فرقی ننہد عاشق در کعبہ و بتخانہ

فرقے ننہد عاشق در کعبہ و بتخانہاین جلوت جانانہ آن خلوت جانانہ

A true lover does not differentiate between the Ka‘bah and the idol-house. The one is the Beloved’s privacy, the other His appearing publicly.

شادم کہ مزار من در کوے حرم بستندراہے ز مژہ کاوم از کعبہ بہ بتخانہ

I am glad my grave has been built in the Harem’s own street. With my eyelashes I will dig a tunnel from the Ka‘bah to the idol-house. (A Message from the East).

ز بزم جہان خوشتر از حور جنان خوشتریک ھمدم فرزانہ وز بادہ دو پیمانہ

Better than any company in this world or the next are a sagacious friend and two goblets of wine.

ہر کس نگہے دارد ہر کس سخنے دارددر بزم تو می خیزد افسانہ ز افسانہ

Here everyone has eyes and everyone a tongue. So in your company one story breeds another.

این کیست کہ بر دلہا آوردہ شبیخونےصد شہر تمنا را یغما زدہ ترکانہ

Who is He Who has launched a night-attack on hearts, who like a Turk has plundered a hundred cities of desire?

در دشت جنون من جبریل زبون صیدےیزدان بہ کمند آور اے ہمت مردانہ

Where I roam in my mad pursuit the angel Gabriel is but small game. Come, O my manly courage, cast a lasso upon God Himself.

اقبال بہ منبر زد رازے کہ نباید گفتنا پختہ برون آمد از خلوت میخانہ

Iqbal has in the pulpit blurted out a secret that was not to be revealed. Well, he had issued forth still raw from the wine-tavern’s privacy.