Couplets › Self-Knowledge
From Bang-e-Dara, 1924 — 'Khizr-e-Rah' · originally composed in Urdu
Keh raha hai mujh se ae joya-e-asrar-e-azal
Chashm-e-dil wa ho to hai taqdeer-e-aalam be-hijab
Chashm-e-dil wa ho to hai taqdeer-e-aalam be-hijab
“He says to me: O seeker of the secrets of eternity, if the eye of the heart opens, the destiny of the world stands unveiled.”
Romanहिन्दी
कह रहा है मुझ से ऐ जोया-ए-असरार-ए-अज़ल
चश्म-ए-दिल वा हो तो है तक़दीर-ए-आलम बे-हिजाब
चश्म-ए-दिल वा हो तो है तक़दीर-ए-आलम बे-हिजाब
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
Khizr, the immortal guide, tells the seeker that the mysteries of fate are hidden not by distance but by blindness. Open the heart's eye and the destiny of the whole world becomes visible. Insight, not information, lifts the veil.
For You, Today
The future feels hidden mostly because we look with the wrong faculty. Iqbal says open the heart's eye and the pattern of things becomes legible. Cultivate the inner sight; much that seems veiled is simply unseen.
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
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
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