Is it someone's miracle, or the turn of time?
The spell of the Europeans is broken in Asia.
From building a nest, I found this secret,
For those who sing, the nest is lightning.
This servitude is divine, that servitude is beggary;
Be a servant of God, or a servant of time.
Be not heedless of your Self, guard yourself,
Perhaps you too are the threshold of some sanctuary.
O heir of "There is no god but Allah," there remains in you no
Charming speech, nor conquering character.
At your gaze, hearts would tremble in chests,
Your Qalandar-like passion is lost.
Perhaps Iqbal is aware of the secret of the sanctuary,
His discourse contains intimacy.
This Urdu poem, characteristic of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, reflects on the decline of Western colonial influence ("سحر فرنگیانہ") in Asia, contrasting it with the spiritual and moral decay within the Muslim world. It champions the concept of 'khudi' (selfhood), urging individuals to protect their spiritual essence and align themselves with divine servitude rather than worldly subservience. The poet laments the loss of powerful character and spiritual magnetism ("جذب قلندرانہ") among the inheritors of Islamic monotheism, ending with a self-referential verse affirming his own insight into divine truths.
faith & the divine · wit & rebuke · grief (gham)