पीर-ए-मय-ख़ाना ये कहता है कि ऐवान-ए-फ़रंग सुस्त-बुनियाद भी है आईना-दीवार भी है
— Allama Iqbal
Meaning

The tavern-keeper of intoxication says that the iwan of the foreigner is merely a mirror-wall built on weak foundations.

Explanation

This powerful couplet suggests that even the grandest structures, or the most outwardly sophisticated customs, often conceal internal weaknesses. The 'Master of the Wine House' is speaking about the artificiality of worldly grandeur. Allama Iqbal reminds us that apparent strength, like the 'Foreign Archway,' might merely be a facade—built on shaky foundations, yet adorned with deceptive mirrors and walls.

Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.

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