عصر حاضر
English title: MODERN AGE
پختہ افکار کہاں ڈھونڈنے جائے کوئياس زمانے کي ہوا رکھتي ہے ہر چيز کو خام
Where from a man can find ripe thoughts in present age? The weather of this park no ripeness can presage.
مدرسہ عقل کو آزاد تو کرتا ہے مگرچھوڑ جاتا ہے خيالات کو بے ربط و نظام
The seats of learning give the mind of pupils’ scope but leave the thoughts of youth unlinked by thread or rope.
مردہ ، 'لا ديني افکار سے افرنگ ميں عشق!عقل بے ربطي افکار سے مشرق ميں غلام
The love of God is dead by unbelief 'mong Franks through lack of link in thoughts, East shackles wears on shanks.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Zarb-e-Kalim — عصر حاضر — 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 — Modern Age — 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