Couplets › Love
From Bang-e-Dara, 1924 — 'Jawab-e-Shikwa' · originally composed in Urdu
Dil se jo baat nikalti hai asar rakhti hai
Par nahin, taqat-e-parvaaz magar rakhti hai
Par nahin, taqat-e-parvaaz magar rakhti hai
“Words that come straight from the heart carry power — they have no wings, and yet they have the strength of flight.”
दिल से जो बात निकलती है असर रखती है
पर नहीं, ताक़त-ए-परवाज़ मगर रखती है
पर नहीं, ताक़त-ए-परवाज़ मगर रखती है
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 describes what gives speech its reach. A thing said from the heart has no physical wings, yet it travels — it has 'the strength of flight'. Sincerity, not technique, is what carries words into another person.
For You, Today
What makes your words land is not polish but where they come from. Iqbal's test for anything you want to say: did it actually come from the heart? If so, it will travel further than you think.
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
Mazhab nahin sikhata aapas mein bair rakhna
Hindi hain hum, watan hai Hindostan hamara
Hindi hain hum, watan hai Hindostan hamara
Religion does not teach us to hold enmity among ourselves. We are of Hind, and Hindustan is our homeland.
Unity · Love
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