Arabic · noun · Faith & Sacred History
Jannat
जन्नत
said JAN-nat
also written: Jannah, Bahisht, Firdaus
Meaning
Paradise; the garden of eternal reward promised to the faithful.
Literally: garden
How Iqbal uses it
Iqbal sometimes subordinates the ready-made jannat to the believer's restless striving, preferring the struggle of the self to passive bliss. He warns against a faith that craves the garden's ease more than the labor of love.
See it in the verse
Jannat in Iqbal’s couplets
Amal se zindagi banti hai jannat bhi jahannum bhi
Ye khaki apni fitrat mein na noori hai na naari hai
Ye khaki apni fitrat mein na noori hai na naari hai
By our deeds we make life a heaven or a hell. This creature of dust is, by nature, neither angel of light nor demon of fire.
Action · Courage
Baagh-e-bahisht se mujhe hukm-e-safar diya tha kyun
Kaar-e-jahan daraaz hai ab mera intezaar kar
Kaar-e-jahan daraaz hai ab mera intezaar kar
Why was I given the command to depart the garden of paradise? The work of the world is long now — so wait for me.
Action · Aspiration · Restlessness
Ilm mein bhi suroor hai lekin
Ye wo jannat hai jis mein hoor nahin
Ye wo jannat hai jis mein hoor nahin
There is a certain delight in knowledge too — but it is a paradise without companions.
Self-Knowledge · Love · Humility