يوں ہاتھ نہيں آتا وہ گوہر يک دانہ
English title: Cut the Gordian knot, And capture thy jewel
O manly heart, the goal you seek is hard to gain like gem unique: Get firm resolve and freedom true, if aim of life you wish to woo.
Like Sanjar great and Tughral just to rule and conquer learn you must: Or like a qalandar true and bold the wont and way of monarch hold.
Farabi’s thirst for lore beget, or Rumi’s fever great and fret: You need a thinker’s lofty gaze, or Moses’ passion to amaze.
Learn the wolfish tricks and guile, be like Franks in wit and wile: Else own the passion of God’s Hand, or strike the foes like Tartar band.
Act on Muslim law and rites, or sit in fane like acolytes: Be it the Shrine or temple high, ever like a drunkard cry.
In whatsoever state you be, a fettered thrall or monarch free: No wonder ever can be wrought, with Love, if courage be not fraught.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bal-e-Jibril — يوں ہاتھ نہيں آتا وہ گوہر يک دانہ — 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