Couplets › Leadership
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
, ,
Yahi hai ke liye
Yahi hai ke liye
“A lofty gaze, speech that wins the heart, a soul that burns with feeling — this alone is the travelling kit a caravan's leader needs.”
Romanहिन्दीاردو
निगह जाँ
यही है के लिए
यही है के लिए
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
نگہ بلند سخن دل نواز جاں پرسوز
یہی ہے رخت سفر میر کارواں کے لیے
یہی ہے رخت سفر میر کارواں کے لیے
The couplet as Iqbal wrote it, in Urdu (Nastaliq).
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Iqbal packs a leader's whole equipment into three things: a vision aimed high, words that draw people in rather than push them away, and an inner fire that is genuine. No mention of rank or force — the leader's real luggage is character and warmth.
For You, Today
Iqbal's job description for a leader is short and demanding: see far, speak in a way that wins hearts, and actually care. Everything else a leader carries is optional weight.
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