Meaning
Short-sightedness; narrowness or deficiency of vision and understanding.
Literally: shortness of sight
See it in the verse
Kotaahi-e-Nazar in Iqbal’s couplets
Ai tair-e-lahooti us rizq se maut achhi
Jis rizq se aati ho parvaaz mein kotahi
Jis rizq se aati ho parvaaz mein kotahi
O celestial bird, better death than the sustenance that brings any shortfall to your flight.
Freedom · The Falcon
Kabhi ae haqeeqat-e-muntazar nazar aa libas-e-majaz mein
Ki hazaron sajde tadap rahe hain teri jabeen-e-niyaz mein
Ki hazaron sajde tadap rahe hain teri jabeen-e-niyaz mein
O long-awaited Truth, show Yourself once in the garb of the visible — for a thousand prostrations quiver in this humble, waiting brow.
Love · Aspiration · Restlessness
Khirad ke paas khabar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Tera ilaj nazar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Tera ilaj nazar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Reason has nothing to offer but information; your cure lies in nothing but vision.
Self-Knowledge · Awakening
Gesu-e-tabdar ko aur bhi tabdar kar
Hosh-o-khirad shikar kar qalb-o-nazar shikar kar
Hosh-o-khirad shikar kar qalb-o-nazar shikar kar
Make the radiant tresses more radiant still — capture sense and reason, hunt down the heart and the eye.
Love · Aspiration · Restlessness
Kabhi ai haqeeqat-e-muntazir nazar aa libas-e-majaz mein
Ki hazaron sajde tarap rahe hain meri jabeen-e-niyaz mein
Ki hazaron sajde tarap rahe hain meri jabeen-e-niyaz mein
O long-awaited Truth, show yourself once in the dress of the visible — for a thousand prostrations are stirring restlessly on my brow of longing.
Love · Aspiration · Restlessness
Uqabi rooh jab bedar hoti hai jawanon mein
Nazar aati hai un ko apni manzil aasmanon mein
Nazar aati hai un ko apni manzil aasmanon mein
When the eagle's spirit awakens in the young, they begin to see their destination up among the skies.
Youth · The Falcon · Awakening