Meaning
Speech, discourse; also scholastic theology, the rational defence of doctrine.
Literally: speech; discourse; a body of poetry
How Iqbal uses it
Kalaam is speech or discourse, and a poet's collected verse is called his kalaam. The word also carries a sacred charge, as in the Kalaam of God. Iqbal aspires to a kalaam that is more than eloquence, a speech that carries a message and reshapes those who hear it.
See it in the verse
Kalaam in Iqbal’s couplets
Khuda agar dil-e-fitrat-shanaas de tujh ko
Sukoot-e-laala-o-gul se kalaam paida kar
Sukoot-e-laala-o-gul se kalaam paida kar
If God gives you a heart that can read Nature, then draw speech out of the silence of the tulip and the rose.
Self-Knowledge · Aspiration · Awakening
Ki Mohammad se wafa tu ne to hum tere hain
Ye jahan cheez hai kya lauh-o-qalam tere hain
Ye jahan cheez hai kya lauh-o-qalam tere hain
Be faithful to Muhammad, and We are yours; this world is nothing — the Tablet and the Pen themselves are yours.
Love · Aspiration · Selfhood
Ishq dam-e-Jibreel ishq dam-e-Mustafa
Ishq Khuda ka Rasool ishq Khuda ka kalaam
Ishq Khuda ka Rasool ishq Khuda ka kalaam
Love is the breath of Gabriel, love the breath of the Prophet; love is the messenger of God, love is the Word of God.
Love · Aspiration
Phool ki patti se kat sakta hai heere ka jigar
Mard-e-nadaan par kalaam-e-narm-o-nazuk be-asar
Mard-e-nadaan par kalaam-e-narm-o-nazuk be-asar
A diamond's heart can be cut by the petal of a flower — yet on a foolish man, soft and gentle words have no effect.
Self-Knowledge · Action
Related words
ARABIC
Mutakallim
A speaker; a theologian who argues points of faith by reason.
ARABIC
Takallum
The act of speaking; speech or discourse.
PERSIAN
Sukhan
Speech, discourse, and especially poetry; the poet's crafted word.
ARABIC
Bayaan
Expression, statement, the clear setting-forth of meaning.
ARABIC
Harf
A letter of the alphabet; also a word or particle of speech.