Meaning
The fear of God, reverent awe before the divine.
How Iqbal uses it
Godly fear that restrains from sin; the reverent dread that, with hope (raja), shapes the believer's heart.
See it in the verse
Khauf-e-Khuda 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
Khuda tujhe kisi toofan se aashna kar de
Ki tere bahr ki maujon mein iztirab nahin
Ki tere bahr ki maujon mein iztirab nahin
May God acquaint you with some storm — for the waves of your sea carry no restlessness in them.
Restlessness · Adversity
Patthar ki mooraton mein samjha hai tu Khuda hai
Khaak-e-watan ka mujh ko har zarra devta hai
Khaak-e-watan ka mujh ko har zarra devta hai
You have imagined that God dwells within stone idols — for me, every single speck of my homeland's dust is itself a deity.
Unity · Love
Na ho naumeed, naumeedi zawal-e-ilm-o-irfan hai
Umeed-e-mard-e-momin hai Khuda ke razdanon mein
Umeed-e-mard-e-momin hai Khuda ke razdanon mein
Do not despair — despair is the downfall of knowledge and insight. The hope of a person of conviction stands among those who know the deepest secrets.
Hope · Youth · Courage
Tu raaz-e-kun-fakan hai apni aankhon par ayan ho ja
Khudi ka raazdan ho ja, khuda ka tarjuman ho ja
Khudi ka raazdan ho ja, khuda ka tarjuman ho ja
You are the secret of creation — become visible to your own eyes. Become the confidant of your selfhood, the interpreter of the divine.
Self-Knowledge · Selfhood · Awakening
Haya nahin hai zamane ki aankh mein baaqi
Khuda kare ki jawani teri rahe be-daagh
Khuda kare ki jawani teri rahe be-daagh
No sense of shame is left in the eye of the age; may God keep your youth unstained.
Youth · Self-Knowledge
Related words
ARABIC
Taqwa
God-consciousness, pious restraint, the careful awe that guards one from wrongdoing.
ARABIC
Haibat
Awe and reverential dread before the majesty of God, the counterpart to intimate love.
ARABIC
Khauf-o-raja
Fear and hope together; the believer's balanced posture of dread of God's justice and hope in His mercy.