वो शब-ए-दर्द-ओ-सोज़-ओ-ग़म कहते हैं ज़िंदगी जिसे
उस की सहर है तू कि मैं उस की अज़ाँ है तू कि मैं
— Allama Iqbal
Meaning
Life is described as a night of pain, burning, and sorrow. The poet asks whether you are its dawn or am I, and whether you are the call to prayer that breaks the darkness or am I.
Explanation
This couplet beautifully captures the duality of existence. Life, according to the Shayar, is often perceived as a painful, dark night—a struggle filled with sorrow. But the poet then reveals the solution: the beloved represents the dawn, symbolizing hope and light, while the lover represents the call to prayer (Azan), which guides and awakens the soul. It’s a declaration that their relationship is not just love, but a spiritual necessity for survival.