Persian · phrase · Faith & Sacred History
Sar-ba-sajda
सर-ब-सज्दा
also written: Sar-ba-sijda
Meaning
With head bowed in prostration; prostrate in worship.
Literally: Sar (head) ba (in) sajda (prostration).
How Iqbal uses it
When Iqbal bows sar-ba-sajda a voice rises from the earth warning that a heart enamoured of idols gains nothing from outward prayer, sharpening his lifelong critique of ritual without inner fire.
See it in the verse
Sar-ba-sajda in Iqbal’s couplets
Main jo sar-ba-sajda hua kabhi to zameen se aane lagi sada
Tera dil to hai sanam-aashna tujhe kya milega namaz mein
Tera dil to hai sanam-aashna tujhe kya milega namaz mein
Whenever I bowed my head in prostration, a voice rose from the earth: your heart is in love with idols — what will you gain from prayer?
Self-Knowledge · Humility
Ye ek sajda jise tu garaan samajhta hai
Hazaar sajdon se deta hai aadmi ko nijaat
Hazaar sajdon se deta hai aadmi ko nijaat
This one act of devotion, which you find so heavy to make — it frees a person from a thousand servile bowings.
Freedom · Selfhood