Couplets › Self-Knowledge
From Bal-e-Jibril (1935) · originally composed in Urdu
Khirad ke pas khabar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Tera ilaj nazar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Tera ilaj nazar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
“Reason holds nothing but information; your true cure is nothing but vision.”
Romanहिन्दी
ख़िरद के पास ख़बर के सिवा कुछ और नहीं
तिरा इलाज नज़र के सिवा कुछ और नहीं
तिरा 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.
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Iqbal draws his sharp line between khirad and nazar. Reason can gather facts and information, but information alone does not heal or transform a person. What truly cures is nazar, an inner vision or insight that sees past mere data. Knowing more is not the same as seeing clearly.
For You, Today
More information will not fix what is wrong. What you need is sharper insight, the ability to actually see your situation, not just collect more facts about it.
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
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
Parwaz hai dono ki isi ek faza mein
Kargas ka jahan aur hai, shaheen ka jahan aur
Kargas ka jahan aur hai, shaheen ka jahan aur
Both take flight in this very same sky — yet the vulture's world is one thing, and the falcon's another.
The Falcon · Self-Knowledge