Meaning
A sharer of sorrow; a sympathiser who eats grief alongside the afflicted.
Literally: grief-eater
How Iqbal uses it
The rare true comforter who takes on another's pain; the lover laments that in the whole world he finds no gham-khwaar.
See it in the verse
Gham-khwaar in Iqbal’s couplets
Kyun ziyaankaar banun sood-faramosh rahun
Fikr-e-farda na karun mahv-e-gham-e-doosh rahun
Fikr-e-farda na karun mahv-e-gham-e-doosh rahun
Why should I make myself a loser, forgetful of all gain — give no thought to tomorrow and stay lost in yesterday's grief?
Restlessness · Courage · Awakening
Agar kho gaya ek nasheman to kya gham
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
If one nest is lost, why grieve? There are other stations of sighs and laments still ahead.
Restlessness · Hope · Adversity
Agar kho gaya ek nasheman to kya gham
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
If one nest is lost, why grieve? There are other stations of sighs and laments still ahead.
Restlessness · Hope · Adversity
Kabhi chhodi hui manzil bhi yaad aati hai rahi ko
Khatak si hai jo sine mein gham-e-manzil na ban jae
Khatak si hai jo sine mein gham-e-manzil na ban jae
Sometimes the traveller remembers even the destination he left behind; I fear this faint ache in my chest may grow into grief for a settled place.
Restlessness · Aspiration
Sitara kya meri taqdir ki khabar dega
Wo khud farakhi-e-aflak mein hai khwar o zubun
Wo khud farakhi-e-aflak mein hai khwar o zubun
What can a star tell me of my destiny? It is itself helpless and lowly in the vast reach of the skies.
Selfhood · Freedom · Courage