Arabic · noun · Nation, Faith & Society
Manzil / Maqam
मंज़िल / मक़ाम
said MAN-zil / ma-QAAM
also written: maqam, muqam
Meaning
Destination, goal; (maqam) a stage, station or rank on the way.
How Iqbal uses it
Never a final resting place. Beyond every maqam lies another — “beyond each station is a station of yours; life is nothing but the relish of travel.” To mistake a waystation for the end is the caravan's great error.
See it in the verse
Manzil / Maqam in Iqbal’s couplets
Manzil-e-rahrawan door bhi hai dushwar bhi hai
Koi is qaafle mein qaafla-saalaar bhi hai
Koi is qaafle mein qaafla-saalaar bhi hai
The travellers' destination is both far away and hard to reach — yet somewhere in this caravan there is also a leader of the caravan.
Leadership · Hope · Aspiration
Fareb-khurda-e-manzil hai karwan warna
Ziyada rahat-e-manzil se hai nashat-e-rahil
Ziyada rahat-e-manzil se hai nashat-e-rahil
The caravan is deceived by the idea of a destination — otherwise, the joy of setting out is greater than the comfort of arrival.
Restlessness · Aspiration · Action
Har ek maqam se aage maqam hai tera
Hayat zauq-e-safar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Hayat zauq-e-safar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Beyond every station lies a station that is yours; life is nothing but the joy of the journey.
Restlessness · Aspiration · Action
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