POEM · PERMANENT EDITION

Muhammad Iqbal خرد کی تنگ دامانی سے فریاد Khirad ki tang daamaani se fariyaad ●sher 1 of 2

خرد کی تنگ دامانی سے فریاد

Khirad ki tang daamaani se fariyaad

تجلّی کی فراوانی سے فریاد

Tajalli ki farawaani se fariyaad

A lament for the intellect's confined scope,
A lament for the abundance of divine light,

گوارا ہے اسے نظّارۂ غیر

Gawaara hai use nazzaara-e-ghair

نِگہ کی نا مسلمانی سے فریاد!

Nigah ki na-musalmaani se fariyaad!

It finds the sight of 'others' acceptable,
A lament for the gaze's faithlessness!

Context

This profound couplet, characteristic of classical Urdu and Sufi poetry, articulates a lament on the human condition. It expresses the paradox where the limited capacity of human intellect (khirad) struggles to comprehend the overwhelming abundance of divine manifestation (tajalli). Further, it bemoans the human gaze (nigah) which, despite this pervasive spiritual reality, remains susceptible to worldly distractions ('ghair'), thus failing to be truly devoted or 'faithful' to the Divine Beloved. It captures a mystic's frustration with the veil of perception that prevents complete spiritual absorption.