Sher on Iqbal Day

I accept that I am not worthy of seeing you.

But look at my longing and see how I keep waiting for you.

The speaker admits unworthiness before the beloved, showing humility rather than complaint. Yet he presents his intense desire and steadfast waiting as his real “qualification.” The couplet turns worthiness into an emotional measure: sincerity, persistence, and love itself become the proof. Its core feeling is hopeful, aching devotion that refuses to fade.

I accept that I am not worthy of seeing you.

But look at my longing and see how I keep waiting for you.

The speaker admits unworthiness before the beloved, showing humility rather than complaint. Yet he presents his intense desire and steadfast waiting as his real “qualification.” The couplet turns worthiness into an emotional measure: sincerity, persistence, and love itself become the proof. Its core feeling is hopeful, aching devotion that refuses to fade.

Raise your selfhood so high that it stands ahead of every fate.

So that God Himself asks His servant: tell me, what is your wish?

The couplet urges inner elevation—strengthening character, will, and moral self—until one is no longer passive before destiny. “Selfhood” is a metaphor for a disciplined, awakened self that acts with purpose. The striking image of God asking the servant highlights the dignity of human agency when aligned with higher values. Emotionally, it is a call to confidence, effort, and responsible choice.

Raise your selfhood so high that it stands ahead of every fate.

So that God Himself asks His servant: tell me, what is your wish?

The couplet urges inner elevation—strengthening character, will, and moral self—until one is no longer passive before destiny. “Selfhood” is a metaphor for a disciplined, awakened self that acts with purpose. The striking image of God asking the servant highlights the dignity of human agency when aligned with higher values. Emotionally, it is a call to confidence, effort, and responsible choice.

You are a falcon; your true task is to keep flying higher.

Beyond what you see now, there are still more skies waiting ahead.

The falcon symbolizes a courageous, self-reliant spirit whose nature is upward flight, not settling. The poet urges the listener to reject complacency and keep expanding their limits. “More skies” becomes a metaphor for endless possibilities and higher goals. The emotional core is hope mixed with a disciplined call to strive.

You are a falcon; your true task is to keep flying higher.

Beyond what you see now, there are still more skies waiting ahead.

The falcon symbolizes a courageous, self-reliant spirit whose nature is upward flight, not settling. The poet urges the listener to reject complacency and keep expanding their limits. “More skies” becomes a metaphor for endless possibilities and higher goals. The emotional core is hope mixed with a disciplined call to strive.

Beyond the stars, there are still more worlds and horizons.

And the tests of love are not over yet; more trials remain.

The couplet urges the seeker not to stop at visible limits: even the farthest “stars” are not the end. “Worlds beyond” symbolizes higher goals and deeper truths still to be reached. The second line frames love as a journey of continual testing—each stage brings new challenges. Emotionally, it blends hope with resolve: keep moving forward, keep proving your love.

Beyond the stars, there are still more worlds and horizons.

And the tests of love are not over yet; more trials remain.

The couplet urges the seeker not to stop at visible limits: even the farthest “stars” are not the end. “Worlds beyond” symbolizes higher goals and deeper truths still to be reached. The second line frames love as a journey of continual testing—each stage brings new challenges. Emotionally, it blends hope with resolve: keep moving forward, keep proving your love.

O lofty, spiritual bird, death is better than such food.

Better than the food that makes your flight weak and limited.

The poet addresses the “bird of the higher realm” as a symbol of the noble human spirit. He warns that livelihood gained in a way that dulls courage, ambition, and inner freedom is worse than death. The core idea is dignity over survival: choose self-respect and high flight over comfort that clips one’s wings.

O lofty, spiritual bird, death is better than such food.

Better than the food that makes your flight weak and limited.

The poet addresses the “bird of the higher realm” as a symbol of the noble human spirit. He warns that livelihood gained in a way that dulls courage, ambition, and inner freedom is worse than death. The core idea is dignity over survival: choose self-respect and high flight over comfort that clips one’s wings.

I want to reach the very limit of your love.

See my innocence—what an impossible thing I am asking for.

The speaker’s desire is absolute: not a portion of love, but its final height. In the second line he recognizes, with a tender irony, how naïve and audacious this wish is. “Intihā” becomes a metaphor for total union or complete fulfillment, while “sādgi” admits human limitation. The emotion is a mix of longing, devotion, and self-aware humility.

I want to reach the very limit of your love.

See my innocence—what an impossible thing I am asking for.

The speaker’s desire is absolute: not a portion of love, but its final height. In the second line he recognizes, with a tender irony, how naïve and audacious this wish is. “Intihā” becomes a metaphor for total union or complete fulfillment, while “sādgi” admits human limitation. The emotion is a mix of longing, devotion, and self-aware humility.

