خودي ہو علم سے محکم تو غيرت جبريل
English title: Selfhood is Gabriel’s power, If fortified by learning
If self with knowledge strong becomes, Gabriel it can envious make: If fortified with passion great, like trump of Israfil can shake.
The scourge of present science and thought, to me, no doubt, is fully known, like Abraham, the Friend of God, in its flame I have been thrown.
The caravan in quest of goal by charm of lodge is led astray, though never can the ease of lodge be same as joy to be on way.
If seeing eye you do not own, among my listeners do not pause, for subtle points about the self, like sword, deep yawning wounds can cause.
Still to mind I can recall, in Europe what I learnt by heart: But can the veil of Reason match with joy that Presence can import.
From caravan you are adrift, and night has donned a mantle black: For you my song that burns as flame, like a torch, can light the track.
The tale of the Holy Shrine, if told, is simple, strange and red in hue: With Ismail the tale begins, ends with Husain, the martyr true.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bal-e-Jibril — خودي ہو علم سے محکم تو غيرت جبريل — 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
