by ASGHAR VASANWALA
Dear Friends,
My email friend and an Urdu lover, Reetesh Khare, had asked me meaning of Iqbal’s following famous She’r, verse. I sent him its explanation that I want to share with you.
In Iqbal’s philosophy, eagle (Shaheen) has high place because eagle is confident of himself. He does not worry for the next meal and store in his nest.
Ae taair-e-Lahooti, oos rizq se mout achhi
Jiss rizq se aati ho, parwaz meiN kotahi
Taair= bird Rizq=livelihood, food Parwaz=flight kotahi= falling short, wanting
In Iqbal’s philosophy, eagle (Shaheen) has high place because eagle is confident of himself. He does not worry for the next meal and store in his nest. He is so majestic that other birds dare not challenge him. He doesn’t’ kill unless he is hungry. Meaning he is not greedy and hoarder like capitalists.
Lahut is a station during journey when Sufis try to reach Ma’refat (Knowledge) of Allah when they feel they have merged (Fana fillah) with him. In this journey, there are different stations. Lahut is one of the stations.
So, Iqbal addresses to an eagle or a Sufi in stage of Lahut. Don’t eat unlawful food or such food that may make your flight clumsy or slow. It may better to die than fly limping. Meaning people should not live on corruption because it will kill their souls. It is better to die, rather than losing soul.
Asghar Vasanwala can be reached at asgharfv@gmail.com