tire siine meñ dam hai dil nahīñ hai
tirā dam garmi-e-mahfil nahīñ hai
Ambition rests within your chest but not a heart
Your wheedling, warmth of assembly is not nor its art
guzar jā aql se aage ki ye nuur
charāġh-e-rāh hai manzil nahīñ hai!
Go beyond paths of reason in quest of light
Lamp of the way it is but not a destination
ḳhirad ke paas ḳhabar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
tirā ilaaj nazar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Intellect has news and nothing more
A divine glance is your cure and nothing more
har ik maqām se aage maqām hai terā
hayāt zauq-e-safar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Beyond all ranks is your prestige
Life is a delightful journey and nothing more
ragoñ meñ gardish-e-ḳhūñ hai agar to kyā hāsil
hayāt soz-e-jigar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
If veins have flowing blood, then what is the reward?
An existence with a burning heart and nothing more
jise kasād samajhte haiñ tājirān-e-farañg
vo shai mata-e-hunar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
What traders of the West consider as synthetic?
These are entities of flawless craft and nothing more
urūs-e-lāla munāsib nahīñ hai mujh se hijāb
ki maiñ nasīm-e-sahar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Bride like a radiant tulip, why modesty from me?
Morning breeze I am and nothing more
baḌā karīm hai 'iqbāl'-e-be-navā lekin
atā-e-shola sharar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Very gracious is voiceless Iqbal and yet
A gifted flame with sparks of fire and nothing more
✒ Translated by ℐamil Hussain
Words of Muhammad Iqbal