اہل مصر سے
English title: TO THE EGYPTIANS
خود ابوالہول نے يہ نکتہ سکھايا مجھ کووہ ابوالہول کہ ہے صاحب اسرار قديم
By Sphinx this subtle point to me was told; the Sphinx, whose breast holds secrets old.
دفعتہً جس سے بدل جاتي ہے تقدير اممہے وہ قوت کہ حريف اس کي نہيں عقل حکيم
Strength That in one hour can swerve the fates of nations | Admits no puzzling intellect for rival,
ہر زمانے ميں دگر گوں ہے طبيعت اس کي!کبھي شمشير محمد ہے ، کبھي چوب کليم
Change its wont e'ery age, though odd, now Mohammad's sword, then Moses' Rod.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Zarb-e-Kalim — اہل مصر سے — 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 — To The Egyptians — 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
- Poems from Iqbal — First edition, 1955Translation by V. G. Kiernan; Published English translations attributed to V. G. Kiernan; the 231 previously imported exact passages remain, with one additional independently reviewed final standalone line at PDF page 100. Each new locator names its exact passage scope.Source