By Qateel Shifai
ye thik hai nahin marta koi judai mein
khuda kisi ko kisi se magar juda na kare

True enough, no one dies of separation — yet may God never part anyone from anyone.

Romanहिन्दीQateel Shifai
ये ठीक है नहीं मरता कोई जुदाई में
ख़ुदा किसी को किसी से मगर जुदा न करे

The verse in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.

♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation

The first line concedes a hard fact almost dismissively — no one actually dies of separation — only so the second can break into prayer. The turn from cool realism to a tender plea to God gives the couplet its ache: the speaker knows parting is survivable and still cannot bear to wish it on anyone.

For You, Today

Survivable is not the same as bearable — take seriously the pain of separation in others, even when it will not kill them.

A widely beloved verse, often quoted as a benediction at farewells.
Themes:Love & LossLonging
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More from Qateel Shifai
The Self
halat ke qadmon pe qalandar nahin girta
Love & Loss
jab bhi aata hai mira naam tire naam ke saath
Mortality
aakhri hichki tire zaanun pe aae
All couplets by Qateel Shifai

The heart of this site stays with Iqbal: explore his couplets → Or browse the whole Other Voices shelf →