لا الہ الا اللہ
English title: NO GOD BUT HE
The secret of the Self is hid, in words ‘No god but He alone’. The Self is just a dull-edged sword, ‘No god but He’; the grinding stone.
An Abraham by the age is sought to break the idols of this Hall: The avowal of God's Oneness can make all these idols headlong fall.
A bargain you have struck for goods of life, a step that smacks conceit; all save the Call ‘No god but He’ is merely fraught with fraud and deceit.
The worldly wealth and riches too, ties of blood and friends a dream the idols wrought by doubts untrue, all save God's Oneness empty seem.
The mind has worn the holy thread of Time and Space like pagans all though Time and Space both illusive. ‘No god but He’ is true withal.
These melodious songs are not confined to Time when rose and tulip bloom, whatever the season of year be ‘No god but He’ must ring till doom.
Many idols are still concealed' in their sleeves by the Faithful fold, I am ordained by Mighty God to raise the call and be much bold.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Zarb-e-Kalim — لا الہ الا اللہ — 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: Zarb-e-Kalim — 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
- Zarb-e-Kalim English translation at allama-iqbal.com — There is no god but Allah — 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