Couplets › Justice
From Bang-e-Dara, 1924 — 'Bachche ki Dua' · originally composed in Urdu
Ho mera kaam ghareebon ki himayat karna
Dard-mandon se zaeefon se mohabbat karna
Dard-mandon se zaeefon se mohabbat karna
“Let my work be to defend the poor — to love the suffering and the weak.”
Romanहिन्दी
हो मेरा काम ग़रीबों की हिमायत करना
दर्दमंदों से ज़ईफ़ों से मुहब्बत करना
दर्दमंदों से ज़ईफ़ों से मुहब्बत करना
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
The Interpretation
The child's prayer turns outward: to make his life's work the protection of the poor and tenderness toward the weak and the aged. Iqbal locates greatness not in power over others but in standing for those who have none.
For You, Today
A simple test of a life: whom does your work protect? Iqbal points the child toward the powerless — the poor, the hurting, the old. Strength is for shielding those who lack it.
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
Zindagi ho meri parwane ki surat ya-rab
Ilm ki shama se ho mujh ko mohabbat ya-rab
Ilm ki shama se ho mujh ko mohabbat ya-rab
Let my life be like the moth's, O Lord; let me love the lamp of knowledge.
Love · Aspiration · Youth
Mere Allah burai se bachana mujh ko
Nek jo raah ho us rah pe chalana mujh ko
Nek jo raah ho us rah pe chalana mujh ko
My God, save me from evil; set me on the path that is good.
Humility · Self-Knowledge