Original Poem
dil se jo baat nikaltī hai asar rakhtī hai par nahīñ tāqat-e-parvāz magar rakhtī hai qudsi-ul-asl hai rif.at pe nazar rakhtī hai ḳhaak se uThtī hai gardūñ pe guzar rakhtī hai ishq thā fitnagar o sarkash o chālāk mirā āsmāñ chiir gayā nāla-e-bebāk mirā pīr-e-gardūñ ne kahā sun ke kahīñ hai koī bole sayyāre sar-e-arsh-e-barīñ hai koī chāñd kahtā thā nahīñ ahl-e-zamīñ hai koī kahkashāñ kahtī thī poshīda yahīñ hai koī kuchh jo samjhā mire shikve ko to rizvāñ samjhā mujh ko jannat se nikālā huā insāñ samjhā thī farishtoñ ko bhī hairat ki ye āvāz hai kyā arsh vāloñ pe bhī khultā nahīñ ye raaz hai kyā tā-sar-e-arsh bhī insāñ kī tag-o-tāz hai kyā aa ga.ī ḳhaak kī chuTkī ko bhī parvāz hai kyā ġhāfil ādāb se sukkān-e-zamīñ kaise haiñ shoḳh o gustāḳh ye pastī ke makīñ kaise haiñ is qadar shoḳh ki allāh se bhī barham hai thā jo masjūd-e-malā.ik ye vahī aadam hai ālim-e-kaif hai dānā-e-rumūz-e-kam hai haañ magar ijz ke asrār se nā-mahram hai naaz hai tāqat-e-guftār pe insānoñ ko baat karne kā salīqa nahīñ nā-dānoñ ko aa.ī āvāz ġham-añgez hai afsāna tirā ashk-e-betāb se labrez hai paimāna tirā
Translation (English)
The words that come from the heart have an impact
But they don't have the ability to soar
They come from a sacred origin, aiming high
They rise from dust, but reach the skies
My love was rebellious, defiant, and clever
My bold cry pierced the heavens
The elder of the skies said, upon hearing, there's someone
The planets said, there's someone on the highest throne
The moon said, there's no one from the earth
The galaxy said, someone is hidden right here
When someone understood my complaint, they thought it was Rizwan
They thought I was the human cast out of paradise
Even the angels were puzzled by this voice
Even those in the heavens couldn't uncover this mystery
Is the human's reach up to the highest throne?
Has even a speck of dust gained the ability to fly?
How unaware are the earth's inhabitants of manners
How daring and disrespectful are the dwellers of this lowly place
So daring that they are even upset with God
This is the same Adam who was bowed to by angels
He is aware of ecstasy, knows the secrets of less
But is unaware of the secrets of humility
Humans are proud of their speaking ability
But the ignorant don't know how to converse
A sorrowful voice has come, your tale
Your cup is overflowing with restless tears
About the Poet
Allama Iqbal (20th century)
Sir Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) was an Islamic philosopher and poet whose Urdu poetry is considered among the greatest of the 20th century. His vision for the Muslims of British India is credited with inspiring the Pakistan Movement.
Read more on Wikipedia →Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Ghazal
- When Written
- Early 20th century
- Background
- This poem is part of Iqbal's philosophical exploration of human potential and spirituality, reflecting on the power of heartfelt expression and the human spirit's reach beyond earthly confines.
Sources: https://www.rekhta.org/couplets/dil-se-jo-baat-nikaltii-hai-asar-rakhtii-hai-allama-iqbal-couplets, https://archive.org/details/dil-se-jo-baat-nikalti-hai-asar-rakhti-hai, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Iqbal
Detailed Explanation
This ghazal by Allama Iqbal explores the profound influence of heartfelt words and the boundless potential of the human spirit. The opening lines suggest that words from the heart have an intrinsic power, even if they lack the ability to soar physically. This metaphor of flight symbolizes aspirations and the transcendence of spiritual and emotional boundaries.
Iqbal uses celestial imagery to illustrate the elevated nature of sincere expression. The poem describes how these expressions, though originating from humble beginnings ('dust'), can reach the heights of the heavens. The poet's love, depicted as rebellious and bold, is so powerful that it metaphorically 'tears through the sky,' indicating the strength of genuine emotion.
The emotional arc of the poem moves from a contemplation of the power of words to a reflection on human potential and divine interaction. The speaker's boldness is such that even celestial beings are taken aback, highlighting a tension between human audacity and divine order. The tone is one of awe and introspection, as the speaker questions the limits of human achievement.
Iqbal employs metaphors and personification to convey his themes. The 'fearless cry' and 'dust gaining flight' are vivid images that emphasize the transformative power of human expression. The use of celestial bodies as witnesses to human endeavors underscores the poem's exploration of spiritual elevation.
