In these majestic verses from Jawab-e-Shikwa, Allama Muhammad Iqbal illustrates the central importance of the Prophet’s ﷺ essence to the existence of the entire universe. Without this “Flower,” the garden of existence loses its melody, its bloom, and its very purpose.
ہو نہ یہ پُھول تو بُلبل کا ترنّم بھی نہ ہو
چمنِ دہر میں کلّیوں کا تبسّم بھی نہ ہو
Ho na ye phool to bulbul ka tarannum bhi na ho
Chaman-e-dehr mein kaliyon ka tabassum bhi na ho
If this Flower were not there, the nightingale would have no song;
In the garden of the world, the buds would have no reason to smile.
یہ نہ ساقی ہو تو پھر مے بھی نہ ہو، خُم بھی نہ ہو
بزمِ توحید بھی دنیا میں نہ ہو، تم بھی نہ ہو
Ye na saqi ho to phir mai bhi na ho, khum bhi na ho
Bazm-e-touheed bhi dunya mein na ho, tum bhi na ho
Without this Cupbearer, there would be no wine and no tavern;
The assembly of Oneness would vanish from the world, and so would you.
خیمہ افلاک کا اِستادہ اسی نام سے ہے
نبضِ ہستی تپش آمادہ اسی نام سے ہے
Khema aflak ka istada issi naam se hai
Nabz-e-hasti tapish aamadah issi naam se hai
The pavilion of the heavens stands firm because of this Name;
The pulse of existence beats with fervor because of this Name.
Spiritual Insight
Iqbal emphasizes that the Prophet ﷺ is the metaphysical anchor of reality. The “Flower” and “Saqi” metaphors signify that spiritual nourishment and the very structure of the cosmos (Khema Aflak) are tied to the Muhammadan ﷺ Essence. Without this connection, humanity loses its place in the Bazm-e-Touheed (Assembly of Monotheism).
Hikmat-e-Iqbal: Ho Na Ye Phool
- Tarannum: Melody / Song
- Chaman-e-Dehr: The garden of the world/time
- Tabassum: Smile / Bloom
- Khum: Wine jar / Tavern vessel
- Bazm-e-Touheed: The assembly of Divine Oneness
- Khema Aflak: The tent/pavilion of the skies
- Istada: Standing / Established
- Tapish Aamadah: Ready for heat / Full of fervor
Spiritual Echoes: The Universal Vision
The metaphors of the Flower, the Saqi, and the Skies in Jawab-e-Shikwa share a deep spiritual resonance with these masterpieces:
On the Celestial Pavilion (Asman):
The “Khema Aflak” finds its cosmic parallel in the crystal-colored dome described in:
On the Nightingale’s Song:
Iqbal’s “Bulbul ka Tarannum” echoes Maulana Jami’s Persian thought on the source of sweet speech:
On the “Flower” of Existence:
The central “Flower” of Jawab-e-Shikwa is celebrated as the Sultan of the entire garden by Alahazrat:
On the Soul of Tajalli:
Iqbal’s warning that “you would not exist” mirrors Alahazrat’s declaration of the Prophet ﷺ as the soul of all light:
On the Cup of Union:
The concept of the “Saqi” and the wine of devotion traces back to Ghaus-e-Azam’s foundational Qaseeda:
On the Life of the World:
The dependency of the world’s existence on the Prophet ﷺ is famously echoed in this masterpiece:
On the Tavern of Love:
The “Mai” and “Khum” that Iqbal mentions are the same source of ecstasy for Bedam Warsi:
On the Secret of Oneness (Tauheed):
The “Bazm-e-Touheed” Iqbal speaks of is the very secret of existence he witnessed in the dream of the First Caliph:
Allama Iqbal : Phool
The dependency of the nightingale’s melody on the flower is a recurring vision for Iqbal; just as the flower gives life to the garden, the devotee’s service brings beauty to the homeland (Watan).
Voice: Zia Mohyeddin Jawab e Shikwa – Ho Na Ye Phool
Explanation: Muhammad Ajmal Raza Qadri – Ho Na Ye Phool
The Poet of the East:
Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal (علامہ محمد اقبال)
Discover the profound Urdu and Persian wisdom of:
Bang-e-Dara |
Bal-e-Jibril |
Zarb-e-Kaleem |
Asrar-e-Khudi
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