Couplets › Self-Knowledge
From Bang-e-Dara, 1924 · originally composed in Urdu
Main jo sar-ba-sajda hua kabhi to zameen se aane lagi sada
Tera dil to hai sanam-aashna tujhe kya milega namaz mein
Tera dil to hai sanam-aashna tujhe kya milega namaz mein
“Whenever I bowed my head in prostration, a voice rose from the earth: your heart is in love with idols — what will you gain from prayer?”
Romanहिन्दी
मैं जो सर-ब-सज्दा हुआ कभी तो ज़मीं से आने लगी सदा
तेरा दिल तो है सनम-आशना तुझे क्या मिलेगा नमाज़ में
तेरा दिल तो है सनम-आशना तुझे क्या मिलेगा नमाज़ में
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
The Interpretation
Iqbal's most disquieting couplet: the ground itself rebukes his worship. Outward prostration is exposed by an inner truth — a heart still attached to its idols, its worldly loves. The form of prayer is worthless while the heart is elsewhere. He indicts his own sincerity.
For You, Today
You can perform all the right motions while your heart is somewhere else entirely, and some honest voice knows it. Iqbal lets the earth call out his hypocrisy. Check whether your practice matches your real attachments.
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
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
Mere Allah burai se bachana mujh ko
Nek jo raah ho us rah pe chalana mujh ko
Nek jo raah ho us rah pe chalana mujh ko
My God, save me from evil; set me on the path that is good.
Humility · Self-Knowledge