وہي ميري کم نصيبي ، وہي تيري بے نيازي
English title: Mine ill luck the same and same, O Lord, the coldness on Your part
Mine ill luck the same and same, O Lord, the coldness on Your part: No useful aim has been served, by skill in poetic art.
Where am I and where are You; is the world a fact or naught? Does this world to me belong, or is a wonder by You wrought?
The precious moments of my life, one by one have been snatched: But still the conflict racks my brain, if heart and head are ever matched.
A hawk forgetful of its breed, upbrought and fed in midst of kites; knows not the wont and ways of hawks, and cannot soar to mighty heights.
For song no tongue is set apart, no claim to tongues is laid by me: What matters is a dainty song, no matter what its language be.
Faqr and Kingship are akin; though at odds may these appear: One wins the heart with single glance, the other rules with sword and spear.
Some have left the caravan train, and some on Ka‘bah turn their back; for leaders of the Faithful Band, winsome mode and manners lack.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bal-e-Jibril — وہي ميري کم نصيبي ، وہي تيري بے نيازي — Digital transcription file at commit 39d44fc0c2b8ca25769c4b36e6eac4d90cb42b35; the source dataset does not identify the underlying print edition.Verified against this pinned digital transcription file; not checked against a print edition.Source
- Iqbal Demystified source list: Bal-e-Jibril — Pinned digital dataset commit 39d44fc0c2b8ca25769c4b36e6eac4d90cb42b35; the underlying print edition is not identified by the dataset.Community dataset list; not reconciled against a print edition.Source
- Bal-e-Jibril English translation at allama-iqbal.com — — Public digital poem page, retrieved 2026-10-06; pinned to allama-iqbal.com commit 82547635bb6b758c45082084b2f152fc453a8056.Translation by Syed Akbar Ali Shah; English Translation by: Syed Akbar Ali ShahSource