Couplets › Courage
From Bang-e-Dara · originally composed in Urdu
se dabne wale ai nahin ham
baar kar chuka hai tu hamara
baar kar chuka hai tu hamara
“We are not the kind to be crushed by falsehood, O sky; a hundred times already you have tested us.”
Romanहिन्दी
से दबने वाले ऐ नहीं हम
बार चुका है तू इम्तिहाँ हमारा
बार चुका है तू इम्तिहाँ हमारा
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 answers fate itself with defiance. He addresses the heavens as an old adversary and points out that repeated trials have only confirmed his resilience, not broken it. The couplet reframes a long history of hardship as evidence of strength: each test survived is proof that falsehood cannot win here.
For You, Today
When wrong seems to have the upper hand, recall everything you have already withstood. The trials behind you are not a record of suffering but a record of proof; you have refused to break before, and you can refuse again.
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
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
Amal se zindagi banti hai jannat bhi jahannum bhi
Ye khaki apni fitrat mein na noori hai na naari hai
Ye khaki apni fitrat mein na noori hai na naari hai
By our deeds we make life a heaven or a hell. This creature of dust is, by nature, neither angel of light nor demon of fire.
Action · Courage