شعاع اميد
English title: Ray of Hope
(1)
The sun conveyed this message to its rays: ‘What wonder great, the change of nights and days.
You have been rambling since aeons in space, but hate among men is increasing 'pace.
To shine on sand affords no pleasure sound, nor peace, like breeze in making flower's round.
Be lost in fount of light that gave you birth, forsake the park, the waste, the roof and earth’.
(2)
The rays rise from every nook of space, make haste to take the sun in fond embrace.
Loud roar persists, there can't be light in West, for smoke makes West enrobed in able vest.
Though East is not bereft of inner light, yet quiet of tomb prevails like Celestial Height.
O sun that light the world keep us in mind, hide us in breast so bright and kind.
(3)
A shameless ray as proud as houri's glance bereft of rest, like mercury e'er at dance.
Implored the sun to let it spread its light till every mote of East grows lustrous bright.
The dark surroundings of Hind it won't forsal till natives sunk in slumber do not wake.
The hopes of Orient on this region hinge, the tears that Iqbal sheds on it impinge.
The moon and Pleiades get light from this land; its stones are costlier than gems of purest brand.
It has produced men who hid sense can see, with utmost ease can cross the swollen sea.
The harp whose music warmth to gathering lent with force quite spent the plectrum alien is'.
The Brahman guards the fane and sleeps at gate, the Muslim in mosque's niche, bewails his Fate.
Don't shun the East, nor look on West with scorn, since Nature yearns for change of night to morn.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Zarb-e-Kalim — شعاع اميد — 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 — Ray Of Hope — 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
