Persian · noun · Faith & Sacred History
Banda-nawaz
बंदा-नवाज़
also written: Bande-nawaz
Meaning
Cherisher of servants; one who shows grace to his devotees.
Literally: Banda (servant) plus nawaz (one who favours).
How Iqbal uses it
An epithet of God in Iqbal's idiom, the banda-nawaz is the Lord whose grace toward His servants is so vast that even a ruined sinner can find pardon in it.
See it in the verse
Banda-nawaz in Iqbal’s couplets
Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pehle
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Raise your selfhood so high that, before issuing every decree of destiny, God Himself asks you: tell me, what is your wish?
Selfhood · 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
Fitrat ke maqasid ki karta hai nigehbani
Ya banda-e-sehrai ya mard-e-kohistani
Ya banda-e-sehrai ya mard-e-kohistani
It is the one who keeps watch over nature's purposes — either the dweller of the desert, or the man of the mountains.
Adversity · Freedom · Self-Knowledge
Tu qadir o adil hai magar tere jahan mein
Hain talkh bahut banda-e-mazdoor ke auqaat
Hain talkh bahut banda-e-mazdoor ke auqaat
You are all-powerful and just, yet in this world of yours the hours of the labouring worker are very bitter.
Justice