Couplets › Love
From Zarb-e-Kalim, 1936 — 'Aurat' · originally composed in Urdu
Wajud-e-zan se hai tasveer-e-kaenat mein rang
Isi ke saaz se hai zindagi ka soz-e-darun
Isi ke saaz se hai zindagi ka soz-e-darun
“It is the presence of woman that gives colour to the portrait of the universe — from her instrument comes the inner fire of life itself.”
Romanहिन्दी
वजूद-ए-ज़न से है तस्वीर-ए-काएनात में रंग
इसी के साज़ से है ज़िंदगी का सोज़-ए-दरूँ
इसी के साज़ से है ज़िंदगी का सोज़-ए-दरूँ
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 pays a clear and unqualified tribute. Without the presence of woman, he says, the picture of existence would be colourless, and its deepest warmth would be missing. She is the instrument from which the inner music of life is drawn.
For You, Today
Iqbal names a contribution too often left unnamed. The colour and warmth a person brings to the shared world is real work — and recognising it, plainly, is part of seeing the world accurately.
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
Mazhab nahin sikhata aapas mein bair rakhna
Hindi hain hum, watan hai Hindostan hamara
Hindi hain hum, watan hai Hindostan hamara
Religion does not teach us to hold enmity among ourselves. We are of Hind, and Hindustan is our homeland.
Unity · Love
Dayar-e-ishq mein apna maqam paida kar
Naya zamana, naye subh-o-sham paida kar
Naya zamana, naye subh-o-sham paida kar
In the realm of love, create your own standing — bring a new age into being, new mornings and new evenings of your own.
Aspiration · Action · Love