Meaning
The faithful servant; the true believer who embodies living faith.
Literally: the faithful servant; the true believer
How Iqbal uses it
Banda-e-momin is the faithful servant of God, a near-twin of Mard-e-Momin in Iqbal's vocabulary. The paradox he loves is that this servant, precisely by serving God alone, becomes free and sovereign before the world. His servitude to the divine is the very source of his refusal to serve any earthly master.
See it in the verse
Banda-e-Momin in Iqbal’s couplets
Ho halqa-e-yaaran to bresham ki tarah narm
Razm-e-haq-o-baatil ho to faulad hai momin
Razm-e-haq-o-baatil ho to faulad hai momin
Among friends, the man of faith is soft as silk; in the battle of truth against falsehood, he is steel.
Courage · Selfhood · Justice
Aflak se hai is ki hareefana kashakash
Khaki hai magar khak se azad hai momin
Khaki hai magar khak se azad hai momin
His struggle is a rivalry with the very heavens; made of dust, yet the man of faith is free of the dust.
Aspiration · Selfhood · Freedom
Har lehza hai momin ki nayi shaan nayi aan
Guftar mein kirdar mein Allah ki burhan
Guftar mein kirdar mein Allah ki burhan
Every moment the man of faith wears a new splendour, a new grace; in his speech and in his character, he is the proof of God.
Selfhood · Action · Awakening
Tu qadir-o-aadil hai magar tere jahan mein
Hain talkh bahut banda-e-mazdoor ke auqat
Hain talkh bahut banda-e-mazdoor ke auqat
You are all-powerful and just — and yet, in Your world, the hours of the labouring man are very bitter.
Justice · Adversity · Awakening
Na ho naumeed, naumeedi zawal-e-ilm-o-irfan hai
Umeed-e-mard-e-momin hai Khuda ke razdanon mein
Umeed-e-mard-e-momin hai Khuda ke razdanon mein
Do not despair — despair is the downfall of knowledge and insight. The hope of a person of conviction stands among those who know the deepest secrets.
Hope · Youth · Courage
Asar kare na kare, sun to le miri faryad
Nahin hai daad ka talib ye banda-e-azad
Nahin hai daad ka talib ye banda-e-azad
Whether it has an effect or not — at least hear my plea. This free soul is not asking for any applause.
Freedom · Courage · Selfhood