Couplets › Humility
From Bang-e-Dara, 1924 · originally composed in Urdu
ki teri ke nahin hoon
Tu mera mera
Tu mera mera
“Granted, I am not yet worthy of the sight of you — but look at my longing, look at how I wait.”
Romanहिन्दीاردو
माना कि तेरी के नहीं हूँ मैं
तू मेरा देख मेरा देख
तू मेरा देख मेरा देख
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
مانا کہ تیری دید کے قابل نہیں ہوں میں
تو میرا شوق دیکھ مرا انتظار دیکھ
تو میرا شوق دیکھ مرا انتظار دیکھ
The couplet as Iqbal wrote it, in Urdu (Nastaliq).
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Iqbal does not argue his merit; he concedes he may not have earned the meeting. Instead he offers something else — the sincerity of his wanting and the patience of his waiting. Worth, he suggests, can be measured in longing as much as in achievement.
For You, Today
When you feel unqualified for the thing you want, Iqbal offers a different ledger. You may not have the credentials yet — but the depth of your wanting and the steadiness of your waiting count for something real.
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
Mohabbat mujhe un jawanon se hai
Sitaron pe jo dalte hain kamand
Sitaron pe jo dalte hain kamand
My love is for those young ones who cast their lasso upon the stars.
Youth · Aspiration
Lab pe aati hai dua ban ke tamanna meri
Zindagi shama ki surat ho khudaya meri
Zindagi shama ki surat ho khudaya meri
My longing rises to my lips as a prayer: O God, may my life be like a candle's flame.
Hope · Aspiration