न वो इश्क़ में रहीं गर्मियाँ न वो हुस्न में रहीं शोख़ियाँ
न वो ग़ज़नवी में तड़प रही न वो ख़म है ज़ुल्फ़-ए-अयाज़ मैं
— Allama Iqbal
Meaning
Neither were the summers in love, nor were there coquettishness in beauty; neither was it agony in Ghaznavi, nor is it the intoxication of Ayaz's tresses.
Explanation
This powerful couplet by Allama Iqbal is a declaration of inherent self-worth. The poet states that the intense heat of romantic passion, the playful intoxication of beauty, and even the deep yearning associated with memories are all transient and gone. Yet, he concludes with a powerful assertion: the subtle, captivating charm (khum) residing in his own hair remains! It suggests that true allure is not found in external circumstances or loves, but in the enduring spirit and charisma of the individual.