Ultimately, the poem reflects Iqbal's philosophical inquiry into the nature of human potential and the divine. It challenges the reader to consider the impact of sincere expression and the possibility of transcending earthly limitations, aligning with Iqbal's broader vision of spiritual and cultural revival for the Muslim world.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| dil | دل | the organ that feels emotions | dil |
| se | سے | from | se |
| jo | جو | that | jo |
| baat | بات | what is said | baat |
| nikaltī | نکلتی | comes out | nikalti |
| hai | ہے | is | hai |
| asar | اثر | effect | asar |
| rakhtī | رکھتی | has | rakhti |
| par | پر | but | par |
| nahīñ | نہیں | not | nahin |
| tāqat-e-parvāz | طاقت پرواز | power of flight | taaqat-e-parwaaz |
| magar | مگر | however | magar |
| qudsi-ul-asl | قدسی الاصل | holy origin | qudsi-ul-asl |
| rif.at | رفعت | elevation | rifat |
| pe | پہ | at | pe |
| nazar | نظر | sight | nazar |
| ḳhaak | خاک | dust | khaak |
| uThtī | اٹھتی | rises | uthti |
| gardūñ | گردوں | heavens | gardoon |
| guzar | گزر | passage | guzar |
| ishq | عشق | love | ishq |
| thā | تھا | was | tha |
| fitnagar | فتنہ گر | rebellious | fitnagar |
| sarkash | سرکش | defiant | sarkash |
| chālāk | چالاک | cunning | chaalaak |
| mirā | میرا | my | mera |
| āsmāñ | آسمان | sky | aasmaan |
| chiir | چیر | tear | cheer |
| gayā | گیا | went | gaya |
| nāla-e-bebāk | نالہ بے باک | fearless cry | naala-e-bebaak |
| pīr-e-gardūñ | پیر گردوں | elder of the heavens | peer-e-gardoon |
| kahā | کہا | said | kaha |
| sun | سن | listening | sun |
| ke | کہ | that | ke |
| kahīñ | کہیں | somewhere | kahin |
| koī | کوئی | someone | koi |
| bole | بولے | said | bole |
| sayyāre | سیارے | planets | sayyaare |
| sar-e-arsh-e-barīñ | سر عرش بریں | highest throne | sar-e-arsh-e-bareen |
| chāñd | چاند | moon | chaand |
| kahtā | کہتا | said | kehta |
| ahl-e-zamīñ | اہل زمین | people of the earth | ahl-e-zameen |
| kahkashāñ | کہکشاں | galaxy | kahkashaan |
| poshīda | پوشیدہ | hidden | posheeda |
| yahīñ | یہیں | here | yahin |
| kuchh | کچھ | some | kuchh |
| samjhā | سمجھا | understood | samjha |
| mire | میرے | my | mere |
| shikve | شکوے | complaint | shikve |
| rizvāñ | رضوان | Rizwan | rizwaan |
| mujh | مجھ | me | mujh |
| jannat | جنت | paradise | jannat |
| nikālā | نکالا | expelled | nikaala |
| huā | ہوا | was | hua |
| insāñ | انسان | human | insaan |
| farishtoñ | فرشتوں | angels | farishton |
| hairat | حیرت | amazement | hairat |
| āvāz | آواز | voice | aawaaz |
| arsh | عرش | heavens | arsh |
| vāloñ | والوں | those | waalon |
| khultā | کھلتا | uncover | khulta |
| raaz | راز | secret | raaz |
| tā-sar-e-arsh | تا سر عرش | up to the highest throne | taa-sar-e-arsh |
| tag-o-tāz | تگ و تاز | pursuit | tag-o-taaz |
| aa | آ | come | aa |
| ga.ī | گئی | has | gai |
| chuTkī | چٹکی | pinch | chutki |
| parvāz | پرواز | flight | parwaaz |
| ġhāfil | غافل | ignorant | ghaafil |
| ādāb | آداب | manners | aadaab |
| sukkān-e-zamīñ | سکان زمین | inhabitants of the earth | sukkan-e-zameen |
| kaise | کیسے | how | kaise |
| haiñ | ہیں | are | hain |
| shoḳh | شوخ | bold | shokh |
| gustāḳh | گستاخ | insolent | gustaakh |
| pastī | پستی | lowliness | pasti |
| makīñ | مکین | dwellers | makeen |
| is | اس | this | is |
| qadar | قدر | so much | qadar |
| allāh | اللہ | God | Allah |
| barham | برہم | angry | barham |
| masjūd-e-malā.ik | مسجود ملائک | prostrated to by angels | masjood-e-malaik |
| vahī | وہی | same | wahi |
| aadam | آدم | Adam | Aadam |
| ālim-e-kaif | عالم کیف | aware of ecstasy | aalim-e-kaif |
| dānā-e-rumūz-e-kam | دانہ رموز کم | knows secrets of less | daanaa-e-rumooz-e-kam |
| haañ | ہاں | yes | haan |
| ijz | عجز | humility | ijz |
| asrār | اسرار | mysteries | asraar |
| nā-mahram | نامحرم | unaware | naa-mahram |
| naaz | ناز | proud | naaz |
| tāqat-e-guftār | طاقت گفتار | power of speech | taaqat-e-guftaar |
| insānoñ | انسانوں | humans | insanon |
| karne | کرنے | to do | karne |
| kā | کا | of | ka |
| salīqa | سلیقہ | art | saleeqa |
| nā-dānoñ | نادانوں | ignorant | naa-danon |
| aa.ī | آئی | came | aai |
| ġham-añgez | غم انگیز | sorrowful | gham-angez |
| afsāna | افسانہ | story | afsana |
| tirā | تیرا | your | tera |
| ashk-e-betāb | اشک بے تاب | restless tears | ashk-e-betaab |
| labrez | لبریز | filled | labrez |
| paimāna | پیمانہ | cup | paimaana |
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