Couplets › Self-Knowledge
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
Khirad ke paas khabar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Tera ilaj nazar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Tera ilaj nazar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
“Reason has nothing to offer but information; your cure lies in nothing but vision.”
Romanहिन्दी
ख़िरद के पास ख़बर के सिवा कुछ और नहीं
तेरा इलाज नज़र के सिवा कुछ और नहीं
तेरा इलाज नज़र के सिवा कुछ और नहीं
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
The Interpretation
Iqbal draws his sharpest line between khirad, the intellect, and nazar, insight. The rational mind can only gather facts, reports, data; it cannot heal you. What actually cures and transforms is a deeper seeing that reason cannot supply.
For You, Today
Information is not the same as insight, and no amount of data adds up to vision. Iqbal says your real problem won't yield to more analysis — it needs a different way of seeing. Stop gathering; start seeing.
In the same spirit
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
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
Na samjhoge to mit jaoge ai Hindostan walon
Tumhari dastan tak bhi na hogi dastanon mein
Tumhari dastan tak bhi na hogi dastanon mein
If you will not understand, you will be erased, O people of Hindustan — not even your story will remain among the stories.
Awakening · Courage