Couplets › Restlessness
From Bang-e-Dara, 1924 — 'Shikwa' · originally composed in Urdu
Kyun ziyaankaar banun sood-faramosh rahun
Fikr-e-farda na karun mahv-e-gham-e-doosh rahun
Fikr-e-farda na karun mahv-e-gham-e-doosh rahun
“Why should I make myself a loser, forgetful of all gain — give no thought to tomorrow and stay lost in yesterday's grief?”
Romanहिन्दी
क्यूँ ज़ियाँकार बनूँ सूद-फ़रामोश रहूँ
फ़िक्र-ए-फ़र्दा न करूँ महव-ए-ग़म-ए-दोश रहूँ
फ़िक्र-ए-फ़र्दा न करूँ महव-ए-ग़म-ए-दोश रहूँ
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
The Interpretation
Shikwa opens with the poet refusing the posture of the meek, brooding believer. He will not keep silent and absorb loss; he questions why he should drown in past sorrow and ignore the future. The whole audacious complaint to God grows from this one refusal to stay quiet.
For You, Today
Iqbal rejects the habit of stewing in yesterday's losses while ignoring tomorrow. The complaint that follows is born of refusing to suffer silently. Sometimes progress starts with the nerve to stop accepting your situation.
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
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
Nahin tera nasheman qasr-e-sultani ke gumbad par
Tu shaheen hai, basera kar paharon ki chattanon mein
Tu shaheen hai, basera kar paharon ki chattanon mein
Your nest is not on the dome of a royal palace. You are a falcon — make your dwelling on the rocks of the mountains.
The Falcon · Freedom · Courage