Majnoo.n Ne Sheher

~ Allama Iqbal

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EXPLANATION:

This poem is about totality; drawing people's attention to the discrepancy between their intentions and the actions they take to act on these intentions.

So in the first sher:

Majnoo.n ne shehr chora, to sehra bhi chor de

Nazaaray ki havis ho, to laila bhi chor de

Referring to the famous romantic Arab tale of Laila and Qais (aka Majnoo.n [mad man]). After Majnoo.n couldn't get Laila, he went crazy and in that craze he left everything he had and took refuge in a desert; in an attempt to get away from the world. Iqbal is saying that if Majnoo.n wanted to leave everything, he should've left the desert too. Since he didn't, for maybe he wanted to enjoy the pleasures of life (mere existence), he should give up his beloved, because he doesn't love her as much as he thinks (since he didn't give up, literally, everything for her).

Vaaiz kamaal-e-tark se milti hai yaa.n muraad

Duniya jo chor dee hai to uqba bhi chor de

Iqbal is talking to preachers here, who say we should give up worldly desires in order to achieve the hereafter. So he says if giving up the desire of something guarantees the getting of another, then maybe we should give up the wish to gain the hereafter as well (so we would actually get it).

Taqleed ki ravish se to behtar hai khudkushi

Rasta bhi dhoond khizr ka sauda bhi chor de

Khizr (a.s) is the angel who takes on human form to guide lost travelers. According to the poet, it's better to commit suicide than follow in someone's footsteps (keeping in mind Iqbal was the poet who "woke" the Muslims of the Indo-Pak subcontinent and urged them to build a separate home for themselves where they would be free to live their lives according to their religious beliefs and values, and not be forced to live their lives according to any other guideline). So we should look for our own paths (destinies as well) and not rely on others. So in this sher Iqbal is again urging people to find their own ways and give-up banking on someone else to lead them.

Maanind khaama teri zabaa.n per hai harf-e-ghair

Begaana shay pe naazish-e-beja bhi chor de

Here Iqbal is saying that just like you can use a pen to write anything you want, be it true or false, you can say anything you want. So just like a pen, our tongues are our tools for saying things. But if we adopt someone else's tools, someone else's words, then that's something that's not rightfully ours. No matter how beautiful a thought, if it's not ours, then it's not right for us to take credit for it. Therefore we shouldn't take pride in regurgitating others' ideas. (Be your own person).

Lutf-e-kalaam kiya jo na ho dil mein dard-e-ishq

Bismal nahin hai tu to tarapna bhi chor de

Acc to the poet, you can't be moved by deep love sayings (can't translate 'kalaam' to English) if you don't have passion. So if you don't have fiery passion burning in your heart, then don't pretend to be moved by deep thoughts about love and passion.

Shabnam ki tarah phoolon pe ro aur chaman se chal

Is baagh mein qayaam ka sauda bhi chor de

I can't explain this one.

Hai aashqi mein rasm sab se alag bethna

But_khaana bhi, haram bhi, kaleesa bhi chor de

Those who are inflicted by love, tend to stay away from everyone, and are praying to their God to be united with their beloved. Drawing on that, Iqbal is saying if you want to stay away from everyone, then that would include God as well. So stay far away from temples, mosques and churches as well. Do give up everyone!

Saudagari nahin, yeh ibaadat Khuda ki hai

Aye bekhabar jaza ki tamanna bhi chor de

For most of us, life is a give and take. We love someone and expect them to love us back. We are nice to people and expect them to be nice to us too. So it's a trade. Iqbal is saying that ibaadat is not a trade. Don't obey God because you want something in return (namely reward); obey Him because the Almighty deserves to be obeyed.