Persian · proper noun · Faith & Sacred History
Farang
फ़रंग
said fa-rang
also written: farang, firang, europe, faranj
Meaning
The land of the Franks — Europe and the West; in Iqbal the emblem of dazzling but soulless modern civilisation and material power.
How Iqbal uses it
Iqbal warns the East against the glitter of Faranj that hides a civilisation without heart.
See it in the verse
Farang in Iqbal’s couplets
Utha na sheeshagaran-e-farang ke ehsaan
Sifaal-e-Hind se meena o jaam paida kar
Sifaal-e-Hind se meena o jaam paida kar
Do not accept the favours of the West's glassmakers — from the humble clay of India, fashion your own goblet and cup.
Selfhood · Freedom · Action
Utha na sheesha-garaan-e-firang ke ehsaan
Safaal-e-Hind se mina-o-jaam paida kar
Safaal-e-Hind se mina-o-jaam paida kar
Do not be indebted to the glassmakers of the foreign land — fashion your goblet and cup from the clay of your own soil.
Selfhood · Freedom · Action