Meaning
I; the first-person singular pronoun.
See it in the verse
Main in Iqbal’s couplets
Mana ki teri deed ke qabil nahin hoon main
Tu mera shauq dekh mera intizar dekh
Tu mera shauq dekh mera intizar dekh
Granted, I am not yet worthy of the sight of you — but look at my longing, look at how I wait.
Humility · Love · Aspiration
Parindon ki duniya ka darvesh hoon main
Ki shaheen banata nahin aashiyana
Ki shaheen banata nahin aashiyana
I am the dervish of the world of birds — for the falcon never builds itself a nest.
The Falcon · Freedom
Khirad-mandon se kya poochun ki meri ibtida kya hai
Ki main is fikr mein rahta hoon, meri inteha kya hai
Ki main is fikr mein rahta hoon, meri inteha kya hai
Why should I ask the wise where I began? The question that occupies me is: what is the end I am headed toward?
Self-Knowledge · Aspiration · Selfhood
Dhoondta phirta hoon main Iqbal apne aap ko
Aap hi goya musafir aap hi manzil hoon main
Aap hi goya musafir aap hi manzil hoon main
I wander about, Iqbal, searching for my own self — as if I am at once the traveller and the destination.
Self-Knowledge · Restlessness · Selfhood
Main tujh ko batata hun taqdir-e-umam kya hai
Shamsheer-o-sinan avval taaus-o-rubab aakhir
Shamsheer-o-sinan avval taaus-o-rubab aakhir
Let me tell you the fate of nations: the sword and the spear come first, the peacock and the lute come last.
Action · Adversity · Leadership
Main shakh-e-tak hun meri ghazal hai mera samar
Mere samar se mai-e-lala-fam paida kar
Mere samar se mai-e-lala-fam paida kar
I am a branch of the vine, my song is my fruit; from that fruit press out the tulip-red wine.
Action · Aspiration · Youth