غرہ شوال
English title: THE EID CRESCENT
O the pride of Shawwal! O the fasting person’s darling! Come! As Muslims were very anxiously waiting for you.
The message of Eid is written on your forehead; your evening is the preface to the dawn of pleasure.
You are the mirror of the history of Millat-i-Baidah. O crescent! We are your lovers since a very long time.
The banner under whose shade we wielded our swords; under whose shade we used the blood of our enemies.
The companionship of this very banner is your destiny; the Millat’s honor is by your ever-increasing beauty.
Our nation is cherisher of friends, fidelity is your way; this silvery shirt of yours is the propagator of love.
Look at the earth’s habitation from your celestial apses! Look at the depth of our abode from your eminence!
Look at the caravans and also look at their fast speed; at the destitute traveler’s estrangement with destination also look.
On sighting you we used to give charity lavishly; O empty cup! Today at our indigence also look.
Muslims are tightly bound in chains of sectarianism; look at your freedom and at their bondage also look.
In the mosque look at disintegration of the priest’s love; in the temple at the Brahman’s strong idol-worship also look.
Look at the sight of the Muslim ways in the infidels’ life; and at your Muslims’ tormenting other Muslims also look.
Be the spectator of the shower of rocks of misfortunes; at the frailty of the Muslims Ummah’s abodes also look.
Yes, look at the advance flattery of the ‘honorable’ people and at the self-respect of the formerly shameless people also look.
Whom we got acquainted with the taste of eloquence at the haughty speech of that former speechless adversary look.
Listen to sounds of pleasurable orchestra in West’s palaces and at the preparations for the mourning in Iran also look
The imprudent Turk has torn the cloak of the Divine Khilafah; look at Muslims’ simplicity at other’s cunningness also look.
Look at everything, and remain quiet like a mirror; in today tumult remain occupied in evening’s music!
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bang-e-Dara — غرہ شوال — 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
- Bang-e-Dara English translation at allama-iqbal.com — The First of Shawwal or the Crescent of Eid — 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