 'Mard-e-Musalman' · originally composed in Urdu
Bante hain meri kaargah-e-fikr mein anjum
Le apne muqaddar ke sitare ko tu pehchan
Le apne muqaddar ke sitare ko tu pehchan
“Stars are forged in the workshop of my thought — so come, recognise the star of your own destiny.”
Romanहिन्दी
बनते हैं मेरी कारगाह-ए-फ़िक्र में अंजुम
ले अपने मुक़द्दर के सितारे को तू पहचान
ले अपने मुक़द्दर के सितारे को तू पहचान
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
The Interpretation
Iqbal claims that thought itself manufactures stars — destinies are made, not received. He then turns to the reader: your fate is one of those stars; learn to recognise and claim it. Destiny is a product of the mind's labour, not a fixed allotment.
For You, Today
Your future is forged, not handed down — and the forge is your own thinking. Iqbal tells you to recognise the destiny you are capable of making. Stop reading your stars; start making them.
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
Apne mann mein doob kar pa ja suragh-e-zindagi
Tu agar mera nahin banta na ban, apna to ban
Tu agar mera nahin banta na ban, apna to ban
Dive into your own self and find the trace of life. If you will not be mine, then do not — but at least become your own.
Selfhood · Self-Knowledge