I Desire (With English Translation)

By Muhammed Iqbal

tere ishq kii intahaa chaahataa huu.N

merii saadagii dekh kyaa chaahataa huu.N

sitam ho ki ho vaadaa-e-behijaabii

ko_ii baat sabr-aazamaa chaahataa huu.N

ye jannat mubaarak rahe zaahido.n ko

ki mai.n aap kaa saamanaa chaahataa huu.N

ko_ii dam kaa mehamaa.N huu.N ai ahal-e-mahafil

chiraaG-e-sahar huu.N, bujhaa chaahataa huu.N

bharii bazm me.n raaz kii baat kah dii

ba.Daa be-adab huu.N, sazaa chaahataa huu.N

English Translation.

I want to have the extremes of your Love,

See, how silly am I, wishing for unachievable.

I don’t care if you maltreat me or promise to unveil your beauty,

I just want something unbearable to test my fortitude

Let the God fearing people be dwelling in the paradise,

For, instead I want to be face to face with you.

( I don’t want to go to paradise but want to observe the Divine Beauty)

O fellows, I am here for a few moments, as a gust,

Like morning star I will fade and vanish in a few moments.

I disclosed the secret in public,

I need to be punished for being so rude.

The first verse of this Ghazal was Dr.Iqbal's favorite verse 'tere ishq kii intahaa chaahataa huu.N merii saadagii dekh kyaa chaahataa huu.N '