The heart’s verdict is decided only through the eyes’ look.

If there is no playful spark in the gaze, what charm of belovedness remains?

The couplet says that the first and deepest judgment of love is made through a glance. The eye becomes a language that reveals attraction, confidence, and intent without words. “Shoḳhī” (playful boldness) in the gaze is presented as the very essence of allure; without it, beauty feels lifeless and persuasion fails.

The heart’s verdict is decided only through the eyes’ look.

If there is no playful spark in the gaze, what charm of belovedness remains?

The couplet says that the first and deepest judgment of love is made through a glance. The eye becomes a language that reveals attraction, confidence, and intent without words. “Shoḳhī” (playful boldness) in the gaze is presented as the very essence of allure; without it, beauty feels lifeless and persuasion fails.

My way of speaking is not very flashy or sharp.

Yet maybe my words will still reach and settle in your heart.

The speaker admits a plain, unornamented style, without rhetorical sparkle. Still, he hopes the truth and sincerity in his message will penetrate the listener’s heart. The metaphor of “descending into the heart” suggests inner acceptance, not mere hearing. Emotionally, it is a humble plea for understanding and impact beyond style.

My way of speaking is not very flashy or sharp.

Yet maybe my words will still reach and settle in your heart.

The speaker admits a plain, unornamented style, without rhetorical sparkle. Still, he hopes the truth and sincerity in his message will penetrate the listener’s heart. The metaphor of “descending into the heart” suggests inner acceptance, not mere hearing. Emotionally, it is a humble plea for understanding and impact beyond style.

Even a flower petal can cut into something as hard as a diamond.

But gentle, delicate words have no effect on an ignorant man.

Allama Iqbal contrasts physical hardness with moral stubbornness: a petal’s softness can still wound a diamond, yet a foolish person’s inner rigidity cannot be moved by polite speech. The “diamond’s heart” suggests extreme toughness, while “soft words” stand for refined counsel. The couplet’s emotional core is frustration that wisdom and tenderness fail against ignorance and obstinacy.

Even a flower petal can cut into something as hard as a diamond.

But gentle, delicate words have no effect on an ignorant man.

Allama Iqbal contrasts physical hardness with moral stubbornness: a petal’s softness can still wound a diamond, yet a foolish person’s inner rigidity cannot be moved by polite speech. The “diamond’s heart” suggests extreme toughness, while “soft words” stand for refined counsel. The couplet’s emotional core is frustration that wisdom and tenderness fail against ignorance and obstinacy.

Reason is crafty; it can put on a hundred different disguises.

Poor love has no such masks—it is neither a pious ascetic, nor a cleric, nor a physician-philosopher.

Iqbal contrasts calculating intellect with unguarded love. “Reason” is pictured as a trickster that adapts, justifies itself, and changes roles to suit advantage. “Love” is called helpless because it cannot pretend or hide behind religious or scholarly titles. The emotional core is a praise of sincerity and inner devotion over clever, self-serving rationality.

Reason is crafty; it can put on a hundred different disguises.

Poor love has no such masks—it is neither a pious ascetic, nor a cleric, nor a physician-philosopher.

Iqbal contrasts calculating intellect with unguarded love. “Reason” is pictured as a trickster that adapts, justifies itself, and changes roles to suit advantage. “Love” is called helpless because it cannot pretend or hide behind religious or scholarly titles. The emotional core is a praise of sincerity and inner devotion over clever, self-serving rationality.

For years I kept searching for that very ‘Iqbal’—that true rise of spirit I longed for.

After a long time, at last that falcon came under my control, within my grasp.

The couplet speaks of a prolonged inner quest: the speaker seeks “Iqbal” not just as a name but as elevation, fortune, and awakened selfhood. The “shaheen” (falcon) symbolizes a high-flying, free, noble spirit that is hard to tame. When it finally comes “under the snare,” it suggests the hard-won moment when one’s disciplined effort brings the desired strength and direction into one’s command. The emotion moves from restless yearning to fulfilled mastery.

For years I kept searching for that very ‘Iqbal’—that true rise of spirit I longed for.

After a long time, at last that falcon came under my control, within my grasp.

The couplet speaks of a prolonged inner quest: the speaker seeks “Iqbal” not just as a name but as elevation, fortune, and awakened selfhood. The “shaheen” (falcon) symbolizes a high-flying, free, noble spirit that is hard to tame. When it finally comes “under the snare,” it suggests the hard-won moment when one’s disciplined effort brings the desired strength and direction into one’s command. The emotion moves from restless yearning to fulfilled mastery.