Where else should I go?

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

تُو کَریمِ مُطلَق و مَن گَدا، چِه کُنی جُز این‌کِه بِخوانی‌اَم؟ دَرِ دیگَری بِنُما کِه مَن بِه کُجا رَوَم چُو بِرانی‌اَم؟

Meaning

You are the Epitome of Generosity and I am a beggar

What else can You do but invite me to Your door?

Or show me another door that I can head for

That I can go to, if You shoo me away

Language

Persian/Farsi

Transliteration

Tu Kareem-e-Mutlaq wa Man Gada

Che Kunee Juz Een Ki Bkhwaani Am

Dare Deegar-e BNuma ke Man

BKuja Rawam Choon Barani Am

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Brief Explanation

A true believer is a devout worshipper and knows their relationship with a Benevolent and Generous Lord, and does not wish to go anywhere else except to stay at the door of the Beloved.

Background

This couplet by Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil is a prayer, and at the same time a declaration of humility and faithfulness, while appealing to the Generosity of the Beloved.

A prayer of an ashamed believer

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

تُو غَنی اَز هَر دو عالَم، مَن فَقیر روزِ مَحشَر عُذرهایِ مَن پَذیر وَر حِسابَم را تُو بینی ناگُزیر اَز نِگاهِ مُصطَفیٰﷺ پِنهان بَگیر

Meaning

You are the Self-Sufficient Lord of both Worlds and I am needy of You On the Day of Judgement, please forgive me and grant me this exemption If it is inevitable that You judge me and take account of my sins, Please do so hidden from the gaze of Mustafa (ﷺ)

Language

Persian/Farsi

Transliteration

Tu ghanī az har du ʿālam, man faqīr;

rūz-i maḥshar ʿuzr-hā-yi man pazīr.

Var ḥisābam rā tu bīnī nā-guzīr,

az nigāh-i Muṣṭafā (ﷺ) pinhān bigīr.  

Video/Audio

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Brief Explanation

Those who truly love the Prophet (ﷺ) feel ashamed to face him because of their sins—perhaps even more ashamed than they feel when facing Allah. Such is his place in the hearts of his ummah.

Background

Iqbal, also known as Allama Iqbal due to recognition of his status as a thinker and reformer, not just as a poet, is recognised worldwide for his poetry. However, his main body of work in the Persian language has largely remained inaccessible to the non-Persian-speaking public, even in South Asia, where he is so widely revered.

This quatrain (رُباعی), attributed to him—he gifted it to someone else—reflects his command over the language and poetic expression while delivering a highly refined and sensitive idea, close to the heart of many Muslims.