ابر
English title: THE CLOUD
Today dark clouds have appeared from the east again; Mount Sarban* has become covered with darkness again.
As the sun's face became hidden under the clouds; cool breeze also came riding on the steed of clouds.
There are no thunder claps, silent are these clouds; strange in its tranquillity is this tavern of dark clouds.
It has brought everlasting joy's message for the garden. It has come to stitch pearls to the jacket of rose.
The flowers which were fading by sun's heat freshened up; those which were sleeping in the earth's bosom woke up.
With the wind's force the cloud rose, advanced and flowed; some dark clouds rose up, the clouds burst open into rain!
The camp of the mountains' trees is wonderful; strollers in valleys should stay among its trees.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bang-e-Dara — ابر — 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: Bang-e-Dara — 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
- Pinned digital source list 001 (Bang-e-Dara section headings) — Pinned repository commit 39d44fc0c2b8ca25769c4b36e6eac4d90cb42b35; digital transcription, not a selected print edition.Verified against this pinned digital transcription file; not checked against a print edition.Source
- Bang-e-Dara English translation at allama-iqbal.com — The Cloud — Public digital poem page, retrieved 2026-10-05; pinned to allama-iqbal.com commit 82547635bb6b758c45082084b2f152fc453a8056.Translation by Dr M.A.K. Khalil; English Translation by: Dr M.A.K. KhalilSource