نہ تخت و تاج ميں ، نے لشکر و سپاہ ميں ہے
English title: Neither the power of kings, Nor the might of armies
A monarch’s pomp and mighty arms can never give such glee, as can be felt in presence of a qalandar bold and free.
The world is like an idol house, God’s Friend, a person free: No doubt, this subtle point is hid in words, No god but He.
The world that you with effort make to you belongs alone: The world of brick and stone you see, you cannot call your own.
The clay-made man is still among the vagrants on the road, though man beyond the moon and stars can find his true abode.
This news I have received from those who rule the sea and land, that Europe lies on course of flood ’gainst which no one can stand.
A world there is quite fresh and new in sighs at morn I have: Your portion seek within its tracts, thus goal and aim achieve.
Count my gourd an immense gain, for pure and sparkling wine no more the seats of learning store nor sells the Sacred Shrine.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bal-e-Jibril — نہ تخت و تاج ميں ، نے لشکر و سپاہ ميں ہے — 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