Meaning
'Light of the world' — an epithet praising a radiant beloved.
Literally: light of the world
See it in the verse
Noor-e-jahan in Iqbal’s couplets
Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Beyond the stars there are worlds yet — there are still more trials of love to come.
Aspiration · Love · Restlessness
Parwaz hai dono ki isi ek faza mein
Kargas ka jahan aur hai, shaheen ka jahan aur
Kargas ka jahan aur hai, shaheen ka jahan aur
Both take flight in this very same sky — yet the vulture's world is one thing, and the falcon's another.
The Falcon · Self-Knowledge
Yunan o Misr o Roma sab mit gaye jahan se
Ab tak magar hai baqi naam-o-nishan hamara
Ab tak magar hai baqi naam-o-nishan hamara
Greece, Egypt and Rome have all vanished from the world — yet to this day our name and trace remain.
Adversity · Hope
Chin o Arab hamara Hindostan hamara
Muslim hain hum watan hai sara jahan hamara
Muslim hain hum watan hai sara jahan hamara
China and Arabia are ours, India is ours; we are Muslims, and the whole world is our homeland.
Unity · Freedom
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
Bagh-e-bahisht se mujhe hukm-e-safar diya tha kyun
Kaar-e-jahan daraz hai ab mera intzar kar
Kaar-e-jahan daraz hai ab mera intzar kar
Why did You order me out of the garden of paradise? The work of the world is long now — so wait for me.
Selfhood · Aspiration · Courage