Couplets › Selfhood
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
ki shokhi-o-tundi mein kibr-o-naaz nahin
Jo ho bhi to be-lazzat-e-niyaz nahin
Jo ho bhi to be-lazzat-e-niyaz nahin
“There is no arrogance or vanity in the spirited fierceness of selfhood — and any pride it does carry is never without the sweetness of humility.”
Romanहिन्दी
की ओ में किब्र-ओ-नाज़ नहीं
जो हो भी तो बे-लज़्ज़त-ए-नियाज़ नहीं
जो हो भी तो बे-लज़्ज़त-ए-नियाज़ 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 answers the obvious objection to his philosophy of selfhood: is it not just ego? No, he insists. The fierce energy of a true self holds no arrogance, and whatever pride it has is always paired with humility — the two are inseparable in a healthy self.
For You, Today
A strong sense of self is not the same as conceit. Iqbal's test: real selfhood always carries humility alongside its confidence. If the pride has crowded the humility out, it has stopped being selfhood and become ego.
In the same spirit
Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pehle
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Raise your selfhood so high that, before issuing every decree of destiny, God Himself asks you: tell me, what is your wish?
Selfhood · Courage
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
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.
Justice · Humility · Love