Couplets › Love
From Zarb-e-Kalim, 1936 — 'Aurat' · originally composed in Urdu
Wajud-e-zan se hai tasveer-e-kaenat mein
Isi ke se hai ka
Isi ke se hai ka
“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
इसी के से है ज़िंदगी का
इसी के से है ज़िंदगी का
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
Zindagi ho meri parwane ki surat ya-rab
Ilm ki shama se ho mujh ko mohabbat ya-rab
Ilm ki shama se ho mujh ko mohabbat ya-rab
Let my life be like the moth's, O Lord; let me love the lamp of knowledge.
Love · Aspiration · Youth